El-Soueidi: Is that this the top of Montreal's celebrated tradition scene?

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Whereas September marks the top of summer time, it additionally marks one thing else for culture-obsessed Montrealers: POP Montreal — the worldwide indie music fest — begins Sept. 27.

However this 12 months, POP Montreal’s billboard marketing campaign factors to indicators of hassle. The brilliant signal on Parc Ave. reads, in vibrant letters: “R.I.P. MILE END”.

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Echoing the present state of affairs, this signal is a stark reminder that an iconic neighbourhood has been left to die, with out intervention from the town.

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And but, this summer time, the town was touting one other story.

It struck me at Simply For Laughs within the midst of a July warmth wave. An commercial for Montreal was being proven on the video screens in Place des Festivals: English translation: “A metropolis that protects its tradition — its circus, comedy, literature, performs, and music.” However the details inform one other story.

From what I can see, the Metropolis of Montreal hasn’t finished a lot to guard its tradition scene. The present administration hijacked its bragging rights from 20 years of labor finished by little DIY venues when housing was nonetheless accessible and business areas inexpensive, permitting artists to thrive whereas dwelling right here. In the present day, saying that Montreal has a thriving tradition scene is sort of a stretch.

On July 28, The Diving Bell Social Membership (Membership Social Le Scaphandre) introduced it was closing its doorways, citing fines related to noise complaints and lack of entry for disabled folks. Over time, different venues have talked about these similar causes for closing.

Six years in the past, the Divan Orange, an almost-mythical venue within the Plateau, closed due to noise complaints. This almost occurred once more with one other cultural establishment, Théâtre La Tulipe, additionally within the Plateau. An overzealous landlord who understood that his yard neighbour was a music venue began repeatedly complaining in regards to the noise.

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As soon as once more, the end result at La Tulipe was an accumulation of fines for the homeowners. The scenario may need killed the venue for good if the homeowners hadn’t introduced the battle to gentle on social media, which gathered sufficient consideration from residents for the town to lastly take discover and assist mediate the battle. The town additionally acknowledged having made an “administrative error” relating to zoning.

I can consider seven or so small, impartial venues within the metropolis which have closed within the final 5 years for comparable causes: excessive rents, noise complaints and different elements related to the gentrification of neighbourhoods with a beforehand thriving cultural scene.

The fact is Montreal’s cultural panorama is on the verge of dying as the town turns into extra unaffordable for extra folks. Small, impartial companies merely can not afford skyrocketing hire will increase. And the closing of cultural areas is making it onerous for artists to outlive, by no means thoughts thrive, in what was as soon as Canada’s cultural capital.

Why does Montreal not have laws to guard cultural areas from extreme gentrification? It’s time for the town administration to step in, as was finished in London, England, in 2017 with its “Rescue Plan for London’s Grassroots Music Venues” — “a package deal of measures to handle issues in planning, licensing, enterprise charges, promotion and music tourism.”

If you happen to’ve taken a stroll across the metropolis, you’ve seen the derelict state of streets and empty storefronts deserted due to sky-high rents. But, this summer time, the town was boasting about how a lot it cares about tradition. The reality is way from it.

If the hope was that our metropolis’s tradition scene was going to come back again sturdy as pandemic measures have been relaxed, we have been sorely mistaken. POP Montreal is aware of it; anybody who’s been paying consideration is aware of it. We’re susceptible to changing into one other lifeless metropolis with none spark that defines us. Is that this what we wish?

A suggestion for POP Montreal: As a substitute of “R.I.P. MILE END”, make it “R.I.P. MONTREAL.” It’s only a matter of time.

Yara El-Soueidi is a author and tradition columnist primarily based in Montreal.

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