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Culture Days | September 25 to October 25, 2020
Free Activities (Digital and In-Person) On Now!
 
What Is Culture Days?
Culture Days is a Canada-wide celebration that is the largest-ever public participation campaign undertaken by the arts and culture community in this country. Culture Days features FREE hands-on activities that invite the public to participate in "behind-the-scenes" experiences. Participants are given the opportunity to get creative, get messy, engage with performances, make art and experience culture!
 
*NEW* In 2020 the event has been expanded to one month!
 
Culture Days in St. Catharines
This year activities will be delivered either:

Online – featuring drama games, improv, community play development, mixed media art, steel drum music, shadow puppets… and more!
 
Or In-person – with social distancing and enhanced cleaning protocols – featuring collaborative murals, puppet creation, painting, portrait drawing, illustration and textiles/knitting. Most in-person activities require pre-registration.
 
Special interest groups are also presenting activities that address social diversity & inclusion, feature LGBTQ2+ artists, and explore Cultural Traditions by providing teachings, art-making and music experiences.
 
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre will present a series of free digital/online performances and an in-person film screening. The TD Niagara Jazz Festival will present a series of virtual concerts. Other Community partners will present virtual performances including the Foster Festival, Essential Collective Theatre, Waterwood Theatre, Carousel Players and more!
 
We look forward to celebrating Culture Days with you!


Culture Days activities are now accepting registration. Pre-registration is required to participate in the activities listed below, spaces are limited.
 

September 26-27

In the Soil / Rhizomes Artist Tours
In-Person, Note this is a PWYC ticketed event
 

Sunday, September 27

In Our Shoes with OUTNiagara and Leona Skye
Online | Live Zoom Session


Tuesday, September 29

Virtual Lecture | Cemetery Tours, Behind-the-Scenes
Presented by the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre 
Email for zoom link: museum@stcatharines.ca


Saturday, October 3

Introduction to Knitting with Tanya Jackson
In-Person | At Start Me Up Niagara Work Action Centre

Collage Hour with Jenn Judson
Online
Register: email office@silverspire.ca or call 905-682-8328


Sunday, October 4

Photo Transfer Yourself Into Art with David Figueroa
At Niagara Artists Centre (NAC)


Saturday, October 10

Introduction to Gelli Printmaking with Steve Plews
In-Person | At Start Me Up Niagara Work Action Centre

St. Catharines Envisions Inclusion
In Person | At Silver Spire Church
 

Tuesday, October 13

Virtual Lecture | Ontario's Racially Segregated Schools
Presented by the St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre 
Email for zoom link: museum@stcatharines.ca


Saturday, October 17

Kids Drama Workshop with Jon Sweeney
Online | Live Zoom Session
Register: email office@silverspire.ca or call 905-682-8328


Sunday, October 18

Jewelry Making, Pendant Workshop with OUTNiagara and David Lowe
At the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre
Arts and Culture Funding to Assist in Post-Pandemic Revitalization
St. Catharines City Council forges ahead in its support of the arts and culture sector by approving funding in the amount of $93,095 to 16 local artists and arts organizations through its annual St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP).

The arts and culture sector in St. Catharines has been severely affected by COVID-19. Disruption caused by the pandemic has had a significant impact on many artists’ and arts organizations’ abilities to carry out their work, especially in the audience-based performing arts sector.

Previously, at its meeting on June 3, 2020, City Council approved maintaining the 2020 SCCIP budget of $400,000, and that unspent money be used to create a temporary COVID fund for music, arts and cultural activities that support downtown revitalization and enhance public life during the recovery. It also expedited funding to be provided to Sustaining Fund clients in the second round of SCCIP allocations.

With the cancellation of events, performances and production seasons in St. Catharines, revenue for the SCCIP funding did fall short of projections. However, the program was deemed necessary by the City to strengthen cultural vitality, economic prosperity and social health in St. Catharines during recover from the pandemic.

The program was open to artists, arts organizations, artist ad hoc collectives, arts festivals, cultural organizations and other not-for-profit organizations that can engage residents at a local community level.

It aims to support arts and cultural activities in the community that foster downtown revitalization and enhance community life; projects that engage residents through performances, community art experiences, neighbourhood cultural activities, and experiences that encourage participation, creativity and innovation.

For the 2020 funding year only, this program is replacing the Arts Development Fund and the Culture Builds Community Fund. Previous recipients of this funding as well as newly eligible applicants were able to apply to the program.
Resources for Community Safety

COVID-19 Information
The City updates the COVID19 Information website frequently as new details become available. 

Mandatory Masks By-Law
St. Catharines by-law requires owners and/or operators of enclosed public spaces, to require mask use by those entering their establishments, in addition to the provision of hand sanitizer at entrances.
The Mandatory Masks By-law is now in effect, enacted on Friday, July 17, 2020.
Print and post signage:


Resources for Organizations and Creative Professionals

Funding Opportunities

Niagara Community Foundation | Investment Readiness Program | Deadline: Oct. 9

Ontario Arts Council | Arts Response Initiative
Deadline: (Individuals) Oct. 20 | (Organizations) Nov. 3

Ontario Trillium Foundation | Resilient Communities Fund | Deadline: Dec. 2


Re-Opening Resources

National Artists Centre | Safe Re-opening Guide
City of St. Catharines Cultural Services

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


Get Your Event Featured

We want to help you get the word out about your upcoming arts or culture events, programs or helpful resources. Content may be included in upcoming issues of Culture Ink and may be featured on the St. Catharines Culture Social Media accounts. Email us to submit content for consideration: 


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