Culture Days (Ontario) is offering new skills development opportunities for artists, professional and volunteer-run cultural groups, libraries, museums, municipalities and anyone else wishing to present an activity during the pan-Canadian celebration of arts and culture next September 28-30. Aimed at helping participants increase the impact and success of their Culture Days activities, a variety of workshops will take place in communities from mid-April to early June.
“The growth of Culture Days since its launch in 2010 is truly remarkable representing a tremendous demand for exchange and collaboration within the burgeoning cultural network,” said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I am delighted to see Ontario’s talented artists and committed cultural workers seizing the opportunity to showcase their process and work to the public – helping to inform and inspire people across the province.”
2012 Culture Days Workshops in Ontario include:
- On May 25, a one-day French-language symposium exploring topics related to community arts, outreach and arts education will be presented at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. This unique event is produced in partnership with Québec’s Culture pour tous (producers of Les Journées de la culture), the Fédération culturelle canadienne-français and the National Arts Centre.
- More than 25 Information sessions are taking place in communities across Ontario hosted by community arts councils and municipalities. Culture Days staff will share tools and resources available to participants while encouraging networking and collaboration in the community.
“These learning events will help local activity organizers create rewarding experiences during the Culture Days weekend and have a positive impact on the public’s engagement in arts and culture throughout the whole year,” said Warren Garrett, Chair of the volunteer task force for Ontario Culture Days.
EVENT DETAILS
Cultural Mediation Symposium
This one-day symposium will bring together stakeholders in the Franco-Ontarian community in the National Capital Region to discuss the concept of “la médiation culturelle” – an expression current in Québec that brings together ideas of community art practices, arts education, audience development and outreach strategies. The aim of the symposium is to present various positions on cultural mediation, and discuss initiatives undertaken by arts, community, and municipal groups. Attendance is free but requires pre-registration, please click here to RSVP.
| Date | Time | City | Location |
| May 25 | 8:30 am – 5pm | Ottawa | National Arts Centre |
Information Sessions
Communities throughout the province are hosting Culture Days information sessions, where everyone is welcome to learn about tools, tips and resources available to Culture Days activity organizers. Early info sessions have already been held in London, Stratford and Cornwall attracting enthusiastic participants. Info sessions bring together artists, arts and cultural groups, municipal cultural staff, community arts councils, business improvement associations, local media and other people interested in forging collaborations to organize Culture Days 2012 activities. All info session are free to attend. The following information sessions have been scheduled:
| Date | Time | City | Location |
| April 23 | 7:30pm (bilingual) | Cornwall | Cornwall Regional Art Gallery |
| April 24 | 7pm | Kitchener | Waterloo Region Museum |
| April 25 | 7pm | Mimico | Lakeshore Arts |
| April 30 | 6pm | Niagara | MacBain Community Centre |
| May 2 | 6:30pm | Hamilton | Hamilton Public Library |
| May 3 | 6:30pm | Brantford | Brantford Public Library |
| May 7 | 5pm | Barrie | City Hall Rotunda |
| May 8 | 3:30pm (CDT) | Red Lake | Chukuni Communities Development Corporation (Webinar) |
| May 10 | 2pm | Windsor | Windsor and Region Arts Council |
| May 15 | 10am | Durham Region | The Regional Municipality Of Durham Headquarters |
| May 16 | 5pm | Mississippi Mills | Mississippi Valley Textile Museum |
| May 17 | 7pm | Smiths Falls | Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario |
| May 23 | 3pm (bilingual)5:30 (bilingual) | Sudbury | Art Gallery of SudburyTom Davies Square |
| May 24 | 2pm | North Bay | North Bay City Hall |
| May 24 | 2pm | Ottawa | Arts Court |
| May 28 | 3pm | Etobicoke | Arts Etobicoke |
| May 28 | 5:30 | Mississsauga | Mississauga Civic Centre |
| May 29 | 6:30 | North York | North York Civic Centre |
| May 30 | 1pm | Peterborough County | Douro Community Centre |
| May 31 | 2pm6:30pm | Thunder Bay | Thunder Bay Public Library - Mary J L Black BranchThunder Bay Art Gallery |
| June 4 | 12pm | Trent Hills | Trent Hills Public Library - Campbellford Branch |
| June 4 | 4pm | Cobourg | Northumberland County Economic Development & Tourism |
| June 5 | 6:30pm | Guelph | Guelph Arts Council |
| June 6 | 7:00pm | Oakville | Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre |
| June 7 | 4pm | Kingston | Kingston Art Council |
| TBC | TBC | Kenora | TBC (Webinar) |
ABOUT CULTURE DAYS
Culture Days invites everyone to explore, discover and participate in arts and culture in every community across the country. In 2011, the second annual Culture Days event took place in more than 800 Canadian cities and towns, with attendance topping 1.2 million Canadians. Last year, more than 1265 activities were presented across Ontario, a 36% increase over the first year’s participation levels.
This year’s Culture Days weekend will take place on September 28, 29 and 30, 2012. Once again, the event will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community.
Early-registration continues until April 30. Individuals and organizations are invited to register one or more activity before April 30 to be featured in a national Globe and Mail advertisement. To register a Culture Days activity or to see who has already joined the movement, visit www.culturedays.ca
For more details about Ontario Culture Days announcements please visit: www.on.culturedays.ca. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.
Culture Days in Ontario is supported by the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Ontario in recognition of Celebrate the Artist Weekend.
For more information about Culture Days in Ontario:
Aubrey Reeves
Ontario Culture Days Manager
aubreyreeves@culturedays.ca
(416) 646-7469
1-800-387-0058 ext. 7469
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