Category: Monthly Wrap Up

Did you know that Creative Manitoba gathers all the stories making headlines in our arts and culture sector? We’ve created a blog to focus on our favourite articles. 

The Real and the Virtual

Blurring the lines between the real and the virtual, Winnipeg intermedia artist Freya Björg Olafson’s full-length work, MÆ Motion Aftereffect, premiered at Prairie Theatre Exchange as part of a series lineup devoted to small experimental pieces. The performance uses a variety of technology, including motion-capture, virtual reality, and 3D models to imagine society’s future with advances in virtual reality technologies.

Inuit Art Centre

“We’re trying to create a space that will feel like or insinuate a sense of the North so that the work that’s shown there feels like it’s really in its context,” – Michael Maltzan (Architect, Inuit Art Centre)

A rare glimpse into the construction of the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Inuit Art Centre provides insight into the scope of the project and the meaning behind the architectural features. Once completed, it will house more than 12,000 Inuit artworks and be the largest collection of Inuit art in the world.

Best In Show

Do you know your local drag history? The Uniter complied a crash course in the past, present and future of Winnipeg drag. From going to parties via streetcar in drag in the 1930s to the Genderplay Cabarets, Fringe plays, fundraisers and regular performances, drag in Winnipeg is evolving and reaching new audiences.

WNDX Festival of Moving Image

The 2019 WNDX Festival of Moving Image indulged audiences in a different experience from the deluge of blockbusters. Celebrating experimental cinema, the festival included local film premières, visiting artists, workshops, and performances.

Smoke Signals

“A lot of settler or institutionalized art doesn’t understand that in Indigenous communities, there’s no separation between art and living. It’s all one and the same,” Arlea Ashcroft (Indigenous Programs Manager, Creative Manitoba)

Smoke Signals, the 2nd Annual Indigenous Communication Conference, gathered community-engaged artists and art leaders to examine the importance of Indigenous voice in art and media. This year’s lineup included amazing artists and speakers like Elder Albert McLeod, KC Adams, Isaac Murdoch, Christi Belcourt, Lori Blondeau, and a keynote by Dr. Niigaanwewidom James Sinclair.

Did you know that Creative Manitoba gathers all the stories making headlines in our arts and culture sector? We’ve created a blog to focus on our favourite articles. 

Nuit Blanche

Nuit Blanche was back to illuminate the night once more with over than 70 events. Thousands of Winnipeggers explored interactive installations, public art, and performances in Downtown, the Exchange District, Saint Boniface, and the West End.

Giving Colonialism a Shake

The momentous exhibit Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience by artist Kent Monkman has made its way to Winnipeg. Drawing inspiration from the old masters and historical paintings, Monkman blends the traditional with the contemporary to explore colonialism from an Indigenous perspective.

What the World Needs Now

“We don’t generally engage in anything… that would be construed as partisan, but I think that climate action goes far beyond any sort of partisan label. It’s really just about being awake and taking responsibility for ourselves and other people in the world.” – Eddie Ayoub (Artistic Director, Art City)

Thousands gathered on September 27 at the Manitoba legislature to take part in the global climate strike for climate action. Numerous arts organizations joined the march including Art City, which contributed a huge paper mache globe created by young artists.

Leaning On Her Grief

After Susan P. Gibson’s husband suddenly passed away, she used her art as a survival mechanism to cope with the grief. Through decaying gifts of flowers and food, she saw the beauty in the developing mold and bacteria. After taking more than 3,500 photos of the decomposition process she has used art as therapy to work through her grief and produce a moving exhibit titled Grief Work.

Thin Air 2019: International Writers Festival

“I think we tripped into a much more diverse lineup almost 10 years ago. This is the country we live in, and it matters. A lot of other festivals are a little slow catching up, and I’m glad we’re out front.” Charlene Diehl (Director, Thin Air)

Thin Air 2019: Winnipeg’s International Writers Festival started off strong with a full day dedicated to Indigenous voices talking candidly about the history of Canada, decolonization, and discrimination. Themes for this year revolved around trust, real-life, coping, literature ‘on the edge” and more. Closing the festival was legendary author, Margaret Atwood, who discussed her new book, The Testaments, to a sold-out crowd at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre.

