MISSION

Culture pour tous is an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to contribute to the democratization of culture in Quebec. Culture pour tous arose from the firm conviction that the arts and culture are at the heart of Quebec’s social and economic development.

The organization has positioned itself for thirteen years now as a major player in cultural mediation and democratization, at the heart of a network of artists, craftspeople and cultural workers engaged in efforts of this type throughout Quebec.

The goals and actions of Culture pour tous serve to facilitate, for as many people as possible, access to and appropriation of the arts and culture. The organization instigates and carries out initiatives that encourage access to and participation in creative and cultural activities. Among the cultural projects produced by Culture pour tous are the Journées de la culture, the Cultural Logbook (a learning tool for schools), Intercultural Encounters (an initiative to enhance the profile of professional artists from immigrant communities), the conferences known as La Rencontre and community art projects such as The Convertibles, Art at work and .

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

1. Journées de la culture

This is the flagship event of Culture pour tous. Held annually, it gives the Quebec population an opportunity to discover and appreciate the arts and culture, free of charge. To make it happen, Culture pour tous counts on the voluntary participation of more than 8,000 artists and cultural organizations that present thousands of activities and encounters between artists, cultural workers and citizens. In 2008, some 350,000 people took part in the activities, which were held in more than 300 Quebec municipalities.
Go to the Journées page

2. Intercultural Encounters

This program aims to raise the profile of professional artists from ethnocultural and aboriginal communities and increase recognition of their practices in the institutional arts and culture network. Intercultural Encounters is being developed on a three-year timeline (2005-2007). Some 200 artists took part and nearly 100 activities were held in
12 Quebec municipalities during the 2006 Journées de la culture.
Go to the Intercultural Encounters page

3. Cultural Logbook

My Cultural Logbook is a learning tool to enable elementary students in grades 4, 5, and 6 to explore the arts and culture. Accompanied by the Activity Guide for teachers, this Logbook will allow children to become aware of culture in their own environment, through learning experiences and an openness to cultural diversity. The Logbook is also a journal, a memory aide, and a souvenir album in which to record discoveries. In 2007-2008, close to 30,000 logbooks were distributed in Quebec elementary school with the aim of further integrating the cultural dimension in teaching.
Go to the Logbook page

4. La Rencontre

Since 1999, Culture pour tous has organized five international forum to discuss issues relating to cultural democratization. The last colloquium was held on December 2008 in Montreal, with more than 350 people and over 30 participants from Canada, Spain, US, France and the UK who shared their thoughts on the concept of mediation in artistic and cultural practices.
Go to the Rencontre page

5. Art and Community

Culture pour tous initiates projects of creation which renew the relationship between the artist and the citizen. In 2007 and 2008, within the framework of the program Art at work, corporations host artists to develop works that involve interaction with the employees. In 2006, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Journées de la culture, Culture pour tous organized a special project called The Convertibles. This unique event featured the creation and presentation of ten monumental collective works, produced in 10 Quebec locations by professional artists working with citizens’ groups (See).