Culture Days 2021

Culture Days 2021 will be held September 24 to October 24.  Digital and in-person activities (pending health protocols) are being planned. Activity details will be available by September 1, right here on this page.

Apply to Deliver a Culture Days Activity | Funding Opportunities

St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP)

Culture Days Activity Program | Funding/Micro Grants 

Intended for artists, businesses or organizations who wish to run a Culture Days activity in St. Catharines. Activities must respond to the mandate of Culture Days and create public participation in cultural experiences, with the aim of inspiring future involvement in the cultural life of the community. 

Applications are now closed, (Deadline was Thursday March 25). For more details on the SCCIP funding program (click here).

For More Information

Contact Cultural Services Staff at:

email: culture@stcatharines.ca

phone: 905 688 5601 x 5232

Recorded Workshops | Visual Arts

Watercolour and Pen Illustration 

Artist: Jon Shaw | Suitable for all ages

Gather the following materials:

Thick white paper (watercolour suggested), watercolour paints, brushes, water cup, water and paper towel, carbon transfer paper (optional), pencil and waterproof black pen/fine marker.

(Click here) to download the handout and image samples

(Click here) for the instructional video recorded during the live session.

Intersecting Mixed Media (Painting and Collage)

Artist: Janice Low | Suitable for all ages

Gather the following materials:
background (canvas panel, carboard or thick bristol/cardstock), a photocopy or magazine image, pencil, scissors, glue or gel medium, acrylic paints and brushes, water & water cup, paper towel or rags, or as an alternative to paint, any drawing materials

(Click here) to download the image samples

(Click here) for the instructional video

If you do not have access to materials, there is a free art kit available for pickup in limited quantities. Email culture@stcatharines.ca to request a kit. Limited one kit per household, kit contains enough materials for 2 participants.  

Collage Hour

Artist: Jenn Judson in partnership with Silver Spire Church | Suitable for all ages

Gather the following materials:  
scissors, glue, a piece of thick backing paper or cardboard, old magazines, books, posters or any other interesting paper material you have laying around the house

(Click here) for the instructional video 

Ready, Set, Paint!

Artist: Dena Colling Gelentso | Suggested for children up to age 8

Gather the following materials:

acrylic or tempera paint (red, yellow and blue), brushes, water bowl and paper towels, a background (canvas board, cardboard, bristol or watercolour paper), (optional) cut out paper shapes or leaves, protect your table and wear "messy clothes"

(Click here) for the instructional video 

 Mixed Media | In Our Shoes

Artist: Leona Skye | Presented by OUT Niagara
Suitable for all ages

(Click here) for the instructional video 

This series presented by OUT Niagara will tell the fresh, unconventional stories of Niagara’s sexual and gender-diverse community through various artistic media. 

Recorded Workshops | Puppetry 

Shadow Puppets

Presented by Waterwood Theatre Projects with the support of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Suggested for children up to age 12, adult assistance needed

(Click here) for the instructional video 

 2. How to Make Shadow Puppets

(Click here) for the instructional video 

(Click here) for print-at-home puppet patterns 

 3. Performance Recording:  Professional Shadow Puppets

(Click here) to watch the performance recording 

 Make Your Own Giant Puppet

Presented by Carousel Players featuring artist Alexa Fraser
Suitable for all ages, adult assistance needed

Gather the following materials: 
Newsprint, cardboard (two large boxes worth), craft paper, 3 broomsticks or long poles, 1 large old bedsheet or large pieces of fabric, decorations, masking tape, white glue (one large bottle), white acrylic paint, acrylic paint colours, scissors, stapler, paint brushes, sandpaper

Note: As an alternative the video can be used to create small puppets as well!

(Click here) for the instructional video 

Recorded Workshops | Performing Arts

Improv Workshop

Presented by Improv Niagara with the support of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Suggested for all levels of experience, all-ages

(Click here) for the instructional video 

Presented by the TD Niagara Jazz Festival with the Vaudevillian.

(Click here) for the instructional video 

Drama Games for Kids

Artist: John Sweeney in Partnership with Silver Spire Church 

Suitable for children grades K to 6, with adult support for younger children

Join in for word games and improvised storytelling as well as some small-space physical engagements.  

(Click here) for the instructional video | Part 1

(Click here) for the instructional video | Part 2

Digital Lectures and Podcasts

St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre

Virtual Cemetery Tour 2020 | Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery

(Click here) to watch the virtual tour 

Virtual Museum Lecture Series

Suggested for ages 16+

Discover your local history from the comfort of your home, with fascinating new stories and fresh takes on St. Catharines' past. These engaging talks are led by our Museum historians and feature expert special guests from the community. Click the lecture title to watch on the Museum's YouTube page.

