From learning about cultures around the world, to kids performances and films, there’s lots to see and do in Ontario – so get out and try something new!
PS One of these events has CUPCAKES!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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The largest shoe museum in the world turns 20!
In celebration of this milestone, the Bata Shoe Museum is kicking off a year-long celebration of its history, along with special programs and events this month. Highlights include:
The World at Your Feet
For the past two decades the BSM has strived to use shoes to tell stories – stories about cultures, stories about history, stories about society and stories about people. This year the BSM is asking you to tell your stories and help create a map of the world that reflects what shoes look like and mean to the cultures, societies and people who wear them. The World at Your Feet: A Global Mapping Project is an interactive project that asks: what corners of the world have your shoes taken you to?
Birthday Open House
What’s a birthday without a party?! On May 9, the BSM is holding an birthday open house and inviting everyone to come and celebrate this milestone. Join them for tons of shoe-inspired arts and crafts, get a glimpse into your future by having your shoes read, check out some special guests in our galleries, and make sure you don’t leave without having a birthday cupcake!
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OTTAWA INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL
Celebrating 30 Years!
Since 1985, the Ottawa International Children’s Festival has hosted an annual celebration of the best in live performing arts for children. Creating programs for children aged four to 15, the Festival focuses on enriching school curriculum and promoting the arts as an integral part of children’s education. This year’s Festival features musical trio Bon Debarras, circus and musical performers Les Parfaits Inconnus, re-imagined classics like Alice in Wonderland and much more! Festival runs May 4-13 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
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FINDING ART JUST GOT EASIER!
Toronto Arts Foundation announces the launch of a free, searchable events map at www.torontoartsonline.org. Now you can:
- Locate performances, activities and exhibitions on the map
- See what’s happening today, next week, month or year
- Narrow your search by type, location or date
- Look for events in your neighbourhood
- Find family-friendly or free events
Home to Canada’s largest community of artists, Toronto is host to over 20,000 arts activities and programs every year. Toronto Arts Online makes it easy for all Toronto residents and visitors to select arts events suited to their interests, time and budget.
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CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL
The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is the largest photography event in the world, and is devoted to celebrating and fostering an appreciation of the art and profession of photography. With over 1500 Canadian and international artists and photographers exhibiting at more than 175 venues throughout the Greater Toronto Area, the Festival offers something for everyone from May 1-31.
Coming up at the Festival:
Public Installations
Activating the urban landscape, 12 site-specific installations in Toronto and eight projects across Canada offer unexpected encounters with images in public space.
Primary Exhibitions
Within museums and galleries, 15 exhibitions of images gathered from around the world reflect the scope of photo-based practices from the past and present-day.
Featured Exhibitions
In galleries across the city, 31 selected exhibitions present a broad spectrum of photo-based works by Canadian and international artists.
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Over 210 documentaries from 44 countries featured in 2015 Hot Docs Festival
Hot Docs is the largest documentary festival in North America, and is gearing up for one of its largest festivals to date. Featuring hundreds of films from countries around the world, Hot Docs has something for all film lovers!
Tickets, packages, and pass sales can be made in person at the Box Office at 2 Bloor Street West, online at www.hotdocs.ca, or on the phone at 416-637-5150.
Thinking of coming to Hot Docs 2015? Book your stay at the Park Hyatt Toronto and receive four tickets to Hot Docs screenings, a concessions package and more-all for only $250!
2015 Festival Highlights
An enigmatic New York curator investigates her brother’s long-unsolved murder while obsessing over the violent work and life of an outsider artist from New Orleans, but her quest for answers leads to mysteries long buried.
After serving 81 days in solitary confinement for « subversion of state power, » outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei returns home to Kafkaesque police surveillance, house arrest and a pending lawsuit. Yet he finds novel ways to irritate the authorities despite the restrictions of his parole.
Want to see what else is on screen? Check out the full festival schedule.
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Join Inside Out in celebrating their 25th birthday and official launch of the 2015 Toronto LGBT Film Festival. Be the first to pick up a Program Guide. Mix and mingle with Toronto’s arts, film and LGBT community.
Very special guests The B-Girlz and DJs Craig Dominic, Sammy Royale and Regina the Gentlelady will be out and about to keep the party going!
New Venue for 2015:
St. James Cathedral Centre (65 Church St. at King St. E.)
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ONGOING EVENTS
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Did you know?
The Aga Khan Museum has officially joined the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Cultural Access Pass program. The Cultural Access Pass, a gift to each Canadian citizen during their first year of citizenship, provides complimentary admission to more than 1,000 of Canada’s museums, attractions, and parks from coast to coast.
Click here for more information!
The second half of the 16th century until the first half of the 19th century was a time of cultural merging that saw Persian themes, Indian colours, and Western influences find their way into Indian architecture and art.
Never before shown in North America, the exhibition Visions of Mughal India: The Collection of Howard Hodgkin features exquisite paintings from this period produced in the Mughal court, the Deccani Sultanates, and the Rajput kingdoms. An outstanding group of elephant portraits, vivid evocations of daily life, royal portraits, and dramatic illustrations of epics and myths are among the highlights of the thematically organized exhibition. All works have been selected from the outstanding personal collection of British artist Howard Hodgkin (b. 1932), whose own paintings are displayed in the concurrent exhibition: Inspired by India: Paintings by Howard Hodgkin.
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