Volume 5 - Issue 1

Thursday January 21, 2016
Hello
Happy New Year! 2015 was busy here in the City's cultural services office - we made a list and we thought we'd share it with you in a calendar of highlights. Enjoy! 

We are also looking to the future as 2016 starts with a review of the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy, Nominations for the 2016 Arts Awards and updates on the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial - read on to learn more.
Year in Review - 2015
January - Task Force recommends design by Dereck Revington Studio Inc. of Toronto for the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial . Approved by Council in June.
 
February - opened Old Niagara/Young Lenses, an exhibit of architectural photography by students at Holy Cross S.S. who later won an award for the exhibit - yay!
 
March - Inspire St. Catharines: Culture Plan 2020 was approved in March by City Council, after 2 years of work on it. Thank you to those who contributed!
 
April - Task Force receives word that Dept of Canadian Heritage has approved $150,000 grant for Welland Canal Fallen Workers memorial. Loud Hurrahs!
 
May - Celebrated 35 nominees at the 2015 St. Catharines Arts Awards , held at the Centre for the Arts, Brock University and themed on "Goodbye SOS!" (Sean O'Sullivan Theatre).

June - City wins Community Culture Unity Award from Pride Niagara - thank you! Pride in the Park is funded through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP).
 
July - Driftwood Theatre's Hamlet was performed to a crowd of 240 in Market Square on a rainy day in July. They loved it.
 
August - Commissioned local artist Melani P yke to produce two murals on the Catherine Street Par k shed - two murals were com p leted in th e fall, with help from residents during Culture Days
 
September - Culture Days comes to
St. Catharines! City supports ten Culture Days activities, including 4 on City sites, and promotes the event across Niagara. 1800+ residents get engaged!
 
October - Award design for the St. Catharines Arts Awards is recommended, to be used for the next 10 years. Stay tuned for announcement in February!
 
November - FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre opens - WOW!  Cultural services installs artwork by four Niagara artists, with more to come. AND -- The St. Catharines Cenotaph Restoration is completed, with seven bronze elements removed, restored and replaced in time for Remembrance Day.
 
December - Task Force presents a review on the City's cultural funding programs, presenting 9 recommendations to City Council on Dec 14, 2015.
 
What an amazing year for culture in St. Catharines! We're looking forward to what 2016 will bring. 
In the Spotlight
Nominations are now open for the 2016 Arts Awards! 
The St. Catharines Arts Awards are back! Help us celebrate the very best of the arts and culture scene in the Garden City. Who will you nominate?
 
Public nominations are now being accepted for the 2016 St. Catharines Arts Awards. H onour St. Catharines artists, educators, patrons and volunteers. N ominate local artists, residents and businesses for the following categories: 
  Arts in Education Award

Emerging Artist Award
Sponsored by the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

Established Artist Award

Making A Difference Award

Patron of the Arts Award
Sponsored by the St. Catharines Downtown Association
 
Deadline for nominations is  Friday, Feb. 12, 2016 at Midnight.
 
The recipients of the City of St. Catharines Arts Awards will be announced on Saturday June 4, 2016 at the Cairns Recital Hall,  FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre .
 
To submit a nomination visit  www.stcatharines.ca/ArtsAwards

City News
St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy Review
The Arts & Culture Advisory Committee is reviewing the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Policy. On Wednesday, February 17, 2016, two sessions will be held to present a draft revision of the policy. Community members are invited to attend and public feedback will be welcomed at these sessions.

Afternoon Session: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in the Mills Room at the St. Catharines Public Library (Centennial Branch), 54 Church Street. 

Evening Session:  7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Irene Locke Room at the St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre, 425 Carlton Street.

For more information on SCCIP, or the Cultural Funding Review process,

Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial
Although the Welland Canal has closed for the shipping season, the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force  is continuing its work to design, build and finance a memorial to honour 137 men whose lives were lost during construction of the canal.

On January 13  Fundraising Chair, Greg Wight announced donations of $25,000 each from the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC), Fednav and ArcelorMittal Dofasco towards the memorial.



Memorial Design Open Houses
Monday February 8, 2016 the community is welcome to get a closer look at the plans for the memorial, meet designers from Dereck Revington Studio Inc. and members of the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial Task Force at two Niagara Open Houses.

South Niagara:  3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at Port Colborne City Hall,  66 Charlotte St, Port Colborne
 
North Niagara: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Lock View Lounge at the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre,  1932 Welland Canals Pkwy., St. Catharines.
 
For more on the Welland Canal Fallen Workers Memorial visit: www.stcatharines.ca/CanalWorkersMemorial

Festival & Events Funding Program
Applications for the 2016 festival season are now available.  Applications are due Friday February 5, 2016

For more information on the Festival & Events Funding Program visit:  www.stcatharines.ca/F-Efunding

Brochures at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
The PAC is offering individual artists and arts organizations an opportunity to populate their new promo racks in the front of the building. The promo racks can hold flyers or rack cards with dimensions of up to 4" x 9". 

If interested, please drop off no more than 100 to the Box Office, ATTN: Michael Chess.

Call for Musicians - 2016 Summer Concert Series
The City of St. Catharines will be releasing a call to musicians for their 2016 Summer Concert Series on Monday January 25, 2016. 

Submissions from original and cover recording artists are welcome.  
Deadline: Friday February 26 by 4:30 p.m

To join the Calls to Artists e-mail  list visit: www.stcatharines.ca/enews/signup

Calls and Opportunities
New Arts Initiative to Welcome Refugees
Starting in April 2016, a new initiative from the Canada Council for the Arts will support arts organizations that wish to provide free access to refugees to a performance, exhibition or arts event in their communities. The Canada Council will release further details in March 2016 for arts organizations who are interested in getting involved. Click here for more information.
 
Ontario Presents - Webinar Series
Ontario Presents has a variety of webinars coming up this year. As part of "Webinar Series for Arts Presenting", topics will include:
  • grant writing
  • audience building
  • social media
  • sponsorship
  • volunteer management and
  • strategic planning
Sign up for the entire series or choose to attend the webinars which are most relevant for you. Click here to view schedule and sign up!

The Cultural Services office is a division of the City of St. Catharines' Parks, Recreation and Culture Department. Cultural Services focuses on public art, community development, planning and policy related to arts and culture in the City of St. Catharines.