Le Vivier was founded in 2007 by 22 federated organizations, and two years later launched a program in Montreal as Quebec's only specialized new music presenter.
A unifying force in the milieu, with over 60 members (44 NPOs and 7 emerging artists), Le Vivier is active in Montreal's cultural sector, keeping the door to new music and contemporary repertoire open to all.
In 2019, Le Vivier welcomed a dual general and artistic director and re-launches its artistic, governance and venue committees. A technical coordinator and a communications resource will be appointed to provide better support for artists entering theatres.
In search of a venue to establish a crossroads for new music, Le Vivier spent 7 years at the Gesù, where, as principal resident organization, it became a major partner in the building's renovations. Le Vivier presented several seasons, including the 10th edition of Le Vivier, featuring 38 events and 12,000 spectators.
The pandemic has not slowed us down, offering a wide range of cultural activities and promoting artistic projects through webcasts: 219 performers, 94 works - 22 creations, 22 concerts - have enabled audiences from all over the world to hear our music.
In 2021, Le Vivier turned to new presentation partnerships with venues suited to the plurality of its proposals, offering concerts in multiple formats at the Wilder Building, CIRMMT at the Multimedia Hall (MMR) of McGill University's Schulich School of Music, La Chapelle - Scènes Contemporaines. The team moves to the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur (CHBP), where it sets up a new shared workspace.
A fire at the CHBP in 2023 resulted in the loss of offices, technical equipment and mediation tools, accelerating the search for a new location for the team and artists. On February 1, 2024, Le Vivier moved its offices to an Anglican church in Rosemont. In partnership with Voxpopuli, the venue became a music center, an incubator for up-and-coming artists, a production center and a concert venue.
Le Vivier pilots an international network for the exchange and circulation of works and artists through the IN/PACT-Musiques Nouvelles initiative (formerly CARTEL), with the ambition of including presenters from Latin America and Asia. Today, this network brings people together and contributes to the influence of all.
Today, Le Vivier's programming includes over 50 events attended by 16,000 people.
Le Vivier has 15 years of programming, 451 concerts and over 500 creations presented in concert halls and online.
