Sudbury Arts Council : 50 Years
READ OUR PLAN FOR 2025-28
SAC Strategic Plan Final
In the 1970s, there was a burst of creative energy in the city channelled into the establishment of the Sudbury Theatre Centre, Théâtre du Nouvel-Ontario, Northern Lights Festival Boreal and La Nuit sur l’Étang.
In 1974, Sudbury Arts Festival Association (SAFA) was created to plan an annual spring arts festival called Arts Alive. In the mid-1980s, arts groups wanted an umbrellla organization to represent their interests and to advocate on their behalf. Sudbury Arts Festivsl Association became the Sudbury Arts Council (SAC) in 1989.
Over time, SAC’s mandate has evolved to connect, communicate and celebrate, with a mission to connect artists, to communicate to the community about the arts, and to celebrate creativity.
BYLAWS. REVISED BYLAWS 2023
Land Acknowledgment
Sudbury Arts Council acknowledges the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. We also further recognize that the city’s creative community is located on the traditional lands of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and that the Greater City of Sudbury also includes the traditional lands of the Wahnapitae First Nation.
Reconnaissance du territoire
Le Conseil des arts de Sudbury reconnaît le Traité Robinson-Huron de 1850. Nous reconnaissons également que la communauté créative de la ville est située sur les terres traditionnelles des Atikameksheng Anishnawbek et que la Grande Ville de Sudbury comprend également les terres traditionnelles de la Première Nation Wahnapitae.
2025 BOARD EXECUTIVE
JUDI STRAUGHAN, vice-president
MICHAEL GUILLEMETTE, vice -president
CELINE LAPRISE, treasurer
VICKI GILHULA, secretary
Past Presidents of the arts council include Fabian Lemieux (SAFA), Real Fortin, Kirk Petersen, Gerry Labelle, Laurence Steven, Ed Tate, Will Morin, Gord Harris, Louise Lane, Barbara Constantine, John Lindsay, Andrew Boyd, Linda Cartier, Vicki Gilhula and Derek Young.
PROJECTS PAST AND PRESENT
50 People Who Made a Difference in the Arts Community book project (2025/26 project)
STATE OF THE ARTS column for The Sudbury Star (on going)
Photography Calendar
Rendezvous North Conference
Artrepreneur course
Jazzed Up Downtown Saturdays
Passport to the Arts program
CKLU/STC/SAC Podcast on CKLU and Eastlink
Art Crawls
1990s Art Studio Tours, SAC organized the inaugural tour.
Arts Meets Business with Chamber of Commerce
State of the Arts Sudbury Star Column
Paint Night Fundraiser
Arts After Five networking events
Sudbury Celebration of the Arts
Blueberry Festival Partner
History Walk in Downtown Sudbury/Publication of a historical walk brochure
SAC President’s Award/Oryst Sawchuk Award
Co-host of Mayoralty Candidates debates
DIRECTIONS ARTS NEWSPAPER (1990s)
Arts and Fries (1989)
Beans and Beethoven