The SAT turns 30!

Jenny Thibault — The SAT’s mission has always been focused on digital culture, and from the very beginning artists have been central to that. Still, it’s a constant challenge to stay relevant and coherent. When I took on my role in 2021, I succeeded Monique Savoie. Our building needed significant renovations, just when we also had to make major post-pandemic operational changes. While the SAT was a pioneer in immersive art, it no longer has a monopoly. But that hasn’t stopped it from remaining a place for training, research, creation and exhibition that’s unique in the world. It’s a true hub for digital arts.

Jenny Thibault — The SAT is located in the heart of a district that’s unique in North America – the Quartier des Spectacles! It’s an attractive destination for Montrealers and tourists, day and night. It has natural appeal as a place for discovery and it has some underground, fringe elements. It’s a place that contributes to the diversity of Montreal’s cultural life. I remember the first evening I spent at the SAT, long before I worked there. I didn’t know any of the artists performing that night, but that wasn’t a problem because the SAT is synonymous with quality. The SAT plays an important role in artists’ professional development and nurtures new talent. That takes more than research and creation, you also need performance and exhibition.

Jenny Thibault — The business model for musicians has completely changed. Album sales have essentially disappeared, and performing is now their bread and butter. Generally speaking, artists’ lives are more and more precarious. In digital art, they have to adopt hybrid models and work on collaborative projects. They have no choice but to create memorable public experiences. Our role is to work with artists who’ve just completed their education and give them their first opportunity in the digital arts. Fortunately, the SAT is internationally recognized as a talent incubator, and the new generation of artists is brimming with talent.

Jenny Thibault — We’re inviting the public to Futurs Antérieurs, a mini-festival from June 5 to 7, with festive evenings on three floors with distinct ambiances, featuring a mix of artists – local and visiting, new and established. We’re also presenting updated versions of some past works that struck a chord with the public. The idea is to revisit some classics and get a sense of the progress made. So I invite you to a new iteration of Résonance Boréale, from June 30 to July 4, featuring pianist Roman Zavada. Our hope for this year’s special program is that the community will embrace the space and take part in the various festivities happening until the end of the year. We want the SAT to welcome the public like a house where people feel at home and free to explore.

Jenny Thibault — At the SAT, we want technology to be used creatively and build connections. I hope that the technologies of the future, which will be dominated by holograms and augmented reality, will help us vibe together more than ever. Maybe we’ll be able to use tele-presence to bring together people from different countries. So, for example, dancers in Montreal and New York could dance together on the same dancefloor. I think boundaries between different artistic disciplines will tend to disappear, giving way to new ideas based on multisensory experiences. Finally, I hope it will get easier for us to secure funding for avant-garde projects, and that we’ll rediscover the value of accepting mistakes as an essential ingredient for innovation.