Live music and theatre performances, hands-on drop in activities, and heritage events are all on the schedule for Culture Days in Delta.
Celebrated across the country for three weeks each fall, Culture Days is a “network of events, presentations, activities, workshops and more, all aimed at showcasing, sharing, and exploring the artistic and cultural essence of each participating community,” according to a BC Culture Days press release.
The 14th annual event takes place Sept. 22 to Oct. 15, with more than 350 events scheduled across 50 B.C. communities.
“We are elated to witness how Culture Days organizers throughout the province are embracing the theme of accessibility in the arts,” B.C. Culture Days program director Nazanin Shoja said in a press release. “We anticipate that our events will foster a heightened awareness about inclusive practices in cultural programming, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse artistic community in B.C.”
As part of this year’s celebrations, the City of Delta’s Cultural Services team has planned their most extensive docket of Culture Days events to date, listed at delta.ca/culturedays. Plus, several other arts and culture events are planned around Delta during the next three weeks.
Here is what’s happening around Delta:
• Making Emotion-Fuelled Art
Friday, Sept. 22 to Sunday, Oct. 15; online
Join Tsawwassen-based intuitive artist Talia McManus for an exploration of how to make art based on your emotions. Watch her recorded Instagram videos (instagram.com/taliamcmanus) where she walks you through how to make and use marks, shapes, and layers to echo and explore thoughts and feelings you may be having. Suitable for all ages, so have fun and learn something about yourself as you use art to make abstract, expressive art. Course is approximately 50 minutes long and offered for free, though McManus is accepting pay-what-you-may donations via PayPal.
• Open Stage (South Delta)
Friday, Sept. 22, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Tsawwassen Arts Centre, 1172 56th Street
Share the stage with a variety of singers, musicians, poets, actors and dancers in this intergenerational monthly evening. Performing not your thing? Then sit back and enjoy the show! Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30. Light refreshments will be served. Cost is $5 — register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre Open House
Saturday, Sept. 23, 1-4 p.m.; Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre,4450 Clarence Taylor Crescent
The free drop in event will feature artist talks, gallery tours, partner booths, light refreshments, music and heritage games in our outdoor orchard.
• InkWellTold
Saturday, Sept. 23, 4-6 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Ave.
In partnership with Delta Literary Arts Society and Delta Cultural Services, InkWellTold is a free bi-monthly reading-in-conversation series. Each evening will feature two authors reading from and talking about their work, followed by a Q&A session. Open to all ages.
• Heritage Week Scavenger Hunt (South Delta)
Sunday, Sept. 24, 12-4 p.m.; Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre, 4450 Clarence Taylor Crescent
Take the scenic route around some of Delta’s most iconic sites and learn about their storied history. Drive with your team to the locations indicated on the adventure map, and like on Amazing Race, your team will be given either a Detour- or Roadblock-style activity to complete at each location. Complete the activity and you’ll receive your next clue. This is a group activity – recommended group size is two-six participants. Register for free at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Banner Night
Thursday, Sept. 28, 6-7:30 p.m.; Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre, 4450 Clarence Taylor Crescent
This free program offers emerging and established artists and designers an opportunity to learn how to create stylized banner artwork. Using banner templates and guidelines, you will sketch, draw or paint an original design reflecting Delta’s unique community, values, diversity, people and landscapes. Once completed, you can take your work home or it can be submitted for the city’s Community Banner Contest. Register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
READ MORE: Entries open for City of Delta’s 2023 Community Banner Contest
• Open Stage (North Delta)
Friday, Sept. 29, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
Share the stage with a variety of singers, musicians, poets, actors and dancers in this intergenerational monthly evening. Performing not your thing? Then sit back and enjoy the show! Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 7:30. Light refreshments will be served. Cost is $5 — register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• A Talk on Punjabi Pioneers in Delta: First 50 Years from 1900-1950
Sunday, Oct. 1, 2-3 p.m.; Douglas J. Husband Discovery Centre, 4450 Clarence Taylor Crescent
This free presentation by K.P. Aujlay will start with the historical background of Punjabi Sikhs in India and their migration to Canada. From 1903 to 1908, a total of 5,179 Punjabi Sikhs arrived in Vancouver and Victoria, however little is known as to how, why or when Punjabi Sikhs moved to Delta. The lives of Punjabi Sikhs in Delta will be the main focus of the presentation, and after the audience will be encouraged to participate in a discussion on the subject. Register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Fall Into Arts and Culture: Bollywood Bash
Tuesday, Oct. 3, 4-5 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
An authentic Bollywood inspired high energy dance routine incorporating Bhangra and Bollywood music. This is the perfect way to celebrate a new dance and culture! Cost is $5 — register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Fall Into Arts and Culture: Anime and Design
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 4-5 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
In this anime class, participants will learn the basics of everything, from drawing, illustration and character design to storytelling. Cost is $5 — register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Fall Into Arts and Culture: Hip Hop
Thursday, Oct. 5, 4-5 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
Boogie down to some groovy music with some upbeat hip hop moves. Your music-loving kid will love this funky dance class! Cost is $5 — register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Fall Into Arts and Culture: Adult Paint Night (South Delta)
Thursday, Oct. 5, 7-9 p.m.; Tsawwassen Arