To support cultural sector growth in Guelph, the City invests in capacity building opportunities and special programs. These projects are short-term in nature and help to increase the visibility and viability of Guelph’s arts and culture community.
Artist in the Community Program 2014
Join Pearl Van Geest, Guelph’s 2014 Artist in the Community, and take part in the creation of a large-scale community art project: Terrain of Sensation: A Collaborative Mapping Project. Tour the grounds of the West End Community Centre for inspiration, then draw, paint, sketch or make prints on site. Workshops are free and family friendly. No art experience is needed!
Photos of each community-made piece will be layered over a map of the site to create the final project.
About the 2014 Artist in the Community
The City’s Public Art Committee has selected Guelph artist Pearl Van Geest as the 2014 Artist in the Community. Pearl is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design and holds a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Windsor. Her paintings are part of the Canada Council’s Art Bank Collection.
About the Artist in the Community Program
The Artist in the Community Program is a new initiative, launched this year by the City of Guelph. The purpose of the program is to bring art to unexpected places throughout the city. For the 2014 program, the selected artist will be working onsite and offering free workshops in the outdoor space at the West End Community Centre on Imperial Road.
2014 Workshop Schedule
July
- July 2: Artist on site 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m.
- July 3: Artist on site 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m.
- July 4: Artist on site 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m.
- July 16: Workshop 10 a.m. – noon
- July 17: Workshop 10 a.m. – noon
- July 30: Workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m.
- July 31: Workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m.
August
- August 6: Workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- August 7: Workshop 10 a.m. – noon
- August 13: Workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- August 14: Workshop 10 a.m. – noon
- August 16: Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- August 17: Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- August 20: Workshops 2 – 4 p.m. and 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
- August 21: Workshop 2 – 4 p.m.
September
- September 4: Workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 4 – 6 p.m.
- September 5: Workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m.
- September 11: Workshops 10 a.m.– noon and 4 – 6 p.m.
- September 12: Workshops 10 a.m. – noon and 2 – 4 p.m.
- September 13: Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- September 14: Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- September 26: Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Presentation of work 1 – 5 p.m.
- September 27: Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Presentation of work 1 – 5 p.m.
- September 28: Workshop 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Presentation of work 1 – 5 p.m.
Culture Days
Guelph is proud to participate in, Culture Days, Canada’s annual, national celebration of culture. This year’s event takes place on September 26-28, 2014. Guelph residents and visitors can enjoy a wide variety of hands-on activities, performance and exhibitions throughout the city, led by different community cultural groups and local artists. For event details, please visit culturedays.ca.
St. George’s Square Yarn-Bombing
As part of Culture Days 2012, the City invited the public to participate in a “yarn bombing” event in an effort to transform St. George’s Square in downtown Guelph into an extraordinary work of public art. Dozens of knitters from Guelph and beyond contributed hundreds of colourful knitted squares that were then stitched together and attached to trees and fences around the square.
Pop-Up Gallery Project
As part of the St. George’s Square transition, the former bus shelters were transformed into pop-up galleries in partnership with University of Guelph. Sixteen colourful panels brightened and enlivened the empty shelters over the summer months.
artsVest Program
The City of Guelph was one of only five communities selected to participate in the 2011/12 artsVest Ontario – an initiative that sparked nearly $100,000 in new business sponsorships for cultural organizations in Guelph.
Artscape Initiative
The City invited Artscape to bring its Creative Spacemaking workshop and Mentoring and Coaching program to Guelph’s arts and culture sector. Over 80 individuals and organizations took advantage of these opportunities to learn more about developing sustainable and affordable creative spaces.