The 11th annual BC Culture Days is coming up September 25 to October 25, 2020, featuring a line-up of free, interactive, socially distant or virtual events around the province.
British Columbians are invited to experience the ‘unexpected intersections’ of creative connection and artistic discovery during this celebration of arts and culture. The digital hub at culturedays.ca/bc—is the place to find a plethora diverse content to suit all levels of interests, comfort and accessibility as communities navigate the complexities of COVID-19. There you will find out about everything from in-person painting and paper-making demonstrations to live-streamed plant ink and comic book workshops, from musical recordings to self-guided art and agricultural tours The month-long celebration allows visitors to virtually explore creative collaborations from across the country.
“More so than ever before, fostering connection, understanding, and healing through artistic expression is essential to our overall well being as we navigate these strange and challenging times,” says BC Culture Days Manager Nazanin Shoja. “It is through creative curiosity that we gain a deeper appreciation for our world, for our community, and about ourselves. A collective artistic experience offers a beacon of hope to those who are struggling—boosting community engagement, deepening social bonds, and reflecting a future full of possibility. By expanding this year’s celebration to a full month of innovative partnerships and unconventional mashups, we hope even greater numbers of British Columbians will be drawn to experience the transformative power of the arts.”
To help support broad community involvement within the artistic process, BC Culture Days has selected five emerging artists from across the province to act as cultural ambassadors—raising awareness and boosting participation within their own communities, and virtually across Canada. The five Ambassadors will explore their distinct artform in unexpected ways, pushing traditional boundaries to discover new cultural understandings. Each ambassador is paired with a mentor to help steer their creative journey over three months.
BC Culture Days 2020 Cultural Ambassadors:
- Coral Santana (Vancouver) — Artivism: Sex and The Unheard
- Damian John (Ymir) — Exploring Reconciliation Through Creativity
- Molly Beatrice (Victoria) — Queer and Trans Youth Cabaret
- Edward Fu-Chen Juan (Vancouver) — Plant Ink Extraction Outdoor Artist
- Bambi (Revelstoke) — Behind the wall: The making of a collective mural
For full artist biographies, visit culturedays.ca/en/bc/2020ambassadors
The official kick off of BC Culture Days 2020 takes place Thursday September 24, 2020 with a 45-minute virtual event at 4pm PST, hosted by the City of North Vancouver. The opening event is expected to feature performances by local artists, South Asian, Persian, and First Nations dancers, an Indigenous welcome ceremony by Dennis Thomas-Whonoak of Tsleil-Waututh Nation, messages from Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Lisa Beare and the City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan, and introductory video clips from all five ambassadors.
For more information on how to take part in and experience BC Culture Days and to sign up for the BC Culture Days newsletter, visit culturedays.ca/bc.