Cole Foundation Reveals Intercultural Conversations Grant Winners for 2015

The Cole Foundation is proud to announce the latest grants for the Intercultural Conversations-Conversations Interculturelles program, established to encourage greater understanding of Montreal's cultural mosaic by having audiences enjoy professional plays showing diverse cultures on stage and seeing their stories presented. Barry Cole, president and chairman of the Cole Foundation, notes: "Greater social harmony amongst the various cultural communities of Montreal is attainable in this way." These awards, totalling a record $293,000 presented to the highest number of applicants since the program's creation, were granted to theatre companies for their 2015-2017 seasons.

For this year's competition, the Cole Foundation received 36 applications from 25 companies- 16 French and 9 English, the most realistic representation to date of the province's theatre landscape. As well, larger French theatre companies are now submitting requests. The Foundation was happy to see the continuing submission of applications from First Nations theatre companies, companies that specialize in theatre for young audiences as well as an ever-increasing numbers of new companies and applicants. Eight applications were for commissioned plays, 3 for translations, and 25 for production grants. A panel of Montreal theatre professionals adjudicated the applications.

The Cole Foundation broadens the cultural and social experience of theatre-goers in a non-confrontational, respectful way, and more audiences than before will have the opportunity for that experience. According to Cole, this latest competition was unique in that out of 25 companies submitting requests, 19 companies were awarded grants. "As an overall note, applications contained realistic budgets relative to the companies' means. This resulted in grant monies being shared among more companies than ever." Over the past 7 years the Foundation has contributed to the costs of commissioning 27 plays, the translation of 31 plays, production costs of 72 plays, and 5 theatrical workshops. Some of these works have also toured the province, other Canadian provinces, the USA, Europe and beyond.