Montreal, Tuesday August 1st — The Board of Directors of The BBCM Foundation announces the cancellation of all activities of the Black & Blue Festival and the Carnival of Colors of Montreal in October 2023 due to important government cuts following the Covid crisis and because of new, more specific government criteria that this LGBTQ+ community non-profit organization is unable to meet in carrying out its projects in 2023.
The BBCM Foundation cannot take the risk of planning this year’s activities, trying to meet all the expectations and the new governmental conditions, without having the guarantees of having enough cash income to be able to pay all the artists, suppliers, committee members, etc. The Board of Directors is now working to ensure the sustainability of The BBCM Foundation until December 31, 2023 as a priority. In addition, the registered trademarks ‘Black & Blue’ and ‘Bad Boy Club Montreal (BBCM)’ remain protected.
The Black & Blue has existed since 1991 and the Carnival of Colors has existed since 2018. These two festive projects are traditionally presented at the same time during the long tourist weekend of Canadian Thanksgiving and American Columbus Day. This is the first time in 2023 that the organization has decided to cancel its activities due to unfavorable and insurmountable external financial reasons. The organization will look at the possibility of an overhaul of activities in 2024 or even the possible creation of completely new events that are not necessarily based primarily on precarious government subsidies.
The BBCM Foundation would like to thank all of its partners, volunteers, collaborators and participants for their understanding, support and solidarity in the circumstances. The BBCM Foundation is very proud of its many accomplishments over more than three decades, which have contributed to Montreal’s cosmopolitan, festive, cultural and inclusive reputation, as well as of the organization’s assiduous contribution to numerous touristic, socio-economic and community benefits and spin-offs.
Official press release