Cultural Directory
Are you looking for something to do or wondering who to call to put together a cultural activity or event? Check out our list of organizations, locations and cultural events in the visual arts, media arts, arts and crafts, literature and communication, performing arts and heritage.
Visual arts, media arts, and arts and crafts
Did you know that Sutton has 120 professional artists and craftspeople? Here are some of the local places and events where you can meet them.
Visual Arts Collectives
Le Bocal
Le Bocal is a visual and media artists’ collective that works closely with the community to bring them into the creative process and ensure that their projects have a social impact. Le Bocal also produces and distributes short films in a collection called Chroniques de villages (Village Chronicles) to make people more aware of what life is like in our area. Their projects include À auteur d’enfant, an event where young children’s stories are illustrated on the spot by professional illustrators, and Labohem, a multifaceted arts and community project to capture moments in people’s daily lives and create a greater sense of belonging.
Symposium international de sculpture de Sutton
Find out more about Monumentum, an annual event dedicated to the art of sculpting.
Tour des arts
Find out more about their annual event.
Art Galleries
Plein’Art: A short cultural walk to Sutton’s art galleries
Enter a creatively vibrant world by taking the self-guided walking tour of six Sutton art galleries, right in the heart of the village. The people who own and work in Sutton’s galleries are passionate artists who have often set up collectives and associations. They enjoy giving visitors a warm greeting and talking about their artistic processes and inspiration; you may even be able to watch them as they work, or try out different techniques during special events. In short, you will have an enriching experience, regardless of how much you know about the different artistic disciplines. Just follow the signs stencilled on the sidewalk!
Arts Sutton Gallery
Specializing in contemporary art since 1980, the Arts Sutton Gallery hosts about a dozen shows every year, presenting the work of internationally and nationally acclaimed artists, as well as local artists from the Eastern Townships. More than a hundred artists in the region are members of the gallery. A key component of its mission is to make art accessible to the community through conferences and community projects.
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Galerie Art +
Located in the former Calvary United Church, Galerie Art + invites you to enjoy contemporary art in a very spacious environment. Monthly exhibitions present paintings, drawings, sculptures, engravings and photographs by different artists. The winter schedule is devoted to thematic group shows. Conceptual art also finds a home here, through installations and calls for public participation. In addition, artist Brigite Normandin, the gallery manager, has her own studio in the building.
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 1 – 5 p.m. and by appointment
Galerie Art Libre
Specializing in contemporary art, the gallery showcases artwork by its founding members — Nicole Côté, Louis Lefebvre and Lou Leblanc. Also, twice a year, four local artists are invited to show their work. The gallery also organizes theme days to introduce young and old to the creative process and is home to a mini bookshop that offers literature as well as art books published by the fine art museums of Montreal and Quebec City.
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Galerie Farfelu de Sutton
Specializing in arts and crafts, this collective of about 40 local artists and craftspeople has been showcasing the artworks of its members in its gallery/boutique since 1985. The artist-members of Farfelu also organize shows, demonstrations and workshops for the public.
Hours: Thursday – Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
(hours are longer at certain times of the year; see website.)
Galerie Les Imagiers
For gallery owner François Brisson, Les Imagiers is more than a gallery: it is also a creative space in which he paints almost every day. Visitors thus have a chance to talk with him and enjoy a private tour of his studio. Since 2000, the gallery has also shown the work of several other local painters and sculptors, each with a distinctive approach ranging from abstract to figurative and narrative. Many styles are represented and landscapes of the Eastern Townships are a popular theme
Summer hours: Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Winter hours: Friday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
JazzArt Bazar
The gallery is an invitation to travel to colourful and bright continents: Quebec, Italy, Asia and Africa enjoy one another’s company. You will find at this refined “bazaar” water-colours, oil paintings, sculptures, copper enamels and artifacts dating from the 12th century. Original works done by using recycled materials are on display and add to the creative atmosphere inspired by jazz. Check the web site: topics relating to arts and health will be featured.
