Galleries are re-opening their doors, performers are back on stage, and audiences are flocking to institutions to experience the magic of the arts in-person. The province is bursting with creativity as we enter Step Three in Ontario’s Reopening Plan. To get the most out of this time, check out these upcoming activities from arts organizations and institutions in the province.
Missing gallery spaces?
Tau Lewis, Symphony (detail), 2020–21, various recycled and hand-dyed fabrics, recycled leather, cotton batting, beads, acrylic paint, PVA glue, metal hoop skirt, pipe, seashells and wire.
Galleries and other arts spaces will be opening their doors through July, and The National Gallery of Canada is already open and ready for visitors! Check out their fantastic summer exhibitions, including Tau Lewis’s “Symphony,” where Lewis uses reclaimed fabrics to create a “mutable being, devoid of gender,” or stroll through the “Rembrandt in Amsterdam” exhibition, which explores the work and impact of the Dutch master.
The Art Gallery of Thunder Bay is also open, and will be showcasing the work of students from Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Red Rock, and Dryden until July 31. The show highlights youth creativity in Northwestern Ontario, featuring works from across a variety of media.
Pop art fans will love the AGO’s Andy Warhol exhibit, opening July 21. For those looking for digital programming, check out the gallery’s Summer Pop, which features free online art classes inspired by the Pop art movement.
Catch a show
Missing the thrill of seeing a show live on stage? Check out Canadian Stage’s Dream in High Park series, which will feature a variety of performances across dance, theatre, music, and comedy all summer long! Make sure you catch Blackout, a musical exploration of connection and community set during Toronto’s 2003 summer blackout.
Audiences shouldn’t miss the shows at the Stratford Festival, which starts this month, and the performances at Fringe North and the brand-new Blyth Festival, both happening this August.
Music fans should check out the Summer Days/Summer Nights series, which will feature 12 free outdoor concerts throughout the streets of Milton.
Get Creative
Forever (Bird-Botanicals), David Constantino Salazar
Looking to get your hands dirty? Try the Gardiner Museum’s free, outdoor clay-bird making lesson, or the Art Gallery of Sudbury’s Art and Movement class, which is part of their ongoing Art in the Park series.
Related Articles
Call for Board of Directors
Ontario Culture Days is seeking applicants with an interest in supporting the vibrancy, accessibility, and sustainability of our sector.
‘The People’s Garden’ by Angela Walcott
Multidisciplinary artist Angela Walcott believes it’s important to highlight the power of community when it comes to gardening and food security.
Toronto is a ‘Dead Ringer’ in American cinema
After a sold-out premiere, Dave Dyment's latest film returns for free encore screenings at Toronto City Hall.
Festival Roundup: East Asian cultural events
Share the love of culture with local communities in Ontario! Whether you want to find something from your own culture or experience something new, we’ve got you covered.
Festival Roundup: Digital Events from Indigenous creators
Dive deeper into Indigenous creativity with these digital events during the Ontario Culture Days Festival.
Festival Roundup: celebrating Indigenous voices and art
From intimate gallery installations to learning night sky constellatoins, we invite you to celebrate Indigenous art, voices, and events.
Festival Roundup: hidden local history
What stories are just around your corner? Our festival of free arts and culture programming brings you a slice of local heritage and history, from city-wide programming like Heritage Days, to intimate events animating historic sites with music and art.
Honouring National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
These Indigenous-led events discuss the history and harms of residentials schools, while celebrating the voices and stories of Indigenous artists, leaders, and residential school survivors.
Embracing the power of community through ‘The People’s Garden’
Multidisciplinary artist Angela Walcott believes it’s important to highlight the power of community when it comes to gardening and food security.
Festival Roundup: Culture Sharing
Share the love of culture with local communities in Ontario! Whether you want to find something from your own culture or experience something new, we’ve got you covered.