Mondial des Cultures
Encyclopedia
The Mondial des Cultures (formerly called the Festival Mondial de Folklore (World Folklore Festival) is a folk
dance festival which is held every summer in early July at the Woodyatt Park, in Drummondville, a city located in the Centre-du-Québec
region. The event was founded in 1982, after members of the folk ensemble Mackinaw had attended a similar festival in Dijon, France. The festival is in its 28th edition, and ran from July 9–19, 2009.
During the eleven days of celebration, dozens of renowned artists and folk ensembles from around the world participate in this event which has attracted in recent years an average of over 300,000 visits per year. The annual budget is 2.2 million Canadian dollars and the economic benefits are estimated at 16.7 million Canadian dollars, according to a study conducted by the survey firm CROP in 2007. Such statistics make the Mondial des Cultures one of the four largest folk festivals in the world. It is also one of the figureheads of the Canadian Section of the CIOFF
(International Organization of Folklore Festival and Traditional Arts), an organization in formal consultative relations with UNESCO
.
"Develop and hold an international cultural event which displays the facets of various traditions of the world in a festival for the whole family where a brotherhood and universal spirit of peace prevails."
Folklore, in North America
and around the world
.
Twenty-seven years later, some 90 countries have been represented through dance
and music
performed by more than 430 different artistic groups. In 1998, a shift began with the change of name, to upgrade the image of the event and also to expand the programming, and focus more and more on the younger public and families. Immersed in an ocean of summer festivals and attractions of all kinds, the Mondial des Cultures has managed to distinguish itself by its content and its product. Member of RÉMI (Regroupement des événements majeurs internationaux du Québec) since 1999, the organization plays a key role in the biggest events in Québec.
, Zachary Richard
, la Compagnie Créole
or Grégory Charles
. In 2009, the headliners are Florence K
, Kaïn
, Dan Bigras
, Marie-Mai
, Natalie Choquette, Stefie Shock
, and Shilvi.
Folk dancing is at the heart of the artistic vision of the 2009 edition. However, there is also the desire to explore new content related to folklore and the culture that underpins it. It is based on the following objectives :
Ensure the broadcasting and promotion of Québécois, Canadian and international folklore to a large and diverse audience (the regions, other Canadian provinces and territories, and of course, countries throughout the world);
Countries represented by folk ensembles for the 2009 edition
Canada
– Ivory Coast - Scotland
- Ecuador
- Greece
- Hungary
- Israel
- Mexico
- Paraguay
- Russia
- Serbia
- Taiwan
Countries represented by folk ensembles for the 2008 edition
Argentina
- Republic of Belarus - Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Egypt
- Spain
- France
– Republic of Georgia - India
- Lithuania
- Mexico
- Slovakia
- Switzerland
- Tahiti
Our spokespersons
Folk
The English word Folk is derived from a Germanic noun, *fulka meaning "people" or "army"...
dance festival which is held every summer in early July at the Woodyatt Park, in Drummondville, a city located in the Centre-du-Québec
Centre-du-Québec
Centre-du-Québec is a region of Quebec, Canada. The main centres are Drummondville, Victoriaville and Bécancour. It has a land area of 6,928.78 km² and a 2006 census population of 224,200 inhabitants.-Description:...
region. The event was founded in 1982, after members of the folk ensemble Mackinaw had attended a similar festival in Dijon, France. The festival is in its 28th edition, and ran from July 9–19, 2009.
During the eleven days of celebration, dozens of renowned artists and folk ensembles from around the world participate in this event which has attracted in recent years an average of over 300,000 visits per year. The annual budget is 2.2 million Canadian dollars and the economic benefits are estimated at 16.7 million Canadian dollars, according to a study conducted by the survey firm CROP in 2007. Such statistics make the Mondial des Cultures one of the four largest folk festivals in the world. It is also one of the figureheads of the Canadian Section of the CIOFF
CIOFF
The International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Art , is an International Nongovernmental Organization in formal consultative relation with UNESCO. CIOFF has 65 full members, 5 associate members and 18 corresponding members worldwide...
