It’ll be three days of free entertainment, artistic presentations and activities. And it’s all going to kick off in Surrey.
B.C.’s fifth-annual Culture Days takes place across the province Sept. 26-28.
But today (Thursday), all eyes will be on Surrey for the event’s launch, which will feature a two-hour party with a diverse line-up of entertainment guaranteed to please all tastes.
On Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the stage at Surrey City Hall will host a steady stream of music, dancing and acting.
Hosted by Christopher Gaze, the day will include entertainment by Spirit of the West’s John Mann, a hometown return by country singer Lisa Brokop and a poetry reading by 2014 Culture Days Ambassador Rawle Iam James.
There will also be performances by the Surrey City Orchestra, the hip hop troupe Praise Team, the Re-Enactors and storytelling inside Evelyn Roth’s giant inflatable salmon.
Guest speakers include Kwantlen Polytechnic University Academic Vice-President Sal Ferreras and Arts Umbrella President and CEO Lucille Pacey.
From Sept. 26-28, more than 200 free, interactive activities are planned throughout Metro Vancouver, which coincides with celebrations across Canada.
Check www.bc.culturedays.ca
Celebrate at the Surrey Arts Centre and gallery
Culture – it’s not just for yogurt.
Create, participate, and celebrate during Canada’s fifth-annual Culture Days weekend at the Surrey Arts Centre and Surrey Art Gallery
On Sept. 27 from 1-5 p.m., select your flavours – hands-on art-making, circus performers, quilting demonstrations, a break-dance battle, a book launch or a host of locally grown performing artists.
These free activities are crafted to entertain and satisfy your taste for the arts.
• Be welcomed by the Heritage Re-enactors, professional actors portraying some of Surrey’s early settlers.
• Drop in for the DIY Nature Prints art making activity, inspired by the exhibition Flora and Fauna: 400 Years of Artists Inspired by Nature. Create your own cyanotype (blue and white print) using items from nature.
• Drop by the Just for Kicks BreakDance Demo – crews of 10 dancers will try to outdance each other while a DJ plays great music.
• Watch the expert hands of members of the Fraser Valley Quilters Guild and see some of their beautiful creations inspired by the natural world and beyond.
• Watch and learn from Cirque Surrey’s youth circus performers.
Also on schedule:
• 1:15–2 p.m.: Listen to talented, local musicians fresh from the Band-Aid workshop (see photo above).
• 2-4 p.m.: Drop in and join a short tour of the exhibition Flora and Fauna – hear interesting stories about the artworks and the artists.
• 2–2:45 p.m.: Hear the unique sounds of classical Indian instruments, courtesy of Naad Arts.
• 2:45–3:30 p.m.: Watch local young artists from A.C.M.E. Arts present singing, spoken word and rap.
• 3:30–4:15 p.m.: The Re-enactors will get you up close and personal with Surrey’s history.
• 4:15–5 p.m.: See some of the best shorts films that have been screened at the Surrey International Film Festival.
