Fondation Dynastie and Juste pour rire Join Forces
Montreal, November 1, 2023 - Fondation Dynastie and Juste pour rire, two pillars of Montreal's cultural industry, are proud to announce their new partnership to promote diversity and inclusion within the comedy industry, while providing unprecedented opportunities for emerging talent from black communities.
This innovative partnership is built around a number of initiatives that will open new doors and inspire future comedians. Firstly, a unique training program designed by the École nationale de l'humour will be launched to support the next generation of comedians. Participants will have the opportunity to learn alongside recognized professionals, an essential springboard for developing their careers in the laughter industry.
A highlight of this collaboration will be the creation of a show on Juste pour rire's large outdoor stage during the 2024 festival. This event promises to bring a dose of memorable laughter to festival goers, while showcasing talented artists who embody the cultural richness of Montreal.
Finally, this partnership will extend behind the scenes of the comedy world. It will offer opportunities to those who aspire to work in the industry's technical and/or creative professions. By facilitating immersion in these essential positions, Fondation Dynastie and Juste pour rire are opening up new professional avenues, while contributing to a more inclusive cultural environment.
"For the past 7 years, Fondation Dynastie has been recognized for its contribution to the production of the Gala Dynastie, which highlights the important contribution of black communities in the cultural, media and arts sectors. Consequently, a desire to do more and concretely help the next generation in their career path became the next logical and crucial step in the deployment of the Foundation's activities." - Carla Beauvais, Executive Director, Fondation Dynastie
For Patrick Rozon, Chief Creative Officer of Juste pour rire, this partnership is a logical extension of the Group's vision: "One of the pillars of our vision for the Group and the Juste pour rire festival is to get closer to Montreal's cultural communities, to be inspired by them, to make them shine, and thus amplify the festival's social impact. We're thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Fondation Dynasty to offer a unique platform for artists from black communities to shine even brighter and share their stories with an ever-widening audience. Producing festivals and events that are diverse and open to all is very important to us, and we're proud to collaborate with an organization that does exceptional work in providing new opportunities and greater representation for artists from Quebec's black community in the media, arts and cultural industries."
"Rire en scène": a unique training program
Fondation Dynastie is pleased to present a new training program designed to develop emerging black comedians in Quebec! Named Rire en scène, this initiative is the result of a fruitful collaboration with two industry giants, Juste pour rire and the École nationale de l'humour.
For Tracy Paulotte, Head of Programs and Outreach at Fondation Dynastie, the Rire en scène program represents a closer involvement of the organization within the community it serves. "We created this program with a clear idea in mind: to support and guide those who dream of realizing their potential in the world of comedy, by helping them tap into their full professional potential. Rire en scène opens the door to an exceptional group of talents, with the aim of making the humor profession more accessible to people from black communities. This first cohort of Fondation Dynastie symbolizes the beginning of an important change. Thanks to the enthusiastic collaboration of our partners, who are aware of the importance of this program."
Thanks to a practical, interactive and immersive approach, the Rire en scène program will welcome 6 to 8 participants starting in February for a 9-week training course, free of charge. The training includes writing and act creation workshops, as well as mentoring sessions offered by professionals in the field, to give participants the chance to experience the thrill of presenting an act at the Juste pour rire festival and/or Zoofest.
"Laughter is a complex art, and it's essential for budding comedians to develop their skills and explore their own humorous voice. Through this partnership, we aim to provide a dedicated learning space where they can hone their craft and cultivate their creativity. Training like this is a highly significant opportunity for emerging talent, and I'm convinced that we'll see real vocations in humor blossom as a result of this program." - Louise Richer, Founding Executive Director of the École nationale de l'humour.
The Rire en scène program is aimed at passionate comedians from black communities who perform through sketches, videos, vignettes, numbers, or who have already performed on stage. Anyone wishing to hone their skills to deliver a memorable on-stage performance for audiences and industry professionals is invited to apply online now. Registration opens today, November 1, 2023, and closes January 5, 2024. The selection of comedians for the February 2024 cohort will be announced on the websites and social media channels of the Fondation Dynastie, Juste pour rire and L'École nationale de l'humour the week of January 29, 2024.
For more details, visit the programs page at: https: //www.fondationdynastie.com/programmation/rire-en-scene
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About Fondation Dynastie
Fondation Dynastie, which came into being in 2016, actively campaigns to sustainably transform the cultural, artistic and media industries to ensure better representation of black communities in Quebec. Through various initiatives, it supports and accompanies Afro-descendant people evolving in these sectors by facilitating their development and professionalization.
For more information: fondationdynastie.com
About Juse pour rire
A world leader in comedy and home to the world's number 1 comedy festival, the Juste pour rire Group has launched the careers of such talented comedians as Kevin Hart, Jean-Marc Parent, Hasan Minhaj, Eve Côté, Virginie Fortin and Jo Koy. Founded in 1983, the company is an international epicenter for the creation of multiplatform comedy content. Each year, millions of audiences are entertained at its global festivals, from Montreal - the world's largest comedy event - to Toronto and Vancouver, Canada; Austin, USA; London, UK; and Sydney, Australia; featuring thousands of Canadian and international comedians, from established artists to up-and-coming young talent. Constantly growing in terms of audiovisual development and production, the Group's digital and television content is broadcast in over 150 countries and followed by an online audience of over 14 million people. The Group also produces shows and stages its own musicals. Juste pour rire Group is behind the ComedyPRO industry conference, a must-attend event that attracts people from all over the world. For more information, visit hahaha.com
About École nationale de l'humour
Founded in 1988, the École nationale de l'humour is proud to celebrate its 35th anniversary! The world's first professional comedy training school, ÉNH passionately pursues its unique and original mission: to provide training for creators who wish to specialize in the field of humor as comedians, writers or comedy scriptwriters. To date, ÉNH has more than 700 graduates, and their influence on all platforms is the most eloquent testimony to its relevance and impact. They account for over 70% of Quebec's comedic offerings, as well as the number of Olivier graduates in recent years. What's more, ÉNH's expertise is recognized throughout the French-speaking world. It is a private, non-profit educational institution recognized by the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur, and supported by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, Canadian Heritage and the Mécénat Placements Culture program of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. For further information: enh.qc.ca