What Does Culture Days Look Like?
Anything is possible during Culture Days – anything that brings creators and the public closer together: visitors to a theatre are invited to attend a dress rehearsal; a professional songwriter pens, composes, arranges and records a song with a class of students; the crew of a television studio offers a guided tour; a glassblower shares the warmth of his workplace; a museum opens up its restoration workshop to the public; a nighttime tour encourages people to look at their neighbourhood architecture in a whole new light; engravers open the doors of their studios to reveal the secrets of their art; a playwright holds a performance in a laundromat.
Culture Days features free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate in the “behind-the-scenes” world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, designers... in their community. These types of activities are sometimes known as “cultural mediation.” Through exchange and dialogue, artists and creators have a unique opportunity to engage citizens of all ages in their practice, while citizens delve into stimulating participatory experiences exploring their own creativity and curiosity. See below for more on cultural mediation.
Visit the Celebration Schedule section of the website to read about activities that took place in your province during the 2010 edition of Culture Days. You can also stay in touch by subscribing to the newsletter, reading the Culture Days blog and connecting on Facebook and Twitter. Also be sure to check out the stunning photo gallery of Culture Days activities on Flickr.
Below are examples of typical cultural mediation activities that many cultural professionals and organizations offer already. The imagination of Culture Days activity organizers, however, should not be limited to these suggestions. Be creative! Invent a new type of interaction!
- guided tours (galleries, museums, backstage, heritage sites, in costume)
- outdoor walking tours (historical, architectural etc.)
- creation workshops
- interactive demonstrations of technique, how-to etc.
- introductory courses / workshops / classes
- "meet the artists" events
- presentation / performance with discussion period
- public rehearsals (with artists talk-back)
- interactive performances
- improv creation & activities
- games, competitions
- collective creations
What do you have to say about your experiences “going behind the scenes”? Been to a compelling art workshop lately? See an artist demonstrate their technique? Talked to a curator about how they put together an exhibit? Learned how architects or other creators find their inspiration? Share your story about your favorite glimpse of the creative process and the people who contribute to the cultural life of your community!
More information on the definition and practice of cultural mediation may be found here:
International Forum on Cultural Mediation organized by Culture pour tous
http://www.culturepourtous.ca/forum/index_en.htm
Short summary from the Québec Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sport, about the International Forum on Cultural Mediation
http://www.mels.gouv.qc.ca/sections/artEtCulture9/index_en.asp?page=forumRencontre