HomeNews Toronto Public Library Celebrates the 5th Anniversary of Culture Days

Toronto Public Library Celebrates the 5th Anniversary of Culture Days

Comedy steps into the creative fold as Culture Days @ the Library returns with 45+ FREE activities at more than 40 branches

TORONTO (August 21, 2014) - Culture Days @ the Library returns for its fourth year, bringing more than 45 free activities to Toronto Public Library branches across the city on Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27 during the Culture Days weekend. New programming joins returning favourites in a diverse lineup of comedy, dance, music, theatre, visual arts, literature and much more. Culture Days @ the Library is made possible through the collaboration of the Toronto Public Library, Ontario Culture Days and the Neighbourhood Arts Network.

This year, the Neighbourhood Arts Network was integral in organizing The Scoop - Creative Networking: Connecting Artists with Space & Funds – a kick-start event to Culture Days @ the Library. The Scoop is an example of the valuable professional development events the Neighbourhood Arts Network is known for. As a result of The Scoop, a diverse new roster of artists have joined Culture Days @ the Library for 2014.

"As an organization, we believe in the accessibility of arts for all,‖ said Angie Aranda, Outreach & Events Coordinator, Neighbourhood Arts Network. "Great initiatives, like Culture Days @ the Library, provide an avenue for our members to reach new communities while exposing patrons to arts and culture in their own backyard. We are thrilled to be on board for another year.

"The Neighbourhood Arts Network has been an invaluable partner, continuing to spread awareness of Culture Days @ the Library to Toronto’s diverse artist community" said Miriam Scribner, Toronto Public Library’s Senior Services Specialist for Programming and Events. "It’s wonderful to see such a positive response from local artists, who use this as an opportunity to showcase and share their talents with the public."

May Chook, jazz and improvising vocalist and Neighbourhood Arts Network member, is one of the skilled artists bringing their craft to Culture Days @ the Library. May will present Vocal Play! – an encouraging and fun vocal improvisational workshop, where participants will sing, make funny sounds and learn to speak with style.

"As a musician and community artist, I always work hard to bring music to the community and Culture Days @ the Library helps me do that," said Chook. "I believe that everyone has a unique and beautiful voice. Through my Vocal PLAY! workshop, I would like to see people of all ages and backgrounds enjoy using their voice to express themselves. Making music has no limitations!"

The following are a small sample of the great activities taking place during this year’s Culture Days @ the Library:

  • The Punger Games at the Toronto Reference Library with Stephanie Avery. Come pun, come all to Toronto's punniest event. Starting with a short presentation on the art of pun-making and ending with a live pun competition, this is the perfect event to tap into and hone your punning skills.
  • Latin American Canadian Arts Projects will offer four exciting activities including, Latin Drumming Workshop at Hillcrest Library, Salsa Dancing Workshop at Flemingdon Park Library and Capoiera Workshops at Toronto Reference Library and Bendale Branch Library.
  • Acrylic Painting: Tips and Tricks at Leaside Toronto Public Library. Karma Creative Art Studio artist Maggie Doswell will demonstrate useful techniques for working with acrylics paints effectively and invites the public to paint alongside her.
  • The popular activity Steelpan with Suzette returns again with an exploration of the distinctive pitched percussive instrument at Dufferin/St. Clair Library and Eatonville Library including sessions for kids, youth, and for the visually impaired.

For a complete list of Culture Days activities in your neighbourhood, including Culture Days @ the Library activities, please visit on.culturedays.ca.

About Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library is one of the world's busiest urban public library systems. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131. To get the most current updates on what's happening at the library, follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.

About Neighbourhood Arts Network
The Neighbourhood Arts Network is a strategic initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation. With over 1,000 members to date, we create online resources, partnerships and professional development events that help community engaged artists and organizations do what they do best: enrich Toronto and transform it into a more vibrant and livable city.www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org


About Culture Days
Culture Days invites everyone to explore, discover and participate in arts and culture in every community across the country. Over 5.5 million Canadians have participated in 25,000 Culture Days activities hosted by 4,440 Canadian artists, cultural organizations and groups since 2010.

The 5th anniversary Culture Days weekend will take place on September 26, 27 and 28, 2014. Once again, the event will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate ―behind the scenes—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community.

To find out what activities are happening in your community visit www.on.culturedays.ca and plan your Culture Days weekend using the Bright Spots Schedule, presented by Sun Life Financial.

For more details about Culture Days in Ontario please visit: www.on.culturedays.ca.
Connect with Culture Days on Facebook, Flickr and YouTube and join the conversation @ONCultureDays.

Ontario Culture Days is supported by the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario in recognition of Celebrate the Artist Weekend.

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For more information about Culture Days in Ontario or to coordinate interviews, please contact:


Touchwood PR
Susan Smythe-Bishop
susan@touchwoodpr.com
416-593-0777 X 203

Hailey DeDominicis
hailey@touchwoodpr.com
416-593-0777


Toronto Public Library contact:
Ana-Maria Critchley, Stakeholder Relations Communications, Programming and Customer Engagement
amcritchley@torontopubliclibrary.ca
(416) 393-7212