What is the Centre de Valorisation du Patrimoine Vivant ?

The Living Heritage Centre is a non-profit organization founded in 1981. Its mission is to promote understanding, appreciation and preservation of traditional culture to ensuring that these traditions are accessible and visible in all areas of present day society. This heritage includes music, dance, song, customs, storytelling, arts and crafts. The CVPV has initiated a variety of projects :

Le Festival international des arts traditionnels (FIAT)

An annual event held every year on the second week-end of October (Canadian Thanksgiving). The « heart » of the event, Place-Royale, is alive with continuous activities. The activities include concerts, workshops, dances, exhibits, conferences, lessons and much more.

L’Atelier du Patrimoine vivant (Living Heritage Workshop)

Located in the voult of the Maison Chevalier at Place Royale, it has for mission to catalogue and present the knowledge and crafts of Quebec’s traditionnal art forms. Here, you can meet people as they demonstrate their art forms and admire the collection of works exhibited and sold here. Books, videos, CDs may also be purchased. Traditional dances are held on the fourth Saturday of the month, at the Domaine Maizerets in Quebec. Performing musicians and professionnal caller liven up these evenings.

PACKAGE DEALS OFFERED

The CVPV is a reference organization with an extensive list of performing artists and craft people. The CVPV makes the vault and various package deals available to groups wishing to learn more about the history and traditions of Quebec. Each package is tailored to the wishes and needs of the client. The length of the activity and the cost depend on the package chosen, the number of performing artists as well as the number of participants.

Complete documentation is available on request.

1. Meet the artisans

The CVPV has an exaustive list of more than 30 crafts people. You can choose one or two crafts for a two-hour period or more per visit. Depending on the craft chosen, participants may leave with art work that they have made.

Amélie Courchesne

Picture by D. Frédéric Légaré

2. Meet with traditional performing artists

These workshops in traditional arts including dance, music, song and storytelling, require active participation and a convivial atmosphere.

Dance: basic steps in step-dancing with historical explanations

Music: traditional instruments, listening and participation in.

La Grand'Bête

FIAT 2001

Song: a cappella or call and response song, its origin and variants

Storytelling: with expressive face and verve, narration of characters that still haunt this area.

3. Practices, Customs and Holidays

An ethnologist or historian will speak about the practices and customs characteristic of feast days during a given season. Traditions and rituals still alive or altered by modernity.

Please contact us:

email: cvpv@videotron.ca
tel: (418) 647-1598
fax: (418) 647-4439