“Dérives d’un livre de bord” is an innovative transatlantic sailing art residency project organized by Jeunes Marins Urbains in collaboration with AJD and financially supported by the Odyssart program of the OFQJ. This unique initiative brings together emerging artists from Quebec and France for a creative journey across the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Rara Avis, a three-masted schooner. The voyage departs from Canada on May 24th and arrives in France on July 12th, with planned stops in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon as well as the Azores. The final destination in France is in Brittany, specifically in the north of Finistère. Through intercultural exchanges and artistic creation, the residency fosters the development of artists’ creativity in an extraordinary context.

It all began with a proposition. The team at AJD contacted Clément Le Roux at Jeunes Marins Urbains in Canada to see if he was interested in collaborating on a project with them. Their sailboat, the Rara Avis, is headed to Canada this year and plans to organize a transatlantic voyage to France. For over 30 years, AJD has been offering people the opportunity to experience the world of sailing by joining them on their sailboat. The idea is not to be a tourist on a sailboat, but rather to take one’s place aboard an expedition while learning to navigate. Of the 38 available spots aboard, 7 are reserved for Jeunes Marins Urbains and their project. The remaining spots are allocated for crew members, other partner organizations, or individuals who have always dreamed of sailing.

From this proposition an idea was born, Clément began to consider the possibilities that this opportunity offered. He gathered artists, he explained the idea to the team at Jeunes Marins Urbains., and quickly discovered Odyssart  an annual cultural exchange program between France and Canada/Quebec organized by the Franco-Quebecois Youth Office (OFQJ).” From a simple idea to the creation of a project, there is only one step to take, but it’s an important one. Clément linked this funding, the artists, Jeunes Marins Urbains, and AJD to submit a financing request to create a creative residency on a sailboat crossing the Atlantic Ocean under sail.

After weeks of work, a lot of effort and networking, revisions, and discussions, the project was put together, and the financing request was submitted on December 1st, 2023. Christmas holidays arrived, then the beginning of the year brought a phone call: “Hello, Mr. Le Roux, the program is funded, congratulations.” From a proposition came an idea, from an idea a project, and from a project a realization. Everything has happened very quickly since January 2024. They had to find the rest of the artists, pay all the partners, organize fundraising events… But now They’re almost there, the departure is scheduled in a few days (May 24), you can follow the adventures of this project on the social media of Jeunes Marins Urbains (Facebook and LinkedIn). The continuation and the result of this experience will be shared next autumn with the general public to share the experience of these 7 artists who embarked on a unique human and creative adventure.