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Other venues for making and showing art
Ariane Marois, Jeweller
Ariane Marois brings passion and expert knowledge to her transformations of precious metals such as silver and white gold into jewelry and practical objects for women. Since 2011, her boutique-studio, where you can watch her work, has offered short series and unique pieces in a design style that is both spare and elegant. In 2014 Ariane Marois won the SODEC-LOJI.
David James’ Workshop-Gallery
Canadian sculptor David James creates luminous sculptures cast in glass and bold exterior works carved in stone that often incorporate stainless steel. His sculptures have received national and international recognition and garnered a number of important awards. His work has been shown in museums and galleries all over the U.S., Europe and Canada. Visitors are invited to admire his work directly at the sculptor’s home, in his garden, gallery and workshop
D’Art et de Rêves
Founded in 2015, the D’Art et de Rêves cultural park is an emerging project to establish a large exhibition area for monumental sculptures and to develop a residential studio space for visual artists, circus artists and writers. The organization also hosts the Monumentum festival. When completed, the park will be crisscrossed with trails that will lead to spaces created specifically for Sutton families and areas devoted to local and regional artists and writers.
Free tours all year-round (Starting in 2016).
Fanny Beaudoin’s Studio
The wall painting and decorative art projects of Fanny Beaudoin can be found all around the world! Since 1991, she has painted works on canvas by hand, in her studio. The works are then installed on her clients’ premises.
Forge d’OLL Olivier
Forge d’OLL Olivier creates unique wrought iron artworks inspired by the environments where they will be placed, whether this involves creating furniture, architecture, decorative elements or sculptures.
Infuse Boutique-Studio
In Julie André’s boutique-studio, you will find cushions and a line of exquisitely produced scarves made of natural fibres: wool, silk, cotton, linen and ramie. Julie began experimenting with plant-based dyes after falling in love with their highly individual colours, tones and subtleties. She employs an ancient Japanese technique and each piece she makes is unique. She also holds workshops open to the general public.
Hours: Fridays from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. and by appointment
La Cabane Atelier – Creative Space for Design, Arts and Crafts
Passionate about fabrics, fibre and thread, textile artist Josée-Mélanie Lupien designs blankets and garlands in modern, Scandinavian and heritage designs. As an environmentally conscious artist, she uses recycled materials in all different textures and colours. She and the other artists she sometimes works with offer sewing classes, quilting bees and embroidery sessions. She is pleased to make her space available for personal and collaborative projects.
Les Arts à la montagne
Located near the ski and Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton (PENS) trails, Les Arts à la montagne seeks to bring nature and culture together by showcasing the works of local artists. The organization’s goal is to one day create a natured-themed open air gallery in the mountains. Exhibited sculptures are made out of wood, stone and pottery.
L’Hémisphère Droit – Creative Space
This studio-gallery space of visual artist Andrée Pelletier (who creates on the iPad, paints in acrylic and makes sculptures) is also a creative space for guest artists and a place where everyone can take courses in the visual arts
Qita Pottery Studio
Following her sudden loss of hearing, Qita Reindler has taught pottery and devoted herself to her art. She describes her work as a “meditation on movement,” in which she may be inspired by anything in her environment. You can visit with her in her studio-boutique.
Roger Tousignant, Cabinetmaker
Roger Tousignant uses recycled wood, stone, metal and tagua-nut ivory in the creation of unique furniture and paintings. He also uses slate and copper to make decorative and specialized birdhouses to attract about 50 Quebec species of nesting birds.
Special, traditional and creative orders are accepted.
Many cafés and restaurants in the town, such as Le Cafetier and Tartinizza also host exhibitions by local artists.
Literature and Education
Libraries
Bibliothèque Sutton Library
Founded in 1949, this library is a non-profit public library run by volunteers. The library offers books for adults and children in French and English, as well as audio books and educational videos. An occasional story time activity is organized for children. Adults are encouraged to form book clubs to share their insights. Readings with local authors are also organized.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sutton Municipal and School Library
This library has offered books in both French and English to adults and children since 1995. It has a large selection of comic books, DVDs, audiobooks, ebooks, and printed books, all of which you can sign out from your own home. A member of Réseau Biblio, the library provides access to books from other libraries in the area, as well as other online services. Internet stations and wireless Internet access are also available. Adults and children can also participate in book clubs and take advantage of the Montérégie museum card.