Wall to Wall Mural & Cultural Festival

Winnipeg got a fresh coat of paint with this year’s Wall to Wall Mural & Cultural Festival. Fourteen plain walls were transformed with new contemporary works from artists from Winnipeg, Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec City, and New York.

Did you know that Creative Manitoba gathers all the stories making headlines in our arts and culture sector? We’ve created a blog to focus on our favourite articles. 

Jarvis Warehouse Fire

The Winnipeg arts community is devastated by a catastrophic fire that destroyed a warehouse containing numerous studios and decades of work including art, equipment, tools, and supplies. GoFund Me pages have been created to offer financial support for the artists affected.

To donate to the visual artists GoFundMe click HERE

To donate to the muscial artists GoFundMe click HERE

Paint the Peg

Painting the town red, blue, green and everything in between! The first ever Paint the Peg urban art initiative hosted 13 artists across North America to beautify alleys and side streets in the exchange.

Marching to the beat of her own drum

“It’s not the instrument and you, you actually become the instrument.” – Barbara Sabanski

Barbara Sabanski had crossed off every item on her bucket list but one. Drumming along to George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm” the 74-year old amateur timpanist was able to complete her list and achieved a life-long dream by taking the stage with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Winnipeg Soca Regge Festival

Celebrating Soca Regge, Calypso, and revelry the 14^th annual Winnipeg Soca Regge Festival kept the party in full swing all night long featuring a mix of local artists and international favourites.

Winnipeg Folk Fest

“It’s been an absolutely amazing weekend, can’t have any complaints at all,” –  Lynne Skromeda, executive director

Through sunshine and thunderstorms, the Winnipeg Folk Festival had a record-breaking attendance of 76,000 people over four days. The mix-bag of over 70 artists hailed from diverse locations including the Netherlands, Mexico, Colombia, and Iceland but also featured a variety of local talent.

Winnipeg Fringe Festival

Curtains are up on the 2019 Fringe Festival. Locals and visitors from around the world enjoyed the variety of strange, delightful, engaging and hilarious performances. The Winnipeg Free Press kept up by reviewing 176 of the 178 shows, perhaps we’ll get luck and some of our favs will return for 2020.

Did you know that Creative Manitoba gathers all the stories making headlines in our arts and culture sector? They were previously listed on a single webpage. Now, we’ve created a blog to focus on our favourite articles. Here is the first edition of Creative Manitoba’s Monthly Arts and Culture Wrap Up! 

Artist Residencies

Churchill, Glasgow, Hungary, Banff, France, Australia? Artist residencies have become numerous and vast. Learn how to select the right fit for you from local residency pros, Craig Love and Diana Thorneycroft.

artbeat’s Studio central

“It’s been really freeing for me” – Cindy K (participant and volunteer)
Artbeat tackles the difficulties of mental illness by drumming the blues away. From congo drums to bongos, maracas, and even egg shakers, Studio Central’s therapeutic drumming circle proves that keeping the beat can have rejuvenating powers.

royal mtc artistic director kelly thornton

Get to know Royal MTC’s new award-winning artistic director Kelly Thornton through 20 questions. Pet peeves, guilty pleasures, weirdest habits, and our favourite: What’s the one thing you haven’t done that you’d love to do?

mayor’s luncheon for the arts

“I think as a society we need to stop making a business case for the arts and start making an arts case for business.” – Debbie Patterson (playwright, director, actor and disability justice advocate)
The 13^th annual Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts and the Winnipeg Arts Council Awards highlighted a year of success while looking to the future.

bloody Saturday

Winnipeg’s latest monument, Bloody Saturday, was suitably christened by fireworks. The streetcar commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike and captures the city’s rebellious fervour.

strike! the musical

“It’s a complete cross-pollinization,” – Danny Schur (co-writer with Rick Chafe) Strike! The Musical incorporates elements from the original play and film while diversifying its cast of characters.

jazz fest

Jazz Fest kept the city swinging this month with an impressive roster of talent. Scatting legend Bobby McFerrin closed the festival in style with improvisation, duets with the crowd, singalongs, and soulful covers.