Crossing the boundaries of artistic disciplines, this prolific duo enjoyed a banner year with an exceptional program. Lemieux and Pilon kicked off the International Digital Arts Biennial of Montreal with the exhibition Dreamscapes: 30 Years of Innovative Performances at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. They also presented Continuum at Montreal’s Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium, its first collaboration with this major scientific institution. In addition, they performed Icare at TNM and Norman at Place des arts. A forerunner of the interdisciplinary marriage of the digital arts, carving out its unique place, Lemieux Pilon 4D Art remains unclassifiable, combining the performing arts and new media while exploring new artistic ground.

As the winner of the 30th Grand Prix, Lemieux Pilon 4D Art will also receive a commemorative artwork that will be created by a Montreal artist over the coming year. This work will be awarded at the 31st Grand Prix luncheon in 2016.

The Chair of the Conseil des arts de Montréal, Jan-Fryderyk Pleszczynski, announced the winner in the presence of Manon Gauthier, Executive Committee Member Responsible for Culture, Heritage, Design, the Space for Life and the Status of Women, as well as Marie Côté, Director of specialized channels ICI ARTV and ICI EXPLORA of Radio-Canada, the Official Partner of the Grand Prix. More than 700 figures from the arts, business and municipal sectors attended this annual event, co-hosted by Patrick Masbourian (Radio-Canada) and Marie-Soleil Michon (ICI ARTV). The musicians of the Tounkara-Lavoie Trio, who won the Diversity Award in 2014, as well as Queen Ka, performed for the occasion.

Presided over by Jan-Fryderyk Pleszczynski, the jury of the 30th Grand Prix was composed of Kathy R. Assayag, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal; Mellissa Larivière, Executive and Artistic Director of the Zone Homa Festival and winner of the 2014 Prix de la relève awarded by the Caisse de la culture; Louise Lecavalier, dancer and choreographer of Fou Glorieux and winner of the 2013 Grand Prix; and Robert Proulx, Rector of the Université du Québec à Montréal.

Each of the nominated organizations will receive the sum of $5,000, owing to the generosity of several Montreal patrons of the arts: François Gratton/TELUS, René Malo, Luc Plamondon, Louise Roy, Jean-Louis Roy, John Stokes/Real Ventures, and two anonymous donors. The finalists for the 2014 Grand Prix included Agence Topo, ARCMTL, Biennale de Montréal, Orange Noyée – Mani Soleymanlou, Quasar Saxophone Quartet, Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM), Zab Maboungou/Compagnie Danse Nyata Nyata.

Le Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal Every year since 1985, the Grand Prix du Conseil des arts de Montréal has recognized the excellence and vitality of a Montreal arts organization. The Festival du nouveau cinéma, Cirque du Soleil and Compagnie Marie Chouinard are among former winners who have helped to build Montreal’s creative and innovative culture, which is celebrated at this event. For the 30th anniversary of the Grand Prix, the Conseil des arts de Montréal teamed up with La Vitrine and the Accords–Le Bistro restaurant to honour all prizewinners since 1985. A tribute wall displaying a photograph of each winner can be seen at the Accords–Le Bistro restaurant at 22 St. Catherine Street East.