FESTIVAL DES ARTS DE SAINT-SAUVEUR

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A firm belief in the fundamental importance of culture in our society has propelled the Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur (FASS) into the ranks of major arts and culture events held annually in Quebec and across Canada. FASS is now the largest regional dance presenter in the country, both in terms of the number of large-scale shows it presents and the size of its audience. For over 30 years, the Festival has welcomed some of the greatest dance and music artists from both the national and international scenes, all within the enchanting setting of the village of Saint-Sauveur.

FASS is now the largest regional dance presenter in the country, both in terms of the number of large-scale shows it presents and the size of its audience.

Since 2014, the Festival’s artistic direction has been led by Guillaume Côté. Drawing on his experience and the expertise gained through his career as a dancer, composer, and choreographer, he has strengthened the Festival’s mandate while placing greater emphasis on creation, diversity, and support for emerging Quebec artists.

The history of FASS dates back to 1992, the year Lou Gordon and his friends founded the Festival des Arts Hiawatha in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts. Meanwhile, several artistic events were also being organized in Saint-Sauveur with the support of the Vineberg family. In 1996, these two groups joined forces to create a major artistic destination in Saint-Sauveur. The following year, in 1997, the newly reimagined Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur was presented for the first time under the Grand Chapiteau of Saint-Sauveur.

Since then, the Festival has continued to stand out. In 2000, it received its first special mention from the jury as a “Cultural Event of the Laurentians” at the Grands Prix du Tourisme des Laurentides. It went on to win the Grand Prix du Tourisme in 2007, 2008, and 2014, as well as the Cultural Ambassador of the Laurentians Award in 2009 in the “Festivals and Cultural Events” category. More recently, in 2020, FASS was honored with the Opus Award for “Specialized Presenter of the Year,” and in 2022, it received the Ambassador Award at the Grands Prix de la culture des Laurentides.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Etienne Lavigne, the Festival has continued to assert its position as a driving force in the artistic community, actively contributing to the development of a true cultural hub whose reputation now extends far beyond the geographical boundaries of the Laurentians.

Our mission

The Festival des Arts de Saint-Sauveur is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the discovery and presentation of the best choreographers, dancers and musicians. Through its eclectic, inclusive, accessible and original programming, the Festival seeks to support and inspire artists from Canada and around the world, and to introduce audiences to their work and passion in an intimate setting.