NEWS RELEASE

What is Quebec culture becoming in times of Internet and the planet?

Quebecers from all regions invited to debate: Is globalization threatening our culture?

MONTREAL, March 14, 2007 – Quebecers from all regions are invited to participate in an unprecedented forum on their culture. Following the success of the meetings on February 2 and 3, with the participation of 850 citizens throughout Quebec, people in great numbers are expected at the next debate on March 16 and 17. The theme will be What is Quebec culture becoming in times of Internet and the planet? Held simultaneously in nine cities, this second regional meeting will be followed by a national rendez-vous in Montreal on April 27 and 28.

In times of new digital technologies, iPods, cell phones and the Internet – in brief, the global village – we ask ourselves: how does all this influence Quebec culture and what are our future avenues? Is globalization threatening our culture? These are some of the important questions that will be debated this weekend at the Strategic Rendez-Vous on Culture, organized by the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM).

The population is also invited to debate these questions on the interactive forum at INM's website (www.inm.qc.ca Rendez-vous – Forum interactif section).

The objective of INM's Strategic Rendez-Vous on Culture is to allow citizens, through dialogue with experts and practitioners, to suggest strategic choices on crucial cultural issues to public decision-makers and stakeholders from the various sectors in question. The co-presidents of the committee are Gérard Bouchard, sociologist and historian, professor in the Department of Humanities of Université du Québec à Chicoutimi and holder of the Canada Research Chair on Comparative Dynamics and Collective Imaginaries, and Céline Saint-Pierre, sociologist and President of the Board of Directors of the Fernand Dumont Chair on Culture and past President of the Conseil supérieur de l'éducation.

“The Quebec cultural landscape has greatly diversified over the last decades and this trend seems to be increasing, notably due to the Internet and other recent means of communication that allow all individuals to build their own universe of reference,” states Mr. Bouchard. “The result is a great diversification of cultural life with references, methods of production and consumption that are, at times, very individualized. Do these changes reflect an enrichment or a weakening of Quebec culture? In exchange for this ‘individualized' culture, is there currently an emergence of new forms of a culture shared by the majority of Quebecers?”

“In the new communication space created by globalization, a threat or a new horizon of expansion and affirmation of Quebec culture can be observed,” continues Céline Saint-Pierre. “In this regard, are Quebecers waiting, defensive and withdrawn? Or are they inventive, taking initiative and showing leadership? New information and communication technologies, given their potential and versatility, can contribute to making our culture more accessible to a greater number of citizens.”

INM's Strategic Rendez-Vous on Culture includes the participation of some one hundred prominent figures, such as author Dany Laferrière in Montreal, and actress Marie Gignac in Québec City. The general public is invited to come and discuss Quebec culture in their company. Together, the participants will determine the strategies required to consolidate Quebec culture and ensure its dissemination and development.

“The purpose of the Rendez-Vous is to encourage citizens to reflect on the state of Quebec culture and provide them with the opportunity to debate its future,” explains Michel Venne, Executive Director of the INM. “Choices, approaches and concrete suggestions will be brought out and the INM is committed to disseminating these on a large scale, particularly to decision-makers.”

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Source:
Institut du Nouveau Monde

Information:
Roch Bilodeau
1 877 934-5999, extension 227 819 347-7622

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