Submitted Media Release
The City of Brantford welcomes back Culture Days on September 28, 29, and 30, 2018. Explore, discover and participate in over 20 arts and culture activities in Brantford and area. It’s a weekend full of opportunities to learn from local talented creators, and to share your own talents with the community.
“Once again, we are proud to take part in this nationwide event that honours artists, creators and cultural contributors,” says Ela Stypa Jones, Arts and Culture Coordinator, City of Brantford. “Culture Days shines a light on the artistic community and offers free access to the talent and creativity right here in Brantford. The worth that culture has on the City of Brantford is integral to our identity and sustainability.”
Spend the weekend touring local artists’ studios at the Brant Studio Tour and Paint-to-the-Beat at the Brantford Public Library. Participate in Orange Shirt Day with Woodland Cultural Centre as they walk together to support the healing journey of residential school survivors. Join the Depression Era Trivia Historical Walk with the Brant Historical Society and celebrate the grand re-opening of the Coach Stage House at Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant. Watch the Brantford Symphony Orchestra backstage as they rehearse for their first concert of the season. These are just a few of the activities planned, all of which are completely free. For a full list of local activities in Branford, please visit: http://bit.ly/2Pmw1jU.
Culture Days is celebrated in hundreds of cities and towns from coast to coast, with thousands of free activities from a wide range of disciplines including: visual arts, music, dance, theatre, architecture, heritage, film and video, literature, culinary arts and new media.
About Culture Days
Culture Days is committed to reaching the goal of having all Canadians in every community declaring “I Love Culture” and making culture a daily habit.
Launched in 2010, Culture Days is a volunteer-driven initiative guided by a national organization in collaboration with volunteer Provincial Task Forces, whose members come from a variety of backgrounds including cultural programming, tourism, municipal cultural planning and public engagement, who rally their arts and cultural communities to promote the event to the public in communities of all sizes across Canada.
As a leading national voice for the active and engaged cultural life of all Canadians, Culture Days provides support, tools and resources to a wide variety of artists and cultural organizations to help them unite the country through engagement in culture.
Culture Days was initiated by four Founding Partners: The Canadian Arts Summit, Culture pour tous (producer of Journées de la culture), Canada Council for the Arts and The Banff Centre. National partners are Sun Life Financial and The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation. National Broadcast Partner is Bell Media (CTV). National Creative Partner is BT/A. Federal Government support is provided by Canadian Heritage.
Culture Days Schedule of Events
Friday, September 28, 2018:
Mohawk Chapel Stained Glass Window Tour 10:00 am to 2:00 pm Her Majesty’s Royal Chapel of the Mohawks, 301 Mohawk Street, Brantford The set of eight stained glass windows depicts the great history of Six Nations and their role in Canadian History. You will enjoy the story of the windows and the individual descriptions of the features displayed in each window.
Free Self-Guided Tours 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Cheifswood NHS, 1037 Hwy 54, Ohsweken Chiefswood will be offering free self-guided tours to the public. Come on out and learn about this amazing homestead and the family whose story captivates all who visit! Traditional Instrument Petting Zoo 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm Kayanase, 993 Highway 54, Ohsweken Learn the history and significance of each instrument in Haudenosaunee culture. Give the instruments a try to a “Play Along” of traditional social songs in our 17th Century replica Longhouse. Paint With Class 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm Grace Gallery, 29 Nelson Street, Brantford Lala Garcia will introduce you to the wonders of Watercolor Painting and other incredible art forms. Lala is an exceptional Artist from Toronto. Open your minds and hearts to the arts and you will be amazed at what you can do!
Saturday, September 29, 2018:
Monuments and Memorials Walking Tours 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Brant Museum & Archives, 57 Charlotte St., Brantford Hear the seldom told stories of the monuments and memorials that dot the downtown core. This tour starts at the Brantford Armouries (18 Brant Ave.) on Jubilee Terrace.
2018 Survivors Gathering 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Woodland Cultural Centre, 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford Join us for the second annual Gathering of Survivors of residential schools. Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, supporters and allies are all welcome to take part in workshops, special guest speakers, healing art, and community. View free screenings of the Virtual Tour Video of the Mohawk Institute.
Brant Studio Tour 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Various Locations (for a full list of participating artists and locations, click here) The 18th Annual Brant Studio Tour represents a wide range of fine art disciplines, media, and styles – traditional to contemporary, classical to quirky. You will see two and three dimensional works-inprogress as well as finished art on display, and, when you find something irresistible, this is an ideal time to purchase directly from the artist.
Designed to promote understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the wide range of high quality original art created by member artists, the BST celebrates the creative process and its results and brings artists and members of the general public together for a unique behind-the-scenes arts experience.
