BC Culture Days Registration is Now Open

The following is partially excerpted from a communication issued by BC Culture Days.

Image: Mike Biden.

BC Culture Days will be celebrating its ninth year on September 28, 29 and 30. Artists, arts organizations, cultural and heritage organizations, businesses, and municipalities are all invited to open their doors to the public for a hands-on or behind-the-scenes experience, showcasing BC's vibrant arts and cultural community.

BC Culture Days is also excited to announce a new partnership with Vancouver Civic Theatres to create a downtown Culture Days hub on the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza. Vancouver organizers interested in presenting an activity on the plaza are asked to complete the online registration form, indicating QET Plaza as their activity hub location and selecting their date/time availability. Once registration is confirmed, BC Culture Days staff will contact interested organizers to confirm schedules and technical requirements. Please note that tents, basic sound set-up, and chairs/tables will be provided; however, organizers are responsible for any additional materials or equipment required for their activity. All activities will also be subject to review to ensure they meet the venue's safety requirements.

Organizers are invited to share the Culture Days themes of creativity, accessibility, and inclusivity in the arts by offering free interactive events to the public. Activities can range from a hands-on workshop inviting people to create or try doing something themselves, to a collective creation project, where the public contributes to a collaborative act or work of art. In the past, many organizations, such as museums and theatres, have offered behind-the-scenes tours to offer visitors a peek at creativity in action. Public art tours and cultural excursions have also been popular in communities where annual events are already in place. For those wanting to tie into already existing programming, public discussions or forums are another great way to get involved.

Culture Days is not only a celebration, but an opportunity to showcase what organizations do year-round. Organizers are welcome to register free activities promoting upcoming events or assisting with the planning of future community projects, such as public consultations, seminars, or volunteer recruitment activities. Culture Days is a creative platform for connecting with other artists and organizations for partnership and collaboration. By building bridges and stepping outside of their regular silos, participants can all create a greater sense of community and well-being. As a result of their participation last year, 88% of Culture Days attendees surveyed indicated that they have an increased understanding of how artists and arts organizations make a positive contribution to their community. 

In line with the theme of connecting communities, Culture Days has also announced "OnBeat," a collective drumming event bringing together thousands of Canadians from coast-to-coast, both in-person and online. Across the country, communities, organizations, and individuals are invited to participate in OnBeat by organizing drumming and/or rhythm-inspired events during the Culture Days weekend. This could include activities such as a jam session, a dance workshop, a paint-to-the-beat event, a beat poetry slam, or even a DJ workshop. 

Those who register at BC.CultureDays.ca before July 31, 2018 will benefit from the support of a provincial and national publicity campaign.  For more information, please contact BC CultureDays Manager, Nazanin Shoja at nazanin.shoja@culturedays.ca or 604-681-3535 ext. 214.