(International Organization of Folklore Festival and Traditional Arts), an organization in formal consultative relations with UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
.
Mission
The Mondial des Cultures aims to hold a high quality festival for spectators that are eager to discover cultures of the world while respecting its mission to:"Develop and hold an international cultural event which displays the facets of various traditions of the world in a festival for the whole family where a brotherhood and universal spirit of peace prevails."
History
The very first edition of the Mondial des Cultures was founded in July 1982 thanks to the support of the Canadian Council of Folk Art (Conseil canadien des arts populaires) and the Carrefour socio-culturel of Drummondville. The spontaneous support of the local population made the success of the event instantaneous and the festival rapidly became a reference in the QuébecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
Folklore, in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and around the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
.
Twenty-seven years later, some 90 countries have been represented through dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
performed by more than 430 different artistic groups. In 1998, a shift began with the change of name, to upgrade the image of the event and also to expand the programming, and focus more and more on the younger public and families. Immersed in an ocean of summer festivals and attractions of all kinds, the Mondial des Cultures has managed to distinguish itself by its content and its product. Member of RÉMI (Regroupement des événements majeurs internationaux du Québec) since 1999, the organization plays a key role in the biggest events in Québec.
The sites of the Mondial des Cultures
The Woodyatt Park, located in the heart of the City of Drummondville, is the historic place where all the festivities take place each summer. The variety of scheduled activities during the Mondial des Cultures all take place here.- The Grande Place SAQ: the main stage offers grand scale entertainment. It can accommodate more than 3,500 persons seated and 6,000 standing. Some thirty major productions take place at the Grande Place SAQ.
- The Folkothèque Bluberi: 800 people are invited under a huge tent to join in an intimate encounter with folk dancers and musicians. Spectators are also invited to do a few dance steps with the performers. Over 55 interactive performances are held here through the 11 day festival.
- The Pavillon des Cultures Loto-Québec: redefines the word culture in all its aspects. This is a place where one can discover the customs and traditions, games, tasting of typical dishes, all this enticing the five senses. Visitors can participate to one of the 75 scheduled activities.
- The Youth Area Hydro-Québec: especially designed for children 2 to 12 years old. This area provides games, makeup, tinkering, and board games. In addition, some twenty performances featuring the folk ensembles especially designed for the young ones take place during the festival.
- Flavor’s Alley: eight exhibitors give the public a chance to discover culinary treasures through food tasting.
- Artisans Boulev’Art of Québec: visitors are invited to meet some thirty artisans who offer a variety of crafts.
- The International Market: an international souk composed of some thirty stands all offer traditional imports from different countries.
The International Parade
This year, the International parade launches the celebrations of the Mondial des Cultures in the streets of Drummondville where hundreds of artists from around the world dance, sing and share their passion with the tens of thousands of spectators expected along the way. During the 1.1 km in open air, the magic takes place every year thanks to the interchange between the dancers and the public. For the 28th edition, the parade will be followed by a Bal des Nations, a new free event during which all the folk ensembles mingle with the public in a multicultural evening full of colors on the Grande Place SAQ.The artists
During its 27 years, 92 countries were represented at the Mondial des Cultures with over 430 dance artistic groups and 25,000 artists. Several major artists have performed on center stage such as CorneilleCorneille (singer)
Cornelius Nyungura is a singer who performs under the name Corneille. He was born in Germany to Rwandan parents, though he currently holds a Canadian passport and sings in French and English...
, Zachary Richard
Zachary Richard
Zachary Richard is a Cajun singer/songwriter and poet. His music is an innovative combination of Cajun and Zydeco musical styles.-Biography:...
, la Compagnie Créole
La Compagnie Creole
La Compagnie Créole is a popular French pop band from French Guiana and the French West Indies, who started singing in the 1980s. They originally started singing in Creole but quickly adopted French as their main language...
or Grégory Charles
Gregory Charles
Gregory Charles is a Quebec performing artist of French Canadian and Trinidadian origin.-Biography:...
