ABOUT US

The Journées de la culture are a province-wide initiative to raise awareness of the importance of culture and the need to provide greater access to art and culture for all Quebecers.

Since 1997, the Journées de la culture have been held on the last Friday of September and on the two following days, as decreed by the National Assembly of Québec.

A vast culture happening in large cities and small towns, the Journées de la culture are the chance to celebrate the artistic and cultural vitality that is experienced, created and expressed in over 300 Québec communities.

The Journées are carried out voluntarily by artists, workers and cultural organizations, who, during the three days of the event, offer free activities so citizens can explore the hidden side of art and culture. Our rich and welcoming demonstrations, hands-on workshops, conferences and guided tours build simple and warm relationships between artists, cultural workers and their fellow citizens.

Every year since the earliest Journées de la culture, Bos Advertizing, one of our very first partners, has designed original campaigns.

The Journées de la culture are coordinated by Culture pour tous, an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to contribute to the democratization of culture in Québec. A recognized leader in cultural mediation and democratization, Culture pour tous develops and produces other projects and initiatives that foster access to creative actions and cultural participation, including the Carnet de la culture, a tool for school groups, the Parcours interculturel to value the work of immigrant professional artist, Art at work and La culture en entreprise, a program of collective creation in a work environment, Je m'affiche pour la culture!, a grass-roots movement where each person presents most beautiful cultural profile, and a gateway to Cultural Mediation that showcases artistic practices and their interactions with the other spheres of society.

To carry out its mission, Culture pour tous receives support from the Government of Québec through the ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine and from various partners including TD and Hydro‑Québec, which sponsor the Journées de la culture.

Les Journées de la culture in numbers

During the 14th edition, there were 2,512 free activities offered by 10,000 artists, craftsmen, organizations and cultural workers, collaborators and volunteers.

In 2010, some 210,000 citizens took part in the activities of the Journées de la culture in 353 municipalities of the 17 regions of Quebec.

During the 15th edition, there were 2,677 free activities offered by 8,000 artists, craftsmen, organizations and cultural workers, collaborators and volunteers.

In 2011, some 200,000 citizens took part in the activities of the Journées de la culture in 353 municipalities of the 17 regions of Quebec.

THE JOURNÉES DE LA CULTURE THROUGHOUT CANADA

Long considered to be the most important movement for the democratization of culture in North America, the concept of the Journées de la culture was used as inspiration and today extends throughout Canada under the name the Culture Days which will hold its 2nd edition with the same dates as the Journées de la culture www.culturedays.ca.