PRESS RELEASE
Launch of a digital toolkit for critical thinking about cultural appropriation and a way of acting together.
Montreal, June 19th 2023 - The Conseil québécois du théâtre (CQT) is proud to announce the launch of an innovative toolkit designed to get people thinking critically about cultural appropriation in the theatre world and encourage them to work collectively. This kit is intended to promote the creation of a more inclusive, representative theatre that respects the diversity of Quebec’s cultural history.
Theatre is a powerful art that can generate social transformations and encourage intercultural dialogue. But it is essential to review the approaches we take, avoiding any kind of cultural appropriation while at the same time not interfering with creative freedom. The CQT toolkit is an indispensable resource for artists, creators, producers and promoters of artistic projects. It contains evolving tools designed to promote critical thinking and stimulate dialogue.
The kit’s website has been built based on current accessibility standards, allowing people with disabilities (impaired vision, impaired hearing, etc.) to use it freely on all kinds of digital devices like computers, tablets and smartphones.
The Conseil québécois du théâtre thanks the Canada Council for the Arts for the generous support that made it possible to create this digital toolkit on cultural appropriation. The initial research to develop the content was funded by a Mitacs research grant to a CQT-UQAM partnership.
The CQT thanks everyone who worked, advised, supported and participated in this project, especially the creative team: Monia Abdallah, art history professor at UQAM and member of the CQT’s Comité Théâtre et Diversité culturelle since 2018; Geneviève Bélisle, theatre artist and Ph.D. student at UQAM; Raffaela Siniscalchi, former head of the CQT digital development unit.
The CQT’s cultural appropriation toolkit and additional information can be found at: https://appropriation.cqt.ca
About CQT
The Conseil québécois du théâtre brings together and represents Quebec's professional theater practitioners and organizations to promote the development and influence of the art of theatre in all its diversity.
Press contact
Marie-Michelle Demers
Communications Manager, CQT
communication@cqt.qc.ca