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
Tour des arts
Every year since 1988, about 30 artists have joined forces to promote a self-guided tour in which the public can come and visit them in their studios. For nine days you have a unique opportunity to see artists demonstrate their techniques, talk with them about their practice and buy their works. In the evening, enjoy a show or a great meal at one of our restaurants. There is also a “Petit Tour” for the kids.
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 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
Since 1980, Arts Sutton has offered visitors a large, museum-quality venue dedicated entirely to new and contemporary art. In addition, throughout the year, the works of some of its 200 member-artists grace the walls of its boutique: Espace Claire-Léger. Arts Sutton also organizes educational activities such as live model drawing, presentations for the general public, and art talks and encounters with exhibiting artists.
Hours: Thursday to 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 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.)
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.
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.
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.
Qita Pottery Studio
Qita Reindler teaches pottery to students of all ages. She makes mostly functional pottery that is dishwasher and microwave safe. Qita likes to describe her work as a “meditation in movement”.
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, audiobooks, ebooks, and printed books, all of which you can sign out from your own home. It also holds art shows all year round.
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, Good Shepherd church and the Legion, also host musical performances.
Performing Arts Groups
Ballet-Théâtre Sutton
Ballet-Théâtre Sutton supports the performing arts through training, producing shows and doing outreach in the community of Sutton and neighbouring areas. It operates the École de ballet classique Sutton (a classical ballet school), which has a well-qualified instructor to teach students of all ages and experience levels who want to explore ballet, tap dancing, acrobatics, contemporary dance, music and theatre.
Find out more about their activities in the Cultural Recreation Directory.
Cordes à Vent
Community orchestra with musicians of all ages, especially kids age 8 and older. This string ensemble with piano, percussion and sometimes wind instruments is open to any musician who will enjoy an enriching experience before eventually moving on to a professional symphony orchestra. Repertoire of baroque to jazz, as well as classical music and film soundtracks.
Find out more about their activities in the Cultural Recreation Directory.
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.
Musique et traditions illimitées
Come listen to acclaimed musicians from both sides of the border at Sutton’s Traditional Fiddle Festival for hours of lively tunes played outdoors and indoors. Bring along your instruments for the jam sessions and master classes, and dance away to old-time jigs.
Sutton Jazz Festival
For four weekends in a row, you’ll hear music in the street and restaurants that will have you smiling and foot-tapping. Listen to your heart’s content while enjoying a panoramic view of the fall colours on the slopes of Mount Sutton. In the evening, take in an intimate cabaret-style show at the Alec et Gérard Pelletier performance hall, which has ideal acoustics for jazz. The program includes well-known local and international artists. A must-attend event for jazz lovers since 2002.
Other Activities in the Performing Arts
Les Productions Kazou
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 with other community organizations such as the Sutton Museum and the Town to promote Sutton’s history and heritage.