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For over five years now, Le Vivier has been developing a youth program that takes various forms: family and school workshops, youth show programming, and youth project calls, particularly for very young audiences (under 5 years old), by offering a residency-performance formula adapted to this specific audience.

This initiative aims to develop a new audience for Le Vivier by making creative music accessible to families and early childhood professionals.

Through this initiative, Le Vivier aims to highlight different forms of performances. By offering artistic formulas that consider the multisensory aspect of creation for very young audiences, it aims to create a musical performance that emphasizes body movement, interaction with the environment, and active audience participation.

// LE VIVIER YOUTH MODULES

For very young children, perceptions engage the whole being; there is no dissociation. They experience music multisensorially. Therefore, it is important to consider the role of movement and the body, which is essential for them, in creating performances for very young audiences. How can we go beyond passive frontal representation by offering the audience a listening context adapted to their way of perceiving a sound universe?

Le Vivier offers six modules that allow for various interactions with very young children and the creation of multiple artistic scenarios where the audience and artists can meet in original ways. The devices can be used together or separately.

They are adaptable to the artistic concepts developed by the artists, through the use of textures, materials, etc. They provide support to create environments suited to the size of the children, allowing for moving or wandering performances.

// LE VIVIER OFFERS

CREATION COMPONENT

Residency:

• Two five-day residency periods (total of 10 days);
• A mentorship meeting with an artist experienced in creating for very young audiences;
• Support for co-creating the project from Le Vivier.

Experimentation:

• Two visits to daycare centers or CPEs (workshops, material presentations, tests);
• Feedback session with educators to discuss children's experiences;
• The opportunity to attend a performance dedicated to very young audiences during the 2024-2025 season.

DISTRIBUTION COMPONENT

• Two public performances of the show in April or May 2025 (dates to be defined with Le Vivier).

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

A maximum amount of $15,000 will be allocated to the member(s) for the completion of the detailed project as follows:

• Work commission // $5000
• Creation and experimentation component // $5000
• Show presentation in 2025 // $5000

For the entire project, Le Vivier assumes:

• The fees for the project coordinator, Véronique Dubois;
• Venue and technical assistance fees during residencies and the first public presentation;
• Promotion of the event by Le Vivier.

ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL DIRECTION

The artistic and technical direction of the selected project is the responsibility of the chosen ensemble. Le Vivier supports the co-creation of the project and reserves the right to make adjustments to a preliminary version that must be presented to them.

CO-PRODUCTION

The project involves artistic and financial investment from the selected artist(s), especially for project ideation, technical aspects, and engagement of support artists for the design as needed.

Le Vivier could support the circulation of the project following the first public presentation in May 2025 and its marketing. This support will be discussed later.

// ELIGIBILITY

The project call is open to organizations or individuals who are members of Le Vivier and their collaborators.

// PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION STEPS

Application deadline: August 12, 2024 - noon

SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2024

• Preliminary work for project ideation;
• Discussion with the artistic director of the selected project in collaboration with Véronique Dubois;
• Mentorship meeting;
• Visits to daycare centers or CPEs;
• Five days of residency for exploration with the modules.

JANUARY-MAY 2025

• Five days of residency to continue developing the proposal and working on the show;
• Presentation of the work to an audience.

// APPLICATION EVALUATION

Evaluation process:

The application will be evaluated by a jury specialized in youth performance. The artistic director, in consultation with a committee consisting of the coordinator, a COCART member, and a specialist in very young audience performance, will participate in selecting a project, considering the results of the quadrennial grants obtained.

Evaluation criteria:

• Artistic quality of the proposal;
• Originality of the project and the presentation format to the public;
• Risk-taking in the project realization process;
• Integration of the modules;
• Integration of multisensory components (body movement, interaction with the environment, active audience participation);
• Project impact in the youth performance field;
• Openness and interest of the artist in developing a project adapted for very young audiences.

The artist must be available for:

• Residencies and training days;
• The presentation of the creation in May 2025.

// APPLICATION PRESENTATION

The application must include:

List of participants including a biography and the role of each person in the project (1 page)

Project description including objectives and motivations related to the evaluation criteria (2 pages)

Two examples of previous works supporting the proposed project (audio/video recording, web link, score, etc.)

The final work must be:

• Adapted for children between 1 and 5 years old;
• Acoustic;
• Presented by a maximum of four performers;
• 30 to 40 minutes long;
• A coherent musical form. The music can include several musical sequences (improvised, composed, etc.)

It may:

• Include a commission for a composer;
• Be presented by musicians from different ensembles.

ANNEX

// DESCRIPTION OF LE VIVIER YOUTH MODULES

THE CUSHIONS

There are 12 of them. They are covered with a case into which things can be slipped to make them sound.

Stacked, they can form one or more sculptures or mark the path as stages. They can be used to cuddle up, linger, or transform into characters. Let the imagination run wild.

THE OPEN/CLOSED CABIN

In its closed version, the cabin is like a small house with openings around which people gather and listen to what is happening inside.

In its open version, it can unfold into two or four interconnected panels and become walls behind which one can hide. An invitation to play hide and seek, surprises, or a small musical theater.

THE QUARTERS

The Quarters module forms a space of circles around which people gather, where one can sit, explore, and listen. One can be inside or outside. When deployed, they can form waves or a serpentine, where one can sit astride one behind the other. Separated, they become small benches where one can stop.

Each quarter circle can be dressed on the sides to hide some hiding places.

THE ARBOR

Sitting or lying down, listening and watching what is happening above our heads, and dreaming.

Adults often forget that they are giants to very young children who look up at them.

Observing the inaccessible by hands but perceptible by ears and eyes is often fascinating for the child. Sounds, colors, shapes suspended above the heads ring and swirl for the pleasure of the awakened senses.

THE TUNNEL

One ventures into it like passing through an entrance or exit door. A place of passage or exploration.

One can discover things hanging on the walls. One traverses it in one direction or another, with small steps, in cadence, or on all fours.