Studio Baie-Saint-Paul
Live, create, and explore the artistic heart of Baie-Saint-Paul—an immersive program helping non-francophone Fine Arts students improve their French.
About the program
Experience the French language and artistic immersion in Quebec’s Charlevoix region! This five-week summer program offers Concordia Fine Arts students the chance to immerse themselves in a francophone environment while deepening their artistic practice. The program is worth 9 credits.
Held in partnership with the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul, it blends intensive French language learning with creative exploration and cultural discovery. Students will develop new creative work, engage with local artists, expand their professional networks and experience the vibrant arts scene and natural beauty of the Charlevoix region. At the conclusion of the program, students will present their work during a studio visit conducted in French.
Our fine arts students represent the next generation of the art world. Those who come to us from elsewhere in Canada and around the world have chosen Quebec. The immersion program in Baie-Saint-Paul will help them integrate and build an artistic practice here, in French.
Who is it for?
This program is designed for anglophone and allophone students enrolled in Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts who are eager to enhance their French language skills and connect more deeply with Quebec’s artistic community and have an active creative practice.
Admission is selective and based on a letter of motivation describing your interest in learning French and your engagement with Quebec culture and the arts.
Course dates and info
Program dates: May 10 (arrival) – June 13 (departure), 2026
Program details:
Studio art component (3 cr)
- FAFS 398/660/860 Studio Baie-Saint-Paul: French Language and Artistic Immersion in Charlevoix (3 cr)
French language component (6 cr)
- FRAN 298/FRAA 598/1 Studio Baie-Saint-Paul : Immersion française et artistique à Charlevoix, Partie I (3 cr)
- FRAN 298/FRAA 598/1 Studio Baie-Saint-Paul : Immersion française et artistique à Charlevoix, Partie II (3 cr)
The courses are open to students at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Estimated costs
Tuition fees
Participants will pay tuition fees for the equivalent of three 3-credit courses, based on the tuition rates normally paid for courses within their program as well as the rates for French language courses.
Available funding
Funding of $1,000 per student is available to cover their accommodation.
Meals
Meals are the students’ responsibility; a fully equipped kitchen and nearby supermarkets are available.
Materials
It is the responsibility of the student to bring the materials they need.
Accommodation
L’Auberge des Balcons is located within Maison Mère, a historic former convent in Baie-Saint-Paul, just a three-minute walk from the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul.
Cost:
- Single rooms range from $1,150–$1,500 + taxes.
- Double rooms (double bed or two singles) range from $1,600–$1,950 + taxes.
Booking: Rooms are reserved for Concordia students until March 15, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations after this date are possible but not guaranteed.
Available Funding: $1,000 per student to cover their accommodation. Students can also opt for upgraded accommodations, but will pay the difference.
Application process
To be eligible to participate in the field school, you must meet the following criteria.
- Student Status: Must be a full-time student in good standing, with an active creative practice, registered in a graduate or undergraduate program in the Faculty of Fine Arts.
- French Proficiency: Must be at no less than level 5 and up to level 7 of l’Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (roughly equivalent to CEFR levels B1–B2).
- Commitment: Must commit fully to the five-week program, engaging in both components: the French language courses and the studio arts work.
All students interested in applying to this program are strongly encouraged to attend an information session given by Réussir en français and the Faculty of Fine Arts prior to submitting an application.
Date: Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Zoom ID: Register for the zoom link
Letter of Intent
Maximum 500 words. Please explain:
- Tell us you why you are interested in Studio Baie-Saint-Paul.
- Describe your current artistic practice, and the project you intend to develop in the Baie-Saint-Paul context.
- Explain why strengthening your French-language skills is important for you.
Proof of French Language Level
Provide one of the following:
- Option A — Concordia coursework: If you have already completed a French course at Concordia (Département d’études françaises or Continuing Education), attach a copy of your student record with the relevant French course clearly identified to your application.
- Option B — Online placement test (use only if Option A is not available): Complete the TCF placement test: https://apprendre.tv5monde.com/fr/tcf/simulation-du-tcf#tcf_header
Important when taking the test :
- Take a screenshot of your result for each section (Compréhension orale, Structure de la langue & Compréhension écrite).
- Results from the previous section will not remain visible once you continue to the next component. Save each screenshot before moving on.
Deadline to apply: February 6, 2026
Application form
Make sure you have the following ready when you apply:
- your letter of intent
- a screen shot of your test results for each component (e.g., A2, B1, C1) or a copy of your student record with the relevant French course clearly identified to your application
Have a question?
Contact MJ Thompson, Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies and Practices, Art Education:
Email: mj.thompson@concordia.ca
For any questions regarding the French-language component of the program, please contact Réussir en français:
Email: inforeussirenfrancais@concordia.ca
Make a donation in support of this program
Your contribution will allow a promising young artist to take a major step towards mastering the French language, improving their chances to build meaningful careers in Quebec after graduation.
Contact Marc Wieser for more information: marc.wieser@concordia.ca