The history, contributions, and culture of Black Canadians are shared and celebrated in Vancouver throughout Black History Month in February. 

The City of Vancouver is supporting Black History Month events that take place across the city by including them in the online calendar of events at vancouver.ca.  

To qualify, events must meet the following criteria:

Canada Council for the Arts invites you to join its 2014 annual public meeting. Chair Joseph L. Rotman and Director and CEO Robert Sirman will discuss Canada Council's latest activities and plans for the future.

The event will be live-streamed and live-tweeted for a national audience, starting at 1:30 p.m. PST (4:30 p.m. EST) on January 28, 2014.

Film buffs mourning the 2011 closure of renowned Vancouver video store Videomatica can now access its collection of over 35,000 titles at UBC and SFU libraries. 

Catalogued and available for borrowing, the unparalleled collection includes feature films from more than 75 countries, documentaries, cult and art films, Canadian works and selections from the Vancouver International Film Festival. UBC received about 28,000 DVDs, 4,000 VHS titles and 900 Blu-rays and SFU received more than 2,500 documentaries.

The Canadian Society for Dance Studies/la société canadienne d’études en danse, a group of artists and scholars researching and practicing in the field of dance, including in interdisciplinary contexts, such as dance theatre, dance and cultural studies, and dance education, has issued a call for papers for the 2014 Symposium on Embodied Artful Practices.

Following on the success and feedback of the inaugural “Survivor 101” workshop in November 2012, the Regional Cultural Development Advisory Committee, through Metro Vancouver, has partnered with four municipalities throughout Metro to present SURVIVOR 101 THE NEXT GENERATION. 

The Symposium for Performing Arts in Rural Communities (SPARC) will bring together rural creators, producers, presenters and animateurs to discuss the business of performing arts and place-based culture, in particular in rural communities.

Register early for the 2014 ArtStarts Showcase and Conference, a performing arts showcase and conference for educators, administrators, and community presenters interested in booking performances for young audiences, taking place February 26 to 28. 

This year's event offers many opportunities to experience the arts, engage with delegates and artists, and explore how you can take action to activate learning for young people.

The Key Events List (pdf), compiled by your Alliance for Arts and Culture, lists upcoming events in and around Metro Vancouver through the next 12 months. The list is designed to be a guide for event planners, who will find the roster helpful in avoiding scheduling conflicts.

The Canadian Society for Dance Studies/la société canadienne d’études en danse, a group of artists and scholars researching and practicing in the field of dance, including in interdisciplinary contexts, such as dance theatre, dance and cultural studies, and dance education, has issued a call for papers for the 2014 Symposium on Embodied Artful Practices.

The BC Museums Association announced this week the appointment of Theresa Mackay to the position of executive director. 

Mackay, a prominent leader in the fields of marketing and culture and a former director with the Royal BC Museum, succeeds interim executive director, John Grimes. 

Are you an emerging self-employed artist worrying about how to practice your art and make a living at the same time? The Cultural Human Resources Council (CHRC) has affordable and invaluable new tools available that can make the difference between success and disappointment in a career as a self-employed artist.

Release of career guides with advice and counsel for emerging artists

The UBC Centre for Cultural Planning and Development is launching the first of a new series of online workshops, Cultural Entrepreneurship, starting February 5.

Cultural Entrepreneurship by Lidia Varbanova, PhD

The Cultch will receive the largest corporate donation in the organization's history, a $2 million gift from East Vancouver-based West Coast Reduction Ltd. 

In recognition of the gift, The Cultch has named the restored stage at the York Theatre, which the organization operates, in honour of the local rendering facility. The deal was pending until Vancouver City Council voted last night (January 21) to amend a sign bylaw to permit name recognition on the York’s signage.  

Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay, Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament (Delta–Richmond East) was in Kelowna last week, on behalf of Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, to announce support for seven arts and culture projects in the Okanagan region.

The one-time investment of $274,980 will enable six organizations to deliver programming, organize festivals, strengthen francophone communities and support local publications. 

The Vancouver Opera has announced a new composer for its latest commissioned opera, Stickboy.

Neil Weisensel will create the music for this innovative work, based on the bullying experiences of spoken word poet Shane Koyczan. The previously-announced composer, Jordan Nobles has had to withdraw for personal reasons. 

In this issue of Hill Strategies' Arts Research Monitor: A focus on the application of digital technologies in the arts, including reports on the use of digital technologies by arts and culture organizations, online cultural consumption by Canadians 65 and older, and trends in Canadians’ communications habits.

Arts Organizations and Digital Technologies

Pew Internet and American Life Project, January 4, 2013

The City of Vancouver invites you to participate in TalkVancouver, an online space where you can share your insights with Vancouver City Hall on the important issues that affect you and our city.

As new City projects and initiatives unfold, TalkVancouver allows the City to reach out to you, share plans with you, hear your ideas, and talk about your needs.