Mission in Korea: new opportunities for Montreal
Date
23/03/2026
Key Commitment
The mission to South Korea confirmed the potential for future collaborations between Montreal, Seoul, and Busan. Thanks to an exceptional welcome and a recognition of Montreal’s expertise and creativity, the meetings opened up concrete opportunities for the arts and creative industries, and for cultural innovation.
In a preliminary assessment conducted with the arts organizations that participated in the Mission, the CAM identified several key developments:
- Collaborations centered on dissemination, outreach, touring, and models of cultural and digital innovation.
- Invitations to host Korean delegations in Montreal as early as this summer, paving the way for co-production agreements and export projects.
- A series of reciprocal residencies in visual arts, circus, and digital arts is taking shape for 2027–2029.
Bringing together artists, institutions, creative enterprises, and public partners, and breaking down silos between technology, architecture, museums, and the performing arts, this mission has revealed the power of innovative cross-sector collaboration. This synergy creates a leverage effect that exceeds the combined forces of the individual players.
A momentum to build on
The presence of Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada and Isabelle Dessureault, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, played a decisive role, lending immediate credibility to Montreal organizations in the eyes of major Korean institutions. We thank them and congratulate them on their leadership.
Among the fifty or so figures who joined the Montreal delegation, we should highlight the twenty or so arts organizations supported by the CAM: Atelier Circulaire, the Canadian Music Centre in Quebec, Chambre noire compagnie de création, Cirque Eloize, DynamO Théâtre, Fantasia International Film Festival, the Festival des arts de ruelle, the Guido Molinari Foundation, la compagnie des autres, Le Carré des Lombes, Le Livart, Molior, MUTEK, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the McCord Stewart Museum, the OSM, RUBBERBAND Dance Group, and the Théâtre de l’Œil.
Many thanks for your commitment and trust.
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A Look Back at the Mission in Colombia
The Conseil des arts de Montréal took part in a mission to Colombia from February 11 to 15, 2025, alongside the City of Montreal and the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Montreal, with support from the Quebec Office in Bogotá. Led by Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, this mission aimed to strengthen ties with stakeholders in the cultural and creative industries in Bogotá and Medellín and to foster the development of lasting collaborations in South America.
Two strategic partnerships with Busan and Seoul
By signing two memoranda of understanding with the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture (SFAC) and the Busan Cultural Foundation (BCF), the CAM is implementing its 2026–2030 strategic plan, which is to become a driving force for a strong, resilient, and globally open cultural metropolis.
In practical terms, these collaborations could:
- Catalyze the circulation of artistic works and creative teams through residencies, festivals, exhibitions, and tours, helping to expand the international visibility of Montréal’s arts community.
- Structure joint initiatives in training, research, and creation, while building lasting networks between Montréal, Seoul, and Busan that can serve as genuine drivers of transformation.
- Strengthen the capacity of artists and organizations through mobility opportunities, professional development, and networking, enabling them to better position themselves for the future.
- Modernize practices through interdisciplinary exchange across the performing arts, digital arts, design, and museology, fostering innovation and mutual learning.
These partnerships reflect a clear vision: to support, equip, and recognize the artistic community both locally and internationally, while creating the conditions for a more resilient, collaborative, engaged, and innovative cultural ecosystem.
Thank you to the Mayor of Montréal, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the Chambre de commerce du Montréal métropolitain, under the leadership of Isabelle Dessureault, and the Québec Government Office in Seoul for their essential commitment.