• Next Stop: The NS&T (Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Railway)
  
• Open For Business: The Welland Canal in 1830
• 1918 Pandemic in St. Catharines
• Tracing the Tracks of the Underground Railroad
• Archaeology of a 19th Century Shipyard
• The Horseless Revolution: Packard and REO in St. Catharines
• Racetracks & Runaway Carriages: Horses in 19th Cen. St. Catharines
• Lost and Historic Architecture of St. Catharines
• Holding the Torch High: Remembering War in St. Catharines
• Stones and Symbols of Victoria Lawn Cemetery
• Where they Walk: the Making of the Guided Spirit Walks
• Ontario's Racially Segregated Schools
• Lost and Forgotten: the Third Welland Canal

• Stories from the Front: WWI

• The Howe Report: Black History and Freedom Seekers

Museum Podcasts

Click here for a full listing of 60+ podcasts exploring all things history in St. Catharines. 
https://stcatharinesmuseumblog.com/category/stcmuseumpodcasts/

Featured Podcasts:  

• The BME Church (Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad)
• The Welland Canal Fallen Workers
  Part 1   |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4  |  Part 5
• In Conversation with Author and Historian Tim Cook
• Historical Monuments
• After the Underground Railroad

 Art Exhibitions

Art Exhibition, Virtual Artist Features

More than Words: Truth and Reconciliation
Presented by the City of St. Catharines Cultural Services Office
A virtual exhibition walk-through and artist features will be posted online on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/StCathCulture/

Virtual Opening Reception 
(Click here ) to watch the live-stream recording 
More details: www.stcatharines.ca/exhibits

Virtual Concerts | TD Niagara Jazz Festival

The TD Niagara Jazz Festival Presents Live-Stream Jazz Concerts

The TD Niagara Jazz Festival is a cutting edge celebration of all types of jazz, performed in intimate indoor, outdoor and online venues in the heart of Niagara. The TD Niagara Jazz Festival presents the finest Canadian and internationally-acclaimed jazz musicians as well as a youth competition. 

• Lance Anderson 
• International Jazz Day 
• Roberta Hunt, New Orleans 
• Chris Butcher, New Orleans 
• Caribbean Club Trio 
• Eric St. Laurent 
• Bruce Tournay 
• David Restivo 
• Miguel de Armas and Miguel Jr. 
• Adrean Farrugia 
• Roy Patterson 
• The Vaudevillian 
• Richard Moore Duo 
• Tom McDermott 
• Thompson Egbo-Egbo 
• Jillian Lebeck 
• Floris Windey Trio 
• Greg Rodman 
• Chris Gestrin 
• Amanda Tosoff 
• Tom Van Seters 
• Gabriel Palatchi 
• Miles Black Duo with Tom Keenlyside 
• The Aline Homzy Duo 
• Mark Eisenman
  
• Laila Biali 
• Christopher Butcher 
• Rob Fekete 
• Bernie Senensky
  
• Brian Dickinson
  
• The Neil McVey Duo
  
• Hungry 4 Hammond PT 1: Organomics and Matt Weidinger 
• Hungry 4 Hammond PT 2: JV's Boogaloo Squad, The Joint Chiefs of Soul, Lance Anderson 
• Bill Mays 
• Jay Reed and John Stowell 
• Ashley St. Pierre 

The TD Niagara Jazz Festival Presents World Music 

• Clerel
  

• Amanda Martinez
  
• Itamar Erez 
• Badié 
• Laura Fernandez 
• Juneyt 

The TD Niagara Jazz Festival Presents Mardi Gras Concerts

• Intro to Mardi Gras with Chris Butcher and Windex Pete
  

• Red Hot Ramble 
• Big Smoke Brass
  
• The Vaudevillian
  
• Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra 
• Ecirb Müller's Twisted Dixie 
• Dragon Ritual Drummers 

Virtual Concert and Performance Series

#NIAGARAPERFORMS 
A lineup of local talent spanning a variety of performing genres. Over 40 live-stream recordings available to watch.
(Click here) for the full playlist on the PAC YouTube page.

Featured Performances: 

• Spencer Mackenzie (blues)
• The Gallery Players (classical)
  
• The Foster Festival (theatre)

• Measha Brueggergosman presented by Bravo Niagara (vocalist)

• John Sherwood (piano)
• Bedtime Stories with Carousel Players (theatre)
• Laurel and Hulley (singer/songwriter/folk)

Virtual Concert and Artist Q&A | Saint Stone

Virtual Concert

Saint Stone
Presented by OUTNiagara

Saint Stone is a quartet of tender queers from Niagara, on the shared territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg, Huron-Wendat, and Neutral peoples. STONE for the first brick thrown at the Stonewall Riots, and SAINT for the queer and trans people who were told that they were anything less than transcendent. This punk/grunge/indie group screams and shouts about what it’s like for some of us to live and love in this world. Their sound is unique, forward-driving, and lovingly described as “catchy, yet depressing”

(Click here) to watch the recording

Culture Days in Canada, A National Celebration of Arts and Culture

Each year during the last weekend of September, millions of Canadians engage in thousands of free events hosted by artists, cultural organizations, institutions, and municipalities in communities across the country—these events serve to showcase the importance of arts and culture in our communities year-round. St. Catharines has participated in Culture Days as a community since 2015 by providing funding to Artists & Organizations.

Culture Days aims to:

• Foster appreciation and support of the artistic and cultural life that is lived, created and expressed across the country in urban, suburban and rural areas alike;
• Promote direct interaction between creators and citizens, as a key to increasing understanding and appreciation of art and culture; and
• Affirm that every citizen is the guardian of the cultural life of his, her or their community.

For more information please visit www.culturedays.ca.