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Life-Long Learning (Université du troisième âge)
Société Temps libre
This organization manages the classes offered by the Brome-Missisquoi chapter of the Université du troisième âge de Sherbrooke. Classes and workshops on various subjects include the arts, history, and information technology. Activities take place in Sutton and Cowansville.
Medias
Journal Le Tour
Performing Arts
Performance Space
Salle Alec et Gérard Pelletier performance hall
This 100-seat, cabaret-style hall offers a diverse artistic program with around 150 shows a year in everything from cinema, dance and music to theatre, poetry, song and improvisation. It also hosts several festivals, including the Sutton Jazz and the Sutton Traditional Violin Festival. The hall is managed by Productions Cœur du village, which is a social economy organization and has, since 2003, provided Sutton with a professional community venue for performance and creativity in all its forms.
Other venues, such as Pub Mocador, St-André church and the Legion, also host musical performances.
Performing Arts Groups
Au jour le jour
This amateur theatre troupe brings together about 20 actors who do not necessarily have any stage experience, but who want to try their hand at acting in a professional framework. The troupe mainly presents Quebec plays, but also performs collective creations.
Cordes à Vent
Conducted by Françoise Turcotte, this is a community orchestra with musicians of all ages, and especially younger ones, to increase their knowledge of classical and popular music. They do two concerts a year, one in the spring and another before Christmas.
Côté Chœur – Vocal Ensemble
With about a dozen singers, this choir of women and men has a varied a cappella repertoire (sacred, classical and traditional folk music) with harmonies created by conductor Renée Larouche. Côté Chœur performs two concerts a year, one in the spring and one during the Holiday Season.
Espace Sutton
A community organization that has, since 2002, promoted, circulated, and supported creative and interpretative arts in theatre, dance, music, song, video and film. It also produces professional and amateur works, including the acclaimed Tableaux vivants.
Ligue d’improvisation du village (LIV) – Live Improvisation
With three teams that attract new members every year, Sutton’s improvisation league hosts monthly matches played according to the official rules of the Ligue nationale d’improvisation, or LNI. Amateur players are mentored by professional players from the LNI’s early days. Improvisation workshops are also offered to the public.
Musique et traditions illimitées
Find out about Sutton’s annual traditional fiddle festival, an annual event.
Sutton Jazz Festival
Enjoy the annual Sutton Jazz event.
Other Activities in the Performing Arts
Children’s Performing Arts Camp
Introduced in 2004, this two-week workshop explores song, dance and theatre and wraps up with a musical created by children between the ages of 7 and 12.
Les Productions Kazou
Enjoy the annual Sutton en Blues event.
There are also a number of dance groups and bands in Sutton, including L'Écho sans gain, The Homebrew Dixieland Band, Loco Jam, Kaval and The Organic Panic.
Heritage
Museum of Communications and History of Sutton
The Museum of Communications and History of Sutton is home to a permanent exhibit of more than 1200 artifacts, most bequeathed by Mr. Ebert, the museum’s founder. In 2009, the museum also began hosting temporary exhibitions based on people or events in Sutton’s history.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.; call for group reservations on weekdays.
Heritage Tours
With Sutton as the starting point, three fascinating heritage tours take you through the rich history of the Eastern Townships and its architecture. Tour maps are available at Sutton’s tourist information office.
Enjoy our new audio self-guided heritage tours for tablets and smartphones.
Héritage Sutton – Historical Society
Since 1983, Héritage Sutton has sought to interpret, research, preserve and share the stories gleaned from Sutton’s history, and the people and families who lived it. The society manages an archival collection, publishes booklets, organizes educational activities and heritage tours and collaborates on the museum’s exhibitions.