Press Release
Ontario Culture Days festival begins September 20 with over 1,000 arts & culture events in hundreds of communities across Ontario
8 Creatives in Residence, 15 Festival Hubs, 1,000+ Community Powered Events Bring Province-wide Celebration of Arts, Culture and Heritage!
TORONTO – August 20, 2024 – Today, Ontario Culture Days is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated 2024 province-wide festival, set to take place from September 20 to October 13 in communities across the province. Building on the success of previous years, this year’s festival will feature over 1,000 unique, hands-on experiences that celebrate arts, heritage, and community spirit. With hundreds of event organizers from across the province participating, the festival will showcase a diverse selection of arts and culture events designed to inspire audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
2024 is the 15th Anniversary of Culture Days, and Ontario Culture Days is proud to take part in this national celebration. This year’s festival will once again highlight the artistic and cultural landscape of Ontario. Visitors can look forward to everything from immersive family-friendly activities to awe-inspiring professional performances across various artistic disciplines.
Hon. Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario said: “Events like Ontario Culture Days attract visitors to communities across Ontario by highlighting our arts, heritage and culture. The Government of Canada is pleased to partner with Ontario Culture Days to support the Festival Hubs across Ontario that will be a platform for hundreds of artists of all ages and backgrounds to showcase their talents.”
Stan Cho, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, said: “Ontario Culture Days offers an amazing opportunity for Ontarians to explore the many rich, diverse cultures within our local communities. Whether visiting a new art gallery, participating in a creative workshop, or planning an Ontario road trip, people of all ages are sure to be inspired by this year’s selection of activities, exhibitions, and programming.”
Throughout the festival, communities across Ontario will host an outstanding selection of free activities suitable for every taste and interest. Visit the Ontario Culture Days website to explore the full range of events and activities happening across the province. The website is regularly updated with the latest event information as the festival approaches.
Ruth Burns, Executive Director of Ontario Culture Days, shared her excitement about the hundreds of community organizers from across the province gearing up for this year’s festival: “We are thrilled with the overwhelming response from across the province. The Ontario Culture Days festival offers an opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse culture in our neighborhoods and beyond. This year, we’re offering 15 Festival Hubs located in cities and towns to help visitors to explore different areas of Ontario. The Creatives in Residence program, now in its fifth year, continues to produce unique artistic projects by notable Ontario artists. With over a thousand free events, the 2024 festival offers a wonderful opportunity to experience the vibrancy of Ontario.”
15 Festival Hubs
In response to the incredible community engagement seen in 2022 and 2023, Ontario Culture Days is thrilled to continue the Festival Hub program into its third year. Festival Hubs are local communities that serve as focal points for visitors to explore unique programming, connect with community, and discover new destinations. This year’s regional hubs are Brant, Burlington, Gananoque & 1000 Islands, Guelph, Milton, Oakville, Ottawa Region, Scugog, St. Catharines & Niagara Region, Toronto, Vaughan and Windsor in southern Ontario and Manitoulin Island, Sault Ste. Marie, and Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario. Each hub has a dedicated event page allowing visitors to easily select what to do in that area during the festival.
ON Culture Guides
The festival offers a fantastic chance to explore various regions of Ontario and indulge in cultural tourism. This year, Ontario Culture Days has relaunched these user-friendly travel guides for different areas throughout the province. These guides serve as reliable resources for visitors to make the most of their weekend activities this fall. You can find the ON Culture Guides here.
Creatives in Residence
2024 marks the fifth year celebrating the Creatives in Residence program, which has become an integral part of the annual festival to which many visitors look forward. Each year, the Creatives in Residence program invites artists to develop new community-engaged projects for the fall festival, with creatives working across different disciplines and regions. Their results culminate in installations, performances, and community-based activities presented during Ontario Culture Days.
In 2024, the Creatives in Residence series revolves around the theme of Heartbeat. Drawing inspiration from Don Kwan’s Heartbeat of the Valley and utilizing reclamation, research, gathering, and interventions, these multidisciplinary artists incorporate personal and collective experiences.
The 8 Creatives in Residence for this year are:
- Aaron Jones, (Scugog and Toronto): Sky Mirage Installation and Performance
- Reilly Knowles (London): Magic Circle for Earth Communion Exhibition, Workshop and Artist Talk
- Don Kwan (Westmeath, Whitewater Region): Heartbeat of the Valley Community Event
- Lucia Laford (Waawaaskone Kwe) (Sault Ste Marie): Dibaajimo. She tells a story. Community Event, Installation & Artist Tours
- Vik Mudge and Skye Rogers (St. Catharines): Composing Community Dance Showcase & Workshops
- Yasmeen Nematt Alla (Toronto) Thread that Tangles but doesn’t Knot Community Kite Flying Event and Workshops
- Camila Salcedo (Toronto) UPCYCLED: Camila Salcedo & Iconography of the Venezuelan Diaspora Exhibition and Workshop
- Jennifer Willet (Point Pelee National Park)Baroque Biology Community Event and Science Fair
LISTING INFORMATION Ontario Culture Days
Dates: September 20 – October 13, 2024
Price: FREE
Event Link: onculturedays.ca
Hashtag: #ONCultureDays
Media: Photos of the 2024 Creatives in Residence can be found here.
Photos of the 2024 Festival Hubs can be foundhere.
For more information on Ontario Culture Days, visit our website at onculturedays.ca.
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About Ontario Culture Days:
Ontario Culture Days is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates artists and cultural groups in our communities.
The Ontario Culture Days festival is an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage taking place each fall across the province. Each year, we work with organizers of all disciplines to produce this province-wide festival. Organizers host programs throughout Ontario and invite the public to participate for free. The next Ontario Culture Days festival will take place between September 20th to October 13th, 2024.
Ontario Culture Days lives at the local level. We support organizers from the smallest hamlets to the largest cities, while coordinating with other national and provincial Culture Days partners. We support the success of our sector colleagues through resources and network development, while highlighting the breadth and diversity of Ontario’s arts and culture to the wider public.
A sincere thanks to Ontario Culture Days’ supporters, including Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), the Toronto Star, VIA Rail Canada and Arterra Wines Canada. Our programs have benefitted from the support of Destination Northern Ontario.
We acknowledge the support of the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor), Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Ontario, and the Ontario Arts Council.
For further media information, contact:
Deanne Moser
DMPUBLIC
(647) 888-9388
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca