New agreement between Québec and the Basque Country

Québec City, November 1^st, 2017 – A new agreement covering choreographer residency exchanges between Québec and the Autonomous Province of Gipuzkoako (GFA), in Spain's Basque Country, was signed today in Québec City at a ceremony attended by Québec premier Philippe Couillard and Basque president Iñigo Urkullu.

The agreement will involve the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ); Montréal's School of Contemporary Dance (EDCM); Dantzaz Choreographic Creation Centre (DTZ); Tabakalera International Centre for Contemporary Culture; and Gipuzkoako Foru Aldundia (GFA), the Department of Culture of the Autonomous Province of Gipuzkoako (Basque Country). Marking the first cultural reciprocity initiative with the Basque government, this agreement ushers in a new era of bilateral cooperation.

The agreement will enable Québec-based choreographers to undertake a two-month residency in the Basque Country with a view to creating a work involving 12 professional dancers. The process will begin with a one-month research/exploration residency at Tabakalera in Donostia/San Sebastian, followed by a one-month creation/production residency at Dantzaz in Errenteria. Twelve professional dancers affiliated with Dantzaz will be available in order to produce a 10-to-15 minute work to be performed publicly in the Basque Country, as well on a European tour. A call for projects This link will open in a new window is currently underway for the first residency, which is scheduled to run from January 22 to March 23, 2018. Choreographers who have more than five years of experience and who have had at least two works performed professionally are invited to submit an application.

"I am particularly pleased by the new agreement entered into by the Basque and the Québec governments. This represents the first step in a collaboration that I am certain will be very rewarding. Under this agreement, Québec and Basque artists will enjoy valuable, stimulating and productive experiences that will benefit our respective communities," said Marie Montpetit, Québec's Minister of Culture and Communications and Minister Responsible for Protecting and Promoting the French Language.

"Each year, some 50 Québec artists and writers receive CALQ grants enabling them to undertake residencies in Canada and in other countries. In return, 20 artists from partner countries come to Québec to take advantage of our creative spaces. I am glad that this initial agreement with the Basque government will allow us to host cutting-edge creators here, thanks to the EDCM's involvement, and that local choreographers will be able to travel abroad and take part in a experience that is sure to be a highlight of their professional careers," said CALQ President and Executive Director Anne-Marie Jean.

A growing network spanning three continents

An extensive network of studios, exchanges and workshops/residences spanning three continents enables creators from all disciplines to take part in nearly 40 potential residencies designed to foster their professional development in some 20 cities and regions worldwide, including New York, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Paris, Rome, Berlin, London, Mumbai, Seoul and Tokyo. Since Québec's studio in Paris was inaugurated in 1965, this program has spurred exchanges with numerous international partners and has furthered the careers of countless artists and writers. Thanks to the diversity and quality of its residence network, CALQ has become a global benchmark and was awarded the International Award of Excellence in 2010. A complete list of residency opportunities is available here.

About CALQ

With a view to encouraging equitable and sustainable artistic development throughout Québec, CALQ supports creation, experimentation and production in the domains of the arts and literature and promotes their diffusion and influence in Québec, across Canada and abroad. CALQ is a Québec government corporation funded by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications.

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