As many across the country are starting to organize activities for Culture Days 2011, people are writing in, sharing their stories and what they’re planning for this year’s event, happening September 30, October 1 & 2. Here, we’re profiling individual artists who will be sharing their craft with those in their communities over the 2011 Culture Days weekend.

Having participated in Culture Days as a guest artist during last year’s Craftivism (Downsized) Art Show in Vancouver – which brought attention to artists’ economic precarity in BC by presenting miniature canvases and pieces at discount prices – visual artist, musician and event promoter DJ G Luve will be organizing his own Culture Days event this year. Artistrun.org, the group that organized Craftivism (Downsized) for the September 25 and 26 2010 Culture Days inaugural edition, has a successful track record for audience developement. The group art show, which was held at Raw Canvas and featured in a Globe & Mail Culture Days ad, created a precedent that G-Luve intends to build upon.

G-Luve’s plans include live entertainment and art shows at downtown Vancouver’s Club 560. Named “The Factory” in homage to Andy Warhol’s famed New York studio and hangout, this series of events aims to help up and coming artists of various disciplines promote their work and grow collectively.

Adding an innovative digital component to the artists’ in-person, self-promotional initiatives, artwork presented during The Factory’s Culture Days event will be accompanied by QR codes.

When scanned using a camera phone, these two-dimensional barcodes direct the user to special mobile web pages. In this case, Club 560 patrons (and potential art buyers) will gain immediate access to a page where they can read the corresponding artist’s bio, statement and website URL.

“Culture Days and The Factory’s goals are to help artists reach new audiences and build partnerships locally,” says G-Luve. “We look forward to being a part of the celebration”.