MONTREAL, Feb. 1, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The Cabinet of the Government of Québec, on a recommendation from the Board of Directors of the Société de la Place des Arts de Montréal, today appointed Mr. Marc Blondeau as the Société's President and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment takes effect on March 2. Mr. Blondeau replaces the outgoing President and CEO, Ms. Marie Lavigne, who is retiring after ten years in the position.
"Marie Lavigne's term has been marked by a bolstering of support for artistic creation and development of our infrastructures. Marc Blondeau brings a wealth of experience in the business, media and cultural spheres, and takes over just as we are nurturing the emergence of the new Place des Arts as a public-sector cultural enterprise able to flourish in a competitive environment, forge innovative partnerships and perform well financially, all while fulfilling its specific missions, such as promoting cultural life in Québec and raising public awareness of the performing arts," explained Jean Laurin, President of the Board of Directors, Place des Arts.
Intensive development
In recent years, Place des Arts has undertaken several major projects. From the start, it has partnered in the development of the Quartier des spectacles, to which it is connected, among other ways, by the expansive Place des festivals adjacent to the Place des Arts square. It has seen large-scale work completed, including construction of the new Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme, a modern, multifunctional lobby space connecting the concert halls. Most recently, the new Maison symphonique concert hall has been inaugurated, in the process redefining Place des Arts' business relationship with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and significantly increasing the availability of the 3,000-seat Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, Montréal's largest concert hall.
Marc Blondeau is a well-known figure in media and communications in Québec and the rest of Canada, having held several management and development positions with Télémédia Communications, TVA Group and Rogers Media. He has also been involved for several years with the National Theatre School of Canada, and is currently Chair of its Board of Directors.
About Place des Arts
The Société de la Place des Arts de Montréal is the organization responsible for managing and operating Canada's largest multidisciplinary performing arts complex. The Place des Arts site in downtown Montréal comprises five concert halls, to which a sixth has now been added: La Maison Symphonique, run in partnership with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the private sector. Place des Arts also owns and manages the Amphithéâtre Fernand-Lindsay, in the Lanaudière region. In the capacity of promoter, producer and/or presenter, Place des Arts hosts some 1,000 performances per year, spotlighting both Québec creators and touring artists from around the world and attracting close to a million spectators. To carry out its activities effectively, Place des Arts works with several partners locally and internationally, and collaborates closely on a daily basis with its three resident companies, Les Grands Ballets canadiens de Montréal, the Compagnie de théâtre DUCEPPE and the Opéra de Montréal, as well as with the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal.
Image with caption: "Marc Blondeau. Photo: Geneviève Charbonneau (CNW Group/Place des arts)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120201_C8632_PHOTO_EN_9521.jpg
Denise Melillo
Director, Public Relations and Development
Place des Arts
Tel : 514 285-4535
Mobile : 514 808-1948
[email protected]
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