. In 2009, the headliners are Florence K
Florence K
Florence K was a steamboat that was operated on Puget Sound from 1903. This vessel was later renamed Gloria and was rebuilt as a steam ferry and renamed Beeline.- Career:...
, Kaïn
Kaïn
Kaïn is a folk rock group from the town of Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. The group of four is made up of Steve Veilleux , Yanick Blanchette , Patrick Lemieux and Éric Maheu...
, Dan Bigras
Dan Bigras
Dan Bigras is a francophone rock singer and actor from Canada. He was discovered by Gerry Boulet in 1983, and his first album Ange Animal was released in 1990....
, Marie-Mai
Marie-Mai
Marie-Mai Bouchard also known as her stage name Marie-Mai, is a French Canadian singer from Quebec...
, Natalie Choquette, Stefie Shock
Stefie Shock
Stefie Shock is a Québécois singer-songwriter.-Profile:Previously a Montreal disc jockey, Shock crafts a modern sound, notably with funk and pop influences. He sings in a low, conspiratorial voice; prominently inspired by his idol, French singer Serge Gainsbourg...
, and Shilvi.
Folk dancing is at the heart of the artistic vision of the 2009 edition. However, there is also the desire to explore new content related to folklore and the culture that underpins it. It is based on the following objectives :
Ensure the broadcasting and promotion of Québécois, Canadian and international folklore to a large and diverse audience (the regions, other Canadian provinces and territories, and of course, countries throughout the world);
- Organize a popular festival respecting quality and authenticity standards set by its own renowned image ;
- Participate in the cultural development of Canadian arts and popular traditions ;
- Attract younger visitors through TRAD and world music ;
- Broaden the understanding of every facets of international culture (food tasting, customs and traditions, games and films of the world, etc.) ;
- Encourage active participation and proximity and exchanges amongst artists and visitors ;
- Promote knowledge and experience sharing among artists, through collaboration between artistic directors, and humorous activities between dancers, artists and visitors alike.
Countries represented by folk ensembles for the 2009 edition
Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
– Ivory Coast - Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
- Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
- Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
- Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
- Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
- Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
- Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
- Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
- Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
- Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
Countries represented by folk ensembles for the 2008 edition
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
- Republic of Belarus - Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
- Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
- Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
- Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
- France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
– Republic of Georgia - India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
- Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
- Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
- Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
- Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
- Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
Our spokespersons
- 2009 : Florence KFlorence KFlorence K was a steamboat that was operated on Puget Sound from 1903. This vessel was later renamed Gloria and was rebuilt as a steam ferry and renamed Beeline.- Career:...
- 2008 and 2007 : Sonia BenezraSonia BenezraSonia Benezra is a Canadian TV and radio interviewer and personality and actress who formerly hosted shows on MusiquePlus, MusiMax, MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic. She hosted a daily live talk show on the French-language TQS television, also open to English-speaking entertainment figures, for five...
Green is a part of the festival's culture
Four years ago, the Mondial des Cultures took a turn for green by becoming an eco-responsible event. To counteract the greenhouse gases due to the travelling of our artists from the four corners of the world, a Green Committee has been planting trees for the past three years, on a designated site of the City of Drummondville. During the event in July, the Mondial carries out actions such as recuperating, promoting green awareness and prevention.External links
- Mondial des Cultures
- Mackinaw, host group of the festival
- Ministry for Culture, Communications and Women Status (Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine)
- Ministry for Tourism (Ministère du Tourisme)
- Heritage Canada
- REMI (Regroupement des événements majeurs internationaux du Québec)
- French audio interview with the new CEO Marie-France Bourgeois for "Les Baladodiffusions DuBon et DuCon" by Serge Lemire, in june 2008.
- French audio interview with Marie-France Bourgeois for "Les Baladodiffusions DuBon et DuCon" by Serge Lemire, in july 2009.