Word from the Director

Word from the Artistic Director — D. Kimm

How does one manage to be both touching and cheeky? Unsettling and inclusive? Impassioned and honourable? By taking risks. By trusting. Trusting the artists, and trusting the audiences. That’s what I’ve learned over these last 10 years: how to work alongside the performers and festival-goers. We’ve grown together and I feel extremely privileged.

With the FVA, I wanted to do something different. To make a space for experimentation and creativity where people felt at ease speaking out in true and original voices. My favourite words? Daring, transgression, sincerity. Be free, do not compromise on creativity, do not fit the mould. Surprise and be surprised. Which means: change, try, make mistakes. Anyway, I adore imperfection.

What a long road it’s been since that epic debut, when I was more or less alone in organizing this eclectic, inclusive and therefore demanding Festival. Thank you to all those who were there and to those who are there now to support me and my slightly mad ideas. Thank you to my Board and to the Chair, Monique Simard, as well as to all those who give us financial support, even in small amounts. Thank you to the curious audiences who, with an abundance of arts events to choose from, still come to our shows.

Thank you most of all to the artists—so generous and inventive—who help make the FVA such a lively place. The Festival is a reflection of who they are: positively deviant, full of fun, and creatively daring.

Of course, we still have to struggle. Everyone agrees, we deserve better funding. But I am a warrior and I have many plans for the next 10 years. I believe they’ll knock you a bit sideways. That’s what you expect from me, isn’t it?

To all of you—artists, collaborators, partners and audiences—joining us for this 10th anniversary Festival Voix d’Amériques, I wish you a romping good electric time.

D. Kimm