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Arts, tech and performance are all on offer at Culture Forward New West

The Anvil Centre is celebrating its fifth anniversary and marking Culture Days on Saturday, Sept. 28 with a day of arts and cultural fun. Oh, and there's birthday cake, too.
Anvil Centre Theatre
The Anvil Centre Theatre will be open for tours and host an information session about the city's new theatre strategy as part of Culture Forward.

The Anvil Centre will be filled to the rafters with arts, performance and fun for Culture Days weekend.

The downtown arts and events centre is holding a special Culture Forward event on Saturday, Sept. 28 to introduce people to the wide range of activities, programs and offerings on site – and to celebrate the Anvil Centre’s fifth birthday.

People of all ages, from children on up, are invited to check out what’s happening at the centre (777 Columbia St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – winding up with birthday cake on the main level at 2 p.m.

Here’s a sampling of some of the offerings:

 

VISUAL ARTS

Love, Loss and Loyalty: Redux (Level 1, Room 101)

Revisit a selection of artworks from the inaugural exhibition at the Anvil Centre Community Art Space, which was held in connection with the unveiling of the Wait For Me Daddy war memorial.

 

Identity (Community Art Space, third floor)

The ongoing exhibition features work by local artists Clarissa Banos, Eden Fine Day and P.J. Patten. At noon, Patten will give an artist’s talk in Room 417 (fourth floor).

 

 

PERFORMANCE

Stage performances (Level 1)

The stage on the main level will be MC’d by Janice Bannister and will feature a day full of performances, including the Vancouver Cello Quartet at 10 a.m., Royal City Musical Theatre at 11 a.m., Ostwelve at noon, City of New Westminster poet laureate Alan Hill at 1:15 p.m. and official remarks from dignitaries at 1:30 p.m.

 

Try It! Theatre (Studio 417, fourth floor)

Instructor Seamus Fera leads a free, fun introduction to the art of drama in this Creating a Character class. There’s a session for kids aged eight to 12 from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and for those aged 12 to 16 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Registration is required.

 

Sips n’ Scripts (Studio 411, fourth floor)

City Stage New West is presenting a promotional performance from 11 to 11:30 a.m., and from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Simon Webb and Renée Bucciarelli will perform Shameless, Sharp and Shocking: Meet George Bernard Shaw (for those 13 and up only).

 

Anvil Centre Theatre (third floor)

Head up to the theatre to find out more about the city’s draft theatre strategy: check out information boards, talk with the city’s theatre consultant, and provide feedback and input. You can also drop in to the theatre to check out how the flex-seating arrangements work, learn about upcoming shows and ask questions of theatre staff.

 

 

NEW MEDIA GALLERY

The New Media Gallery is offering curatorial tours of its ongoing WINDS exhibition, in the gallery on the third floor. You can also stop in to the Learning Lab (Room 311) for Create-a-Bot, exploring the world of electronics, robotics and wearables, and chat with programmers and curators in the Level 3 foyer about arts and technology programming.

On the first floor, the gallery is also introducing some of its children’s programming and giving people a chance to experience immersive technology with Flight of the Green Screen and Sculpt Your Virtual World.

 

NEW WESTMINSTER MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES

Stop by the New Westminster Museum on the third floor to take part in curator-led tours of its You Are What You Eat! Community Food Security exhibition. You can also chat with staff and learn how to donate to the museum or get involved in its exhibits and programs (in the museum’s Atrium Gallery).

Outside the museum, in the foyer, you can talk to museum staff about the city’s reconciliation process and share your thoughts about how the museum can support the work.

In the archives, on the second floor, you can meet a research volunteer to find out how to delve deeper into New West’s past, explore the archives reading room and learn about what community resources are at your disposal, and take part in a preservation workshop about Saving Print Photos Digitally (that’s on from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 2 p.m.).

 

 

LEARNING EXPERIENCES

Spirit of the Children Society (third floor foyer)

Join Spirit of the Children Society to learn about the Medicine Wheel and the important role that the Youth Hub plays in supporting local Indigenous youth and families.

 

Arts and heritage organization showcase (fourth floor foyer)

Learn more about local arts and heritage organizations by connecting with members and cultural advocates. Between noon and 2 p.m., you can also talk to city cultural staff about how you and your organization can work with Anvil Centre.

 

Anvil Centre website show and tell (Anvil Room, Level 2)

Heidi Hughes, the director of sales and marketing, will demonstrate the Anvil Centre’s new website.

 

 

See www.anvilcentre.com or www.culturedays.ca for full details of all the events.