Come and celebrate Culture Days in St. Catharines! Join us from Sept. 20 to Oct. 13, 2024, as we celebrate art and culture through a diverse range of free live and virtual performances, workshops, and events. Culture Days is a nationwide initiative that brings together creators, artists, community groups, and institutions to offer free arts and cultural experiences to the public.
Each year, creators, grassroots community groups, public libraries, independent artists, collectives, municipalities, as well as major arts, culture, and heritage institutions participate in Culture Days by organizing free arts and culture events. In 2022, over 3.8 million people across Canada attended thousands of events in their communities.
In 2023, we collaborated with the St. Catharines Public Library and the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts as location hubs during Culture Days. We also partnered with The Brown Homestead and FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre to offer free and pay-what-you-may activities, in addition to working with artists and community partners who received funding through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program.
For a seamless experience, visit culturedays.ca, where you can easily search for activities based on location, demographics, and genres, and access registration information as applicable. Check back in the summer of 2024 for activities.
Here are some of the exciting events that took place in 2023.
September 22 to 30, 2023 |
Flag Raising and Exhibition Opening Join artists, activity organizers, Councillors, and City staff to raise the Culture Days flag, signaling the start of three weeks of free arts and culture events in St. Catharines. After the flag raising, join us inside City Hall for the opening of the City’s 14th Annual juried art exhibit. The Brown Homestead invites the community to join them in an open house event. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the John Brown House, see their current restoration projects in progress, stroll the grounds, and chat with their staff about plans for the future. Light refreshments will be available. No registration required; donations welcome. Living Mino Bimaadiziwin: An Indigenous Journey through the Arts Exhibition Friday, Sept. 22 to Wednesday, Oct. 4 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Explore an immersive visual and audio exhibition showcasing Indigenous artists' artwork and artefacts, offering insights into Indigenous life pre and during contact. No registration required.
Saturday, Sept. 23 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Jaycee Gardens Park Experience an original promenade-style theatre in the picturesque Jaycee Gardens Park. Enjoy short live performances and participatory activities as you explore the paved pathways. No registration required.
Saturday, Sept. 23 at St. Catharines Public Library, Mills Room
Children aged eight to 12 can create their own rod puppets based on the beloved folk tale “The Shoemaker and the Elves.” Take your puppet home and bring your own stories to life! Pre-registration required.
Saturday, Sept. 23 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts Join Artist Linda Carreiro for a creative workshop on text-based visual artworks. Craft artistic responses to words using stencils and inks. Pre-registration required. The Nature of Healing - Community Screening The Nature of Healing is the spoken truth of seven Survivors of the Mohawk Institute, Canada’s first and longest running residential school. This award-winning documentary is presented in partnership with Brock University and includes a panel discussion following the film. Pay-what-you-can (PWYC); tickets required. |
October 6, 2023 - P.D. Day |
Print It! - Family Edition with Michelle Nicholls Friday, Oct. 6 at St. Catharines Public Library, Mills Room
Join artist Michelle Nicholls for an interactive printmaking exploration using everyday items and modern techniques. Pre-registration required.
Friday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Catharines Public Library, Rotary / Bankers Room Unleash your creativity with this fun, meditative art exercise using watercolours and various mediums to create imaginative monster art! No registration required. Drop-in Stencil Art with The Brown Homestead Families will learn about this historic approach to home decoration while creating their own stenciling masterpiece using stencils based on designs found on the walls of The Brown Homestead, built in 1802. Children will receive a canvas bag and, with the guidance of our staff, use acrylic paint along with provided stencils to create their artwork. No registration is required; donations are welcome. |
October 1 - 15, 2023 |
Classical Chamber Music Program with the Strettino Quartet Monday, Oct. 2 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. Catharines Public Library, Mills Room Join the Strettino Quartet for an enchanting afternoon of classical chamber music. Immerse yourself in their innovative arrangements for violin, clarinet, cell, and piano, complemented by insightful introductions that deepen your connection to the music’s history and performance. No registration required.
Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre A musical showcase on Sisters in Spirit Day, honoring missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people. Join emerging and established Indigenous artists for a memorable evening. Pay-what-you-can (PWYC); tickets required.
Saturday, Oct. 7 at St. Catharines Public Library, Mills Room
Join artist Michelle Nicholls for an interactive printmaking exploration using everyday items and modern techniques. Pre-registration required. Pre-registration required.
Saturday, Oct. 7 from noon to 4 p.m. at Catharines Public Library, Rotary / Bankers Room Discover the art of creating felt vessels using loose wool fiber, soap, and water. Perfect for beginners, and you can take home your finished work. Pre-registration required.
Oct. 7 to 28, 2023 (Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.) at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts Explore a diverse exhibition featuring Laurie Morrison's eco-photography and community-created artworks from an artist workshop. No registration required.
Tuesday, Oct. 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts Join a hands-on workshop on sustainable image-making, led by Laurie Morrison. Create eco-photographs and explore innovative approaches to visual art. Pre-registration required.
Tuesday, Oct. 10 at St. Catharines Public Library, Mills Room
Join for a didactic piano concert featuring the works of legendary composers, along with anecdotes and insights shared with the audience. No registration required. Celebrate Cultural Connections with the St. Catharines and Niagara Regional Twinning Association Saturday, Oct. 14 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Market Square Explore St. Catharines' cultural connections and Twin City history with Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, through engaging activities like friendship bracelet making, masquerade mask design, and live steel drum music. Classical Guitar: A History of Diversity in Music with Jelica Mijanovic Saturday, Oct. 14 at St. Catharines Public Library, Rotary / Bankers Room
Explore the rich history of the classical guitar and its connections to diverse cultures and peoples. An interactive lecture-recital you won’t want to miss. No registration required. Fall Harvest Collage Workshop with Paper Bananas Saturday, Oct. 14 from 12 to 2 p.m. at Happy Rolph's Animal Form as part of Pumpkinville Join artist Jenn Judson (Paper Bananas) for a pop-up, drop-in, collage-making workshop with a fall harvest theme. Transform hand-picked sheets and hand-cut pieces into fun collages in the outdoor setting of the pavilion. This workshop is designed for individuals of all ages and skill levels.
Sunday, Oct. 15 at Dr. Huq Library, St. Catharines Kiwanis Aquatics Centre
Dive into the world of woven paper paintings with artist Janice Low. Learn techniques, create your own masterpiece, and take home completed artwork. Pre-registration required. |
If you’re an organizer interested in hosting a Culture Days activity in St. Catharines, you may be eligible for funding through the St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP). To be considered for funding, activities must be interactive and engaging, providing hands-on cultural experiences to the public. The application deadline for the 2023 Culture Days Activity Program has passed. Applications for 2024 will open in the spring of 2024.