Bringing together a host of collaborators with new and existing initiatives, Culture Days Manitoba is moving quickly towards a province-wide launch in September 2010. Activity organizers, artists and other cultural professionals and amateur or community-based groups are needed to bring their (your!) unique touch to the celebration. Each provincial initiative is supported by a volunteer group known as the Provincial Task Force. Charged with facilitating connections and helping to promote and develop provincial events, the Provincial Task Forces also help liaise between provinces to encourage continuity and to share expertise. For a list of Manitoba Task Force members, which broadly represents cultural leadership from across the province, including urban, rural, Francophone, Aboriginal, arts education, support, and cultural industries groups, please click here.

To get involved with Culture Days Manitoba, please contact the Manitoba Task Force.

News:

• The community of Flin Flon held its first Culture Days planning meeting to look at how the community will participate in the September 2010 launch! Representatives from the Flin Flon Arts Council, the City of Flin Flon, the Flin Flon Indian / Métis Friendship Centre, the school division, local museum, and Canadian Parents for French were all present for the meeting.
• Other cities contacted so far include The Pas, Churchill and Thompson.
• Task Force member Tina Keeper is organizing a roundtable of Aboriginal artists to discuss their plans for Culture Days.
• To continue spreading the word and inciting interest in the movement, Culture Days was featured during the 2009 Manitoba Contact Showcase. Attendees included 120 delegates from arts organizations across rural and northern Manitoba, as well as 25 performing artists.
• The Alliance for Arts Education is almost done producing their new DVD, Between Hearts and Minds: The Arts in Education, which educators will be encouraged to use to promote the arts in their local communities. An e-poster will be distributed to every school across the province, highlighting arts and cultural events designed for families and younger audiences. School principals and other educators will be encouraged to insert the poster into newsletters and/or post the events on school websites.
• The Franco-Manitoban Cultural Centre has successfully obtained funding which will help them showcase Francophone culture in the visual arts, architecture and fashion during Culture Days 2010.
• In conjunction with the 70^th anniversary of the Company, and the 40^th anniversary of the School, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will open its doors to the community during Culture Days 2010 for an open house and block party extravaganza.
• For Culture Days 2010, The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra plans to host an event on opening night with audience and musicians playing starring roles.
• A committee has been established to develop Winnipeg Nuit Blanche in collaboration with Homecoming Manitoba 2010, the Franco-Manitoban Centre and Culture Days 2010.
• Others, including the Manitoba Museum and the Prairie Theatre Exchange, have committed to participating in Culture Days 2010.
• Early marketing collaborators include Travel Manitoba and the unique new Winnipeg-based initiative, Culture In Every Corner. Homecoming Manitoba 2010, a year-long project that brings former and current Manitobans together for events and celebrations, has also agreed to sponsor Culture Days 2010!