25 Years of Love : MAI’s 25th Anniversary
A celebration co-curated by Angie Cheng, Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé, Lara Kramer
A quarter of a century ago, on May 7th 1999, MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) opened its doors with its very first production: Oscar Wilde: Sacrifice by Les Productions Out and Théâtre Kayonan. On May 7, 2025, we celebrate 25 years of artistic programming – 25 years of pluridisciplinary and intercultural creations, woven through the seasons, with a few breaks along the way.
Since its inception, MAI has carved out a singular space in Montréal’s arts scene, championing culturally diverse work, supporting artists through the Alliance program and offering inclusive mediation activities through the PUBLIC+ program. Anchored in an intersectional and avant-garde vision, MAI actively supports racialized, Indigenous, immigrant, 2SLGBTQIPA+ and disability-identified artists by offering them opportunities for creation, dissemination and artistic support. MAI has been a launchpad for emerging talent, a home for established voices, and a vital platform where artistic excellence thrives.
As we celebrate our past, we also look forward with unwavering dedication to supporting artists and engaging audiences. MAI continues to shape the future of intercultural arts in Montréal and beyond. Here’s to another 25 years of fearless creation, meaningful exchanges and pluridisciplinary art.
Join us in celebrating this milestone on May 7th, 2025.
Evening schedule:
11am – 2pm Writing Cohort Lunch
Organized by the 25th Anniversary co-curators, Angie Cheng, Lara Kramer and Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé. A group of 10 artists who were invited to be audience members of the show of the MAI season and to creatively write in relation to what they saw. This lunch will be where the artists will share some of their writing as well as their reflections of their experience in this process.
11am – 8pm: Niche Cohort
Organized by the 25th Anniversary co-curators, Angie Cheng, Lara Kramer and Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé. 6 artists are invited to collaborate on an installation in an alternative space in the MAI/Strathern building. The installations are a reflection and experience of the space, asking the public to consider the space and what may be their experience at the MAI. Experience three installations by : Khadija Baker and Marc-Alain Félix + Naghmeh Sharifi, Gaëtane Cummings and Sigmund Pifko + Jongwook Park and Zahra BuAli.
5pm – 7pm: Cocktail in the Café-Bar
Opening speeches by Camille Larivée, MAI’s Artistic and Executive Director, Sylvie Lachance, Artistic and General Director between 2001-2006 followed by Angie Cheng, Lara Kramer, and Alexandra ‘Spicey’ Landé, MAI’s 25th Anniversary co-curators.
5pm – 10pm : Market in the Theatre and Gallery
The theatre and gallery will be transformed into a lively night-market with music, kiosks and entertainment.
8pm : Performances in the Gallery
Dominique Ireland, MAI’s Deaf Cultural Mediator will be offering a dance performance inspired by how the Five Nations united under the Great Law of Peace. When the Peacemaker brought the original Five Nations together, he demonstrated the confederacy’s strength in unity by first taking one arrow and breaking it, then bundling five arrows together and showing how together, they could not be broken. The five arrows are a powerful symbol of peace.
Mithra « Myth » Rabel, Jason « Blackbird » Selman, and Samantha « Sam I Am » Hinds will present an extract from their project Speakeasy.
Speakeasy is an intimate conversation in which body and soul tell a story rooted in the past, while projecting into the future. Inspired by the artistic life of Montreal’s Afro-descendant community, this work carries with it the energy and history of this city in perpetual transformation.
9pm – 11pm: Party !
To cap off the evening, DJ Ms Baby will bring the beats while VJ al11z will infuse the gallery with her signature surrealist visuals.