To Get Together

Journée sans culture is a self-run organisation, managed on a volunteer basis by artists and cultural workers from Quebec. The first initiative of the JSC was a collective event on October 2015 – a day of reflection that doubled as a symbolic strike uniting artists and cultural workers, during which key themes and issues were debated and defined according to our needs. Rather than a strike as a form of refusal, the day marked a collective pause to discuss what most matters to us, and to think about the current state and future of the arts.

The JSC followed up this first assembly, which gathered more than 300 people at Théâtre Aux Écuries, with a series of other projects: A discussion on the place of women in culture titled “Why Women?” at La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse (December 5, 2015), a pointed submission to the recent consultations on the renewal of Quebec’s cultural policy addressing the reality faced by artists and cultural workers (August 2016), a book-length publication assembling contributions produced in the wake of first edition of the JSC (release date October 20 2016), the preparation of a second event in 2017, public interventions mixing performance art and conversation.

Making a book together

Composed as an extension of the conversations that took place during the 2015 Journée sans culture, To Spoil the Party, to Set Our Joy Ablaze gathers contributions from those who moderated the discussions of the day as well as those who set up its sites of rest, reflection, and play. These authors work to remain true to the spirit of what they lived, led by the desire to find a source of collective energy that exceeds the pervasive effects of tiredness and resignation. Their texts are joined by others, commissioned by the editorial team, which explore matters of concern not sufficiently addressed during the day. The launch of To Spoil the Party, To Set Our Joy Ablaze took place Thursday October 20 2016 at bar Le Ritz (179 Jean-Talon Street West, Montreal).

The publication is available in a paid print format as well as a free pdf. It is the view of Journée sans culture that this publication should be accessible free of charge and circulated among the largest number of people. Our aim has also been to create a tangible object that can be found among other books in library stacks and passed between curious and affectionate hands. We encourage those who have the means and interest in supporting this project to purchase a print copy or make a donation. And we encourage everyone to share this work in all its forms with others.