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A sonic perspective for the post-pandemic future of entertainment districts. The case of Montreal’s Quartier des Spectacles

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2022

In 2020, the pandemic impacted the social and economic dynamics of cities around the world. Entertainment districts hosting events, festivals, and other cultural activities were particularly affected, as their loss of attractiveness also impacted their livability.

Reflecting on how the experience of the sonic environment contributes to attractiveness and livability in an urban environment, we propose a sonic perspective to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Montreal’s entertainment district – Quartier des Spectacles (QDS). Through semi-structured interviews, we focus on how the sonic experience of QDS’s residents changed throughout 2020, and on how their experiences can provide valuable insight into addressing the district’s future planning and management.

Looking at QDS as a case study to orient the post-pandemic trajectories of entertainment districts, we present a number of sound-related governance recommendations aimed at strengthening QDS residents’ involvement in the neighborhood’s cultural, artistic, and political life and its decision-making processes.

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photo credits Nicola Di Croce