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About Culture Days

Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture. At the end of each September, millions of people attend thousands of free participatory arts and culture events across the country both in-person and online. Culture Days programs invite the public to get hands-on and behind-the-scenes to highlight the importance of arts and culture in our communities. Read through our Culture Days 2023 highlights page to find out more about the latest festivities.

The next national Culture Days celebration will take place September 20th through October 13th, 2024 for three glorious weeks of colour, creativity, and community. Event registration will open in the Spring of 2024.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation occurs on September 30, 2024. This day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools and their families, and endeavours to acknowledge and better understand the history and harms done. Public commemoration is a vital component of the reconciliation process, and Culture Days is committed to marking and honouring this important day.

The Culture Days national organization supports a Canada-wide network of arts, culture, and heritage organizers to facilitate free public events in their communities every year during Culture Days.

Culture Days aims to:

  • FOSTER appreciation and support of the artistic and cultural life that is lived, created and expressed across the country in urban, suburban and rural areas alike;
  • PROMOTE direct interaction between creators and the public, as a key to increasing understanding and appreciation of art and culture; and
  • AFFIRM that every citizen is the guardian of the cultural life of his, her or their community.

As a registered charity, the national Culture Days organization serves as a year-round catalyst that connects individuals and creators to build measurable support for the entire sector and amplify its contributions. We seek to eliminate barriers to access and participation, and stimulate understanding, appreciation and exploration of arts and culture—so that every person in the country has a deeper connection with themselves, their communities, and Canada.

How we work

The Culture Days national organization works with provincial partners and a wide network of event organizers, from grassroots community volunteers to major institutions. This collaborative model allows a unique Canada-wide scope while simultaneously supporting individual communities and on-the-ground organizers. We provide marketing and industry development resources and manage an annual multi-tiered advertising and promotion campaign that connects thousands of Culture Days events by a common thread.

Select your province or territory from the Regions menu above to learn more about Culture Days in your province.

Interested in organizing a Culture Days event? Get started by browsing through our Participation Guide or meet some of our organizers.

History

Culture Days was initiated in 2010 by the Canadian Arts Summit, made up of some of Canada’s largest arts organizations, and was inspired by the success of Québec’s Journées de la culture weekend. It has since generated enthusiastic interest, participation, and support from a growing network of artists, organizations, municipalities, media, and both the private and public sector across Canada. After a decade of success, Culture Days has expanded beyond the weekend to support year-round communications initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector and inspiring public discourse about the value of arts and culture.

Land Acknowledgment

The Culture Days network is present and active in all corners of the country, and collaborates with a vast array of people, organizations, and communities across Indigenous territories. Culture Days is committed to working with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities, seeking to uphold equity for all to participate, and supporting a diversity of art forms and cultural expressions.

The Culture Days National office is located on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the traditional territory of many peoples and nations including the Anishinabeg, the Haudenosaunee, the Chippewa, and the Wendat peoples. Today, the City of Toronto remains the home and meeting place for many Indigenous people, whose presence and cultures continue to shape and influence communities. We are grateful to live and work on this land.

Funders and supporters

Culture Days extends our deepest gratitude to our national partners and funders for their generous support. Thanks!

In 2017, Culture Days was granted charitable status, enabling us to more effectively engage with organizers and the public alike. Join our growing list of funders and supporters by donating at our Canada Helps page.

*BN: 822013033RR0001

Annual Reports & Highlights

2023 - Culture Days 2023 highlights page

2022 - Culture Days 2022 highlights page

2021 - Culture Days 2021 highlights page

2020 - Culture Days National Report

2019 - Culture Days National Report