Arts Alive! Québec festival
returns for fourth year

From June to September, six Quebec regions band together to create a lively summer festival series

By Janis Kirshner

For the fourth consecutive year, the English Language Arts Network (ELAN) celebrates Arts Alive! Québec, a province-wide cultural festival featuring Quebec artists in six different regions, with performances and activities for the whole family from June through September. The six regions are Hudson, Huntingdon, Knowlton, Quebec City, Wakefield and the West Island/Montreal.

Some communities focus around a main venue and its environs, others transform the entire town. Programming is highly individual, reflecting local tastes, arts and cultures. There’s something different to experience and savour at each region’s event, from local artists and visiting headliners to children’s shows, dance, theatre, literary activities, storytelling, visual arts, loads of music and artisanal products.

Arts Alive! Québec, a province-wide cultural festival featuring Quebec artists in six different regions.

On offer are indoor and outdoor events for all ages, including hands-on creative activities led by professional musicians, theatre artists, dancers, filmmakers and craftspeople. Through the universal language of art, Arts Alive! Québec’s inclusive, family-friendly atmosphere builds bridges between English-speaking and French-speaking communities. Many events are free.

Arts Alive! Québec is masterminded by ELAN Executive Director Guy Rodgers. For Rodgers, the festival is about bringing together everyone in the community who shares a love of the arts, “This successful and entertaining festival is the perfect summer experience—enjoy high quality local arts and guest artists that are uniquely Québec, along with showcasing fabulous, creative neighbourhoods, performance centres and green spaces.”

Every region has a story; the artists are eager to welcome people from across the province to share it. Rodgers is grateful for the coveted, ongoing funding, “We are thrilled that the Department of Canadian Heritage’s Quebec regional fund decided to support Arts Alive! Québec for a fourth year.

The value of this project to regional communities, as well as to artists, was clearly demonstrated by the dozens of letters of support that accompanied ELAN’s grant application.” he explained. First out of the gate is Hudson, May 27-June 3, with a multitude of inspiring events in and around Hudson Village Theatre. Huntingdon announces their summer line-up at a 5 à 7 on June 5 at Grove Hall.

Communities celebrating the arts and artists celebrating communities

Programming details are yet to be revealed however regional dates have been set for the six ideal family destinations.

May 27-June 3: Hudson (Hudson Village Theatre, 28 Wharf Road, and surrounding area)
July 8: Huntingdon (Grove Hall, 165, rue Châteauguay, J0S 1H0)
August 3-5: Knowlton (various venues & locations)
August 3-4: Quebec City (Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, G1R 4H3)
Sept. 7-8: Wakefield (38, ch. de la Vallée de Wakefield, J0X 3G0)
Dates TBA: West Island/Montreal (various venues and locations)

Enjoy the summer season with day trips to beautiful Quebec cities where arts and culture come alive from June to September.

About ELAN

ELAN (English-Language Arts Network) is a not-for-profit organization that connects, supports, and promotes Quebec’s English-speaking artists and arts communities. Its members include artists and organizations representing a multitude of artistic disciplines and regions of Quebec. ELAN’s philosophy is inclusive, encouraging an evolving Quebec identity that recognizes French as the public language and celebrates social, cultural, and artistic diversity.

Featured image: Angela Gallupo Quartet

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