THE 11TH FIMA: AN UNFORGETTABLE ANIVERSARY!

Montreal, July 19th, 2010 - The 11th edition of the FIMA ended this past Sunday, July 11th, with an award ceremony that took place at the Arts Lounge. Close to $8,000 was attributed to fourteen award recipients, including BELO, WINNER OF THE FESTIVAL GRAND PRIZE, and François FORTIER, who took home the Public’s choice award.

Other winners include:

VISUAL ARTS CATEGORY:
Daniel ERBAN, Award of Excellency
Sarah MARCOTTE-BOISLARD, Photography
Roch LANDRY, Abstract Art
Vincent LESSARD, Figurative Art

Honorary mentions:
Tanya JOHNSTON – Photography
David BROWN – Abstract
Mandi MORGAN – Figurative

THE CRAFTWORK PRIZE:
Atelier GAÏA

Honorary mentions :
Maciej Dyszkiewicz – Glassblowing
ILADESIGN – Jewellery
Kaléï Mozaïque – Mosaic
Maxime Charbonneau – fine leather goods maker

Jury’s members :
Visual arts : ISABELLE GAUTHIER / VALÉRIE RACINE / JEAN FORTIN
Crafts : JEAN-LOUIS MIREAULT / LOUIS-GEORGES L'ÉCUYER / FRANCE BRIÈRE

OTHER AWARDS:
Etienne TREMBLAY-TARDIF, Prix Raymond FURLOTTE – Political Art
Hélène CENEDESE, Discovery Prize by the Galerie Dentaire

The success of the 2010 edition marked a turning point in FIMA’s history. Despite the hot summer weather, 450 000 visitors came to experience the art of more than 300 artists and a dozen performances, film projections, live painting and craft works demonstrations.

Most importantly, the 11th FIMA was a terrain for exchanges and encounters between the public and artists and between creators of all disciplines from across the globe. Holding the event on 11 days allowed for a great number of artists and visitors to benefit from this platform. A hands-on learning experience that will surely become a tradition…

This edition was made possible by the ministère des Affaires municipales, des Régions et de l’Occupation du territoire (MAMROT), the Ville-Marie borough, Patrimoine canadien, the government of Canada and the SDC-Village, Eska, Martini, Holiday Inn, the festival’s cultural partners like SAT, the Vidéographe, the Écomusée du fier monde and Vision Diversité and the help of a team of dedicated volunteers.

The following media partners offered us crucial support: CTV, Canadian art, Être, Nomag.ca, 2B, le Guide gai du Québec, RB, Funmaps, Outlooks, Magazin’art, Magazine urbain, Priape and Décover.

What’s the FIMA?
The FIMA (Festival International Montréal en Arts) is the biggest open air art gallery in Eastern Canada. On its 11th edition, close to 300 artists, exhibitors and performers will present their work to the public on Sainte-Catherine Street, between Saint-Hubert and Papineau. For the public, it is an exceptional opportunity to meet directly with professional and emerging artists from all horizons of the visual arts. Performances and demonstrations show art in motion, live and short lived, while the outdoor exhibition allows visitors to get close to artworks which are usually confined to galleries. The public can purchase a work of art from the artist directly, while the artists can benefit from an immediate feedback from the public, and have access to a whole new clientele. This is how the FIMA, who is celebrating its 11th anniversary, organizes every year this great outdoor encounter which helps demystify and democratize arts.