Arts Sutton Art Centre
Arts Sutton is a registered charity with approximately 300 members, including well-established professional artists, early career artists, art lovers and business people. Arts Sutton is a place for reflection and for meeting others. We are devoted to the creation and diffusion of contemporary visual arts, in all its richness and diversity. Arts Sutton is administered by a volunteer board of directors. Each member is elected at the annual general meeting for a 2 year term.
You are welcome to browse through our site to discover our exhibition schedules, other scheduled events, works by exhibiting artists, and much more.
History
Arts Sutton was founded in 1980, out of the desire of a group of artists from the region to establish a space for the diffusion of visual and creative arts. In 1986, following a reexamination of its mission and orientation, Arts Sutton became recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Communications as a center for the diffusion of the arts and received its first government grant. Arts Sutton found a home in the gym of the former Sutton elementary school. The site was renovated in 1992, thanks to support from both the Ministry of Culture and Communications and the town of Sutton. Since 1994, the art centre is supported financially by its members, private donors, and sponsors, including the Town of Sutton.
Mission
Arts Sutton is an art centre dedicated to the presentation and promotion of contemporary visual arts. It fosters a space for encounter and reflection where professional artists from the regional, national, and international scenes come together.
Through a dynamic program of exhibitions, educational activities, and collaborative projects, Arts Sutton engages diverse audiences—residents, visitors, and members of the educational and community sectors—raising awareness of the many ways visual arts explore questions of place, memory, and identity.
The centre actively supports emerging artists by providing opportunities for research, experimentation, and presentation, thereby contributing to the development of a vibrant and inclusive artistic community.
Message from the President
What a joy it is to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Arts Sutton Art Centre! This special milestone invites us to proudly reflect on our roots, our growth, and the remarkable journey we have shared.
Founded in 1980 through the vision of a group of artists and local residents who wished to provide the region with a space dedicated to visual arts and fine crafts, Arts Sutton has continued to grow and flourish. In 1986, we moved into the gymnasium of the village’s former school—a space that, over the years, has been transformed and enhanced into the art centre we know today.
Hundreds of artists, dozens of volunteers and board members, and thousands of visitors have been part of this adventure. Thank you to each and every one of you. Your passion, generosity, and creativity bring Arts Sutton to life every day.
I would also like to acknowledge the invaluable financial support of our donors, partners, and the Town of Sutton.
Sylvie Ménard, President of the Board of Directors.
Orientations
To promote and diffuse contemporary art work
To promote and diffuse works of art by artists in the Eastern Townships
To create collaboration and partnerships with the town, the region and other organizations dedicated to the arts
To sensitize the population to the visual arts and to nurture interest in and knowledge of the visual arts
To sensitize and educate youth in the school setting to the visual arts
To create awareness of Arts Sutton in burgeoning artists by creating links with art education programs
To promote and diffuse works by young contemporary artists
Artistic direction
Prioritize a particular axis for exhibitions that focus on space/territory/society through artistic proposals that:
- express the relationship with space, land and society;
- inspire and/or influence our point of view;
- raise awareness or bring forth critical thinking about space, the occupancy of land and the consequences it has on society.
The theme must be understood in its broadest artistic sense such as natural, urban, imaginary, transformed and interior landscapes, extending to “in situ” interventions. The theme as a source of inspiration, subject of reflection or raising major issues regarding the impacts of human activity.
Management
The Arts Sutton Art Centre operates under the leadership of the board of directors, which oversees a management team.
Board of Directors
2025-2026
The Board may consist of up to nine volunteer members who are dedicated to the well being of Arts Sutton and the promotion of its mission. Each member of the Board is elected at the annual general meeting for a term of 2 years.
Sylvie Ménard, President
Alain Laforest, Vice-president
Steve-Éric Picard, Treasurer
Daniel Dufresne, Secretary
Andrew Burlone, director
Éliane Ducros, director
Yolande Brouillard, director
Activity report
2024-2025
This report is available in French only.
Job Opportunities
There are currently no job opportunities available. Thank you for your interest in Arts Sutton.