Background
La Machinerie was established as a not-for-profit organization in 2014. Since then, we have operated as a collective effort of the artistic community, providing members with solutions to a wide-range of issues.
A central theme of our early discussions was access to human resources, especially within theatre. A group of artists and cultural workers imagined an operation capable of improving conditions of practice for creators and managers working in the performing arts. They were able to turn this dream into reality.
This brainstorming group included Nini Bélanger, Christine Curnillon, Véronique Fontaine, George Krump, Étienne Langlois, David Lavoie, Valérie Michaud, Jacques Vézina and Mélanie Demers.
2013
Concept phase
Brainstorming committee, business plan development
2014
Birth of the organization
Establishment of not-for-profit status under the temporary name Le Bureau, gestion des arts
2016
Public launch
- Establishment of a partnership with La Vitrine culturelle de Montréal
- Change of name to la Machinerie des arts
- Start of service delivery: Expert Workshops and Collaboration Unit
- Official public launch event in the foyer of 2-22 (September 22, 2016)
- Hiring of project managers (2 positions: Rachel Billet and Pablo Matos).
2017
Gradual rollout of service offering
- Move to suite 102 at 2-22, still in partnership with La Vitrine culturelle de Montréal
- Introduction of a new service: Orientation Session
- Honourable mention at the 2017 Prix de la Relève — Caisse de la Culture awards
- Launch of a new service: Support Unit
- Creation of first 20 management tools, Toolbox pilot project
- Nomination of Rachel Billet as General Manager
2018
An organization active in its community
- Relocation to the Grover Building in south-central Montréal
- Winner of the 2018 Prix de la relève — Caisse Desjardins
- Launch of the Toolbox: 106 new tools presented at the Maison du Conseil des Arts de Montréal
2019
A rapidly growing organization
- 360 Clinics pilot project and service continuation
- Spread of educational activities through regional training sessions
2020
More services available
- Toolbox improvements—85 tools added in English, 32 with new content; the Toolbox now has nearly 200 templates and samples.
- Development of a new service: the Organizational Mapping
- Closing of the office (telecommuting) and beginning of nomadism.
- Rachel Billet is a finalist in the ARISTA 2020 provincial competition presented by the Jeune chambre de commerce de Montréal
2021
More social engagements
- The Machinery engage itself in several projects for its 2021-2023 strategic plan. Among the identified objectives : be more inclusive, more accessible, more responsible and nomadic.
- The first action done to introduce theses social objectives was to remove the fee for the membership. Now, the cultural community can access the services more easily.
- Creation of a Lab Machinerie to create new tools to facilitate digital literacy.
- Appointment of Ariel Lefebvre as service agent after more than 2 years as coordinator.
- Installation of the Machinerie’s offices at the Chapelle historique du bon pasteur in a shared space with the group Le Vivier (sharing the 2nd floor), on Sherbrooke Street East in Montreal
2022
A team dedicated to its community
- Rachel Billet receives the Young Cultural Manager Award from HEC Montréal