Paint-to-the-Beat 10:30 am to 11:30 am Brantford Public Library, 173 Colborne Street, Brantford To celebrate Culture Days, the Brantford Public Library is hosting rhythm inspired events all day long! Visit us for a morning Paint-to-the-Beat workshop. Listen to music and paint what you hear!
Tourism Brantford: Create your Piece of Flair 10:30 am to 11:30 am Brantford Public Library, 173 Colborne Street, Brantford Participants will be able to create their own Piece of Flair button and wear it proudly. From designing and choosing the button image to piecing together the button components to pressing the final product… this is a great hands-on activity for everyone. Get creative. Get crafty. Get ready to Declare Your Flair!
Holly.O. Gallery & Studio Show & Sale 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Holly.O. Gallery & Studio, 16 Charlotte Street, Paris You are invited to the studio/gallery to see Holly O’s latest collection of vibrant original art!
Paint With Class 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm Grace Gallery, 29 Nelson Street, Brantford Brenda Buchera will introduce you to the wonders of Acrylic Painting. Brenda is an exceptional Artist from Hamilton. Open your minds and hearts to the arts and you will be amazed at what you can do!
Behind the Scenes Tour at the Paris Museum 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Paris Museum & Historical Society (Syl Apps Community Centre), 51 William StreetCome in for a backstage look at the Paris Museum, Archives & Historical Society! Join us for a sneak peek into our storage space, and talk to the men and women who volunteer their time and expertise to keep the museum thriving. We also have an extensive collection of Paris family histories in our archives – come see if we have something about your family too!
Depression Era Trivia Historical Walk 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Brant Museum & Archives, 57 Charlotte St., Brantford Put on your trivia caps! Starting by the Lions in front of the Federal Building (60 Dalhousie Street), at each stop, a depression era story will be told. Through listening to the stories, participants will be asked “Why are we stopped here?” Participants will be encouraged to provide answers to participate in this Trivia Tour.
Brantford Symphony Orchestra: Backstage Rehearsal 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, 88 Dalhousie St., Brantford You are invited to join the Brantford Symphony Orchestra backstage as we rehearse for the first concert of our 2018-19 season. See our conductor and musicians up close and learn about different instruments and how they work together. There will be demonstrations and opportunities to ask questions.
Spare Parts Drum Kit 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Brantford Public Library, 173 Colborne Street, Brantford To celebrate Culture Days, the Brantford Public Library is hosting rhythm inspired events all day long! Spend your afternoon building a drum kit with everyday items!
Tourism Brantford: Create your Piece of Flair 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Brantford Public Library, 173 Colborne Street, Brantford Participants will be able to create their own Piece of Flair button and wear it proudly. From designing and choosing the button image to piecing together the button components to pressing the final product…this is a great hands-on activity for everyone. Get creative. Get crafty. Get ready to Declare Your Flair!
Coach House Stage – Grand Opening 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm The Coach House – Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant, 20 Ava Road Join us for the first glance at our new Coach House Lobby area. Construction of the space starting in spring of 2018 and we are thrilled to reveal the new space. Come and check it out!
Sunday, September 30, 2018:
2018 Survivors Gathering 10:00 am – 2:00 pm Woodland Cultural Centre, 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford
A special walk to honour children who attended residential schools and their loved ones will take place today in recognition of Orange Shirt Day. Join us for the second annual Gathering of Survivors of residential schools. Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, supporters and allies are all welcome to take part in workshops, special guest speakers, healing art, and community. Free screenings of the Virtual Tour Video of the Mohawk Institute.
Brant Studio Tour 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Various Locations (for a full list of participating artists and locations, click here) The 18th Annual Brant Studio Tour represents a wide range of fine art disciplines, media, and styles – traditional to contemporary, classical to quirky. You will see two and three dimensional works-inprogress as well as finished art on display, and, when you find something irresistible, this is an ideal time to purchase directly from the artist. Designed to promote understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the wide range of high quality original art created by member artists, the BST celebrates the creative process and its results and brings artists and members of the general public together for a unique behind-the-scenes arts experience.
Holly.O. Gallery & Studio Show & Sale 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Holly.O. Gallery & Studio, 16 Charlotte Street, Paris You are invited to the studio/gallery to see Holly O’s latest collection of vibrant original art!
Paint With Class 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm Grace Gallery, 29 Nelson Street, Brantford Vanessa Cress-Lokos will introduce you to Glaze Oil Painting. Vanessa is an exceptional Artist from Hamilton. Open your minds and hearts to the arts and you will be amazed at what you can do!
Explore Brantford Township’s People! 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Brant County Ontario Genealogical Society, 118 Powerline Rd, Brantford Celebrate Culture Days in Brant by sharing stories about Brantford Township and some of the families who lived there. Storyteller Bill Darfler will tell about some of the 160 influential people he has researched who were attracted to Brantford Township. Bring your stories about families who contributed to its history.
