Culture Days will take place from Sept. 21 to Oct. 15, 2023, with a variety of activities to celebrate local arts and culture.
The City invites residents to celebrate Culture Days with free arts and culture programming for all ages taking place throughout September and October. Held annually, Culture Days aims to support engagement with, and appreciation for, arts and culture landscapes of Canadian communities.
Culture Days celebration includes:
Sept. 21: Culture Days Launch with First Nations storyteller Kung JaadeeEveryone is welcome to attend the City's Cultural Roundtable on Thurs., Sept. 21 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. in the Michael Wright Art Gallery for the launch of Culture Days. At 5:30 p.m., Kung Jaadee, who belongs to the X_aayda (Haida), x_m_θk__y__m (Musqueam) and S_wx_wú7mesh (Squamish) First Nations, will share stories from her traditions. Space is limited; please RSVP to [email protected].
Sept. 24: Dance Performances with Lions Park Artist-in-ResidenceOn Sun., Sept 24. at 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Lions Park Artist-in-Residence Sarah Hin Ching U will be performing her dance project Stratum in the park. Stratum weaves together dance and textile arts. The performers start by creating a series of loose nests out of strips of flexible silk and mesh fabric. As the performers enter the nest, they begin to influence the structure with their movement, pulling, shaking, leaning on, giving and receiving weight. Performances are free for all ages.
Sept. 28: Encaustic Painting Demonstration with Artist Angela TaharaOn Thurs., Sept. 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Outlet, join artist Angela Tahara for a free demonstration of encaustic painting techniques. Encaustic is beeswax, tree sap, and colour, applied with heat. Angela's art exhibit Wax Fusion will be on display in the City Hall Gallery from Sept. 28 - Jan. 16. Register for the free workshop at portcoquitlam.ca/register.
Oct. 12: Opening Reception for Fall Art ExhibitionsOn Thurs., Oct. 12 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., you're invited to the opening reception for three new art exhibitions. In the Michael Wright Art Gallery, Stories in Light is an international juried exhibition of watercolour paintings presented by the Port Coquitlam chapter of the International Watercolour Society of Canada. In the Outlet Gallery, Neither Here Nor There, but Everywhere is a group exhibition of artists exploring their personal stories of emigration and immigration. The City Hall Gallery features Port Coquitlam artist Angela Tahara's Wax Fusion paintings.
Oct. 12 - 16: Watercolour Summit EventsIn conjunction with the Stories in Light exhibition, the International Watercolour Society of Canada is partnering with Art Focus Artists Association and the PoCo Arts Council to present 5 days of artist demonstrations by national and international watercolour painters, plein air painting and watercolour battle events. For details and how to register for these free events, see portcoquitlam.ca/culturedays.
For a full listing of all Culture Days events in Port Coquitlam, including events offered by the Terry Fox Library, PoCo Heritage and Art Focus Artists Association, visit culturedays.ca and search Port Coquitlam. For more information on the list of activities visit portcoquitlam.ca/culturedays.
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.
For more information, visit culturedays.ca.
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Media Contact
Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email [email protected]