Arts and culture

Whether you love music, art, film, books, or theatre, you'll find it here.

Our vibrant arts and culture scene includes exhibitions, theatrical performances, recitals, concerts, film, festivals, and more.

"Sackville has more galleries than traffic lights." — enRoute Magazine

Mount Allison may be located in a small town, but you will quickly realize your biggest challenge is not finding something to do — it is trying to decide which of the many events and happenings you have time for.

Arts and culture spaces on campus

Owens Art Gallery

Opened to the public in 1895, the Owens Art Gallery is the oldest university art gallery in Canada. The gallery’s collection contains 4,000 works of art, including paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, and multi-media work by established Canadian and international artists. 

Colville House

Colville House was the home of late Canadian artist Alex Colville (’42, LLD ’68). In the modest attic studio of this house, Colville painted many of his most renowned artworks. Today Colville House is open to the public as a site devoted to Colville and his art.

Brunton Auditorium

Located in the Marjorie Young Bell Conservatory of Music, the newly renovated 310-seat concert hall, Brunton Auditorium, hosts more than 80 concerts, recitals, and guest speakers each year.

Purdy Crawford Centre for the Arts

The PCCA is regarded as one of the finest arts facilities in the country, providing opportunities for collaboration within three blocks: workshops and studio spaces; classrooms and offices; and a theatre.

Motyer-Fancy Theatre

Home to Drama students, the Motyer-Fancy Theatre is a flexible black box theatre that acts as the students’ lab. Students are also provided with rehearsal and set design spaces and a costume shop.

Convocation Hall

This 1,500 seat auditorium is one of the largest theatres east of Montreal and hosts a number of music and theatre performances throughout the year. Convocation ceremonies are held here in May for graduating students.

Events and activities

A wide range of year-round festivals and events on campus and in Sackville means there's always something going on to suit your mood.

At Mount Allison, we also celebrate our culturally diverse, gender-inclusive, supportive, tight-knit campus. Celebration events include:

• University Powwow
• MOSAIC (Multicultural Banquet)
• Pride Parade
• Acadian Day
• Diwali
• And many, many more!

How to get involved