MONTREAL, May 17, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Rumour has it the arts and creative world will soon have a new home. And it's true! On June 1st, the PHI Centre will open in Old Montreal, at the corner of Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul. The PHI Centre has everything artists and creators could wish for: exhibition spaces, cinema screening rooms, recording and editing facilities, a performance venue, and more.
Established in a historic building dating back to 1861, the PHI Centre is yet another way that founder Phoebe Greenberg is helping make Montreal a global hub for arts and creativity. For her, "The fundamental idea was to create an intelligent building that could perfectly meet the evolution of new media and the contemporary vision of artists in a variety of mediums." That's why the PHI Centre is equipped with the most advanced technology available.
What is the PHI Centre?
A smart building for art, the PHI Centre has rooms that can adapt to different activities: launches, conferences, symposiums, projections, exhibitions, concerts, interactive installations. It has creative and production facilities, with the most sophisticated technology possible to meet contemporary artistic needs. It's a multipurpose centre where art can be expressed in all its forms. And, above all, it's a place for sharing, learning, discovery, launches, recording, and much more.
In short, it's everywhere art exists in a single location; a special place where art is the centre of everything. So much so that at Phoebe Greenberg's initiative—and to document the construction of the Centre in a creative way—filmmaker Denis Villeneuve shot the short film Next Floor here. Produced by PHI, Next Floor was awarded numerous prizes throughout the world, including Best Short Film at the Cannes Festival's Semaine de la critique in 2008.
Yes, the PHI Centre is everywhere art exists under one roof. It is four exciting floors that promise unique encounters with artists and their works.
The PHI Centre is art in all its forms and art for every taste. It's also art from all places, from street corners to the ends of the earth, PHI is open to all cultures and fuels links with artistic communities across the planet, thanks to its substantial technology.
Fibre optics and artistic fibres now come together, and will continue do so for generations to come. That's why the PHI Centre has a digital central nervous system that makes every visitor's experience unique and the ability to archive the experience.
Extremely versatile
One visit to the PHI Centre will show you just how versatile it is. We're talking extreme versatility! Each room at the centre is a technological feat and masterful use of space. All the technology is hidden—behind walls, floors, ceilings—and each room is soundproofed.
"Modern ideas and art deserve high-quality spaces," says Phoebe Greenberg. "If the work requires extreme measures, then it's up to us to provide versatility that measures up."
LEED certification
Phoebe Greenberg and her team faced a massive challenge: transform an old building in Montreal into a centre for art and creativity that's at once advanced and eco-friendly. That's why every step of constructing the PHI Centre was made in close compliance with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standardization system, creating a building that complies with the five main criteria of high-quality eco-friendly buildings.
PHI Centre programming
The PHI Centre officially opens on June 1, 2012. And all summer long, during what the centre's managers are calling their incubation period, a host of activities will take place—some free, others will have an admission charge—to enable the public to enjoy the centre and get a feel for the type of services available as of September.
The PHI Centre is an initiative of PHI and its founder, Phoebe Greenberg. PHI's mission is to provide the general public with excellence in all types of art both locally and internationally, and it also heads three dynamic entities in the arts world: PHI MUSIC, PHI FILMS and PHI CREATE. PHI has chosen Montreal as its home because of its significant artistic energy, the open spirit and curiosity of Montrealers, and because artists the world over simply adore this city.
Myriam Achard
Director of Communications and Public Relations
(514) 844-7474 ext. 5104
[email protected]
PHI Centre
407 Saint-Pierre (corner of Saint-Paul)
Source: PHI
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