Intercultural Conversations–Conversations Interculturelles grant program
Encouraging theatrical dialogue between the various cultures in Montreal
Celebrating 17 years of vital conversation
MONTREAL, February 2026– The Cole Foundation is committed to celebrating the vibrant multicultural mosaic of Montreal, Quebec and the rest of the world by supporting professional theatre that features stories of diverse racial, ethnic or religious cultures and languages on stage. Twice a year the Foundation’s Intercultural Conversations-Conversations Interculturelles (IC-CI) program awards hundreds of thousands of dollars to companies to produce, commission and translate plays to bring those voices to life. This encourages greater understanding of Montreal’s intercultural reality by having audiences both learn about and see their stories presented. Cole Foundation President Nancy Wells is proud to announce the latest round of grant winners—15 deserving companies were given instrumental funding for a total of $250,000 for the 2026-27 season, as well as added financial aid for post-show audience talkbacks to continue the conversation initiated in the production.
“This fall marks a meaningful shift in the range of voices supported through Intercultural Conversations. Alongside strong applications from established companies, the jury selected projects that extend the program’s reach into new cultural and linguistic terrain. We are proud to support several first-time recipients whose pieces reflect a broader engagement with the multiplicity of language in Quebec, including works that explore bilingualism and multilingualism across different modalities. This signals the program’s continued evolution in response to the complexity of Montreal’s communities. We believe these works will open new spaces for dialogue, both on stage and in the broader public sphere,” said Wells.
Impressive range of Intercultural elements at the forefront of Quebec theatre seasons
Play submissions offer an extensive scope of ideas, cultures and identities for youth and adult theatregoers; many of the issues are topical and current. The various shows highlight ongoing Montreal issues via Haiti, Ukraine, Malaysia and Brazil, as well as Indigenous, Deaf, Black and Afro-Latino experiences. The works present a wide variety of theatrical styles that include drama, comedy, documentary, choral work, poetry, music, dance and sign language. Anticipated works by both emerging and awarded playwrights explore engaging scripts through history, recent news, community activism, youth, memory, and bridging generations and cultures. Themes embrace topics of womanhood, colourism, exile, climate change, antisemitism, norms around disability and body identity, ancestral wisdom, and war and the role of art in crisis.
Recipients of the latest competition
Intercultural Conversations-Conversations Interculturelles grants encourage Montreal companies to offer cross-cultural shared experiences by telling impactful narratives.
COMMISSIONING grants are: Duceppe- Dans les arpents de neiges by Olivier Kemeid; Nervous Hunter– People Have to Eat by Sophie Gee; Collectif Théâtral Potomitan– MENAJ by Maryline Chery; La Veille– Rien n’est à Nous by Maxime Mompérousse; and Alter-Négro by Fabrice Yvanoff Sénat.
PRODUCTION grant awards go to: Imago Theatre– The Sound of Dogs by Jennifer Roberts; Festival TransAmériques–Monga by Jéssica Teixeira; Le Carrousel, compagnie de théâtre– Traversée by Estelle Savasta; Productions Onishka– BAASHK by Émilie Monnet; Teesri Duniya Theatre– Behind the Moon by Anosh Irani; Théâtre La Licorne (Théâtre de La Manufacture)– Élie by Nathalie Doummar; Toxique Trottoir– Kotygorochko by Muriel de Zangroniz et création collective; Productions Hôtel-Motel– Маріуполь (Marioupol) by Philippe Ducros; and Segal Centre for the Performing Arts– Playing Shylock by Mark Leiren-Young.
TRANSLATION grant for Coop Ludotek-Art– Les Écritures des Amériques (Les Interstices) by Renata Carvalho, Sayuri Navarro, Nara Mansur et Macarena Garcia Lenzi (also production grant).
There are two annual Intercultural Conversations- Conversations Interculturelles grants, in October and April. The deadline for the next competition of the award is Friday, March 20, 2026 at 5:00pm. Theatre companies interested in applying for a grant can download the necessary application forms and information from the Cole Foundation’s web site at: www.colefoundation.ca/en/programmes/intercultural-conversations/
