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March 31, 2025

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Introducing QDS Lab: A New Way to Learn & Lead in Cultural Placemaking

The Quartier des Spectacles is a global model for cultural district development—shaping urban spaces through creativity, governance, and strategic activation. Now, through QDS Lab, we’re sharing this expertise with cities, developers, and cultural leaders looking to bring their cultural districts to life.

QDS Lab offers a tailored, hands-on approach to cultural district development, whether through immersive workshops, expert toolkits, strategic advisory, or deep-dive consulting. Each engagement equips you with proven insights, tools, and strategies to activate public spaces and strengthen cultural ecosystems.

Discover how placemaking can shape your city

We illustrate the return on investment in public places—spaces that become part of people’s daily lives and a city’s distinct urban fabric. Through real-world case studies and expert insights, we show how investing in place generates economic, social, and cultural value—driving tourism, local engagement, and long-term sustainability.

Want to explore how QDS Lab can support your vision? Let’s talk.

QDS Lab is led by cultural industries strategist Jacquelyn West, whose career spans international cultural development, public space activation, and major creative industry initiatives. With over 15 years of experience across Toronto, Chicago, Montreal, and London, she has helped shape cultural hubs, lead public art programs, and advise governments on cultural policy. Backed by the renowned ecosystem of experts at Quartier des Spectacles, QDS Lab brings world-class knowledge to every project.

Recently, Jacquelyn collaborated as Editor with the Canadian Urban Institute to create Let’s Talk About Placemaking—a magazine-style publication featuring 100+ placemaking projects and ideas from across Canada and beyond. It highlights how communities are transforming spaces, from repurposing parking lots to embedding arts in urban design.

Jacquelyn West
Senior Advisor / Public Realm and Project Development
514 879-0009
jwest@qdsinternational.com

Explore the interactive installations catalog from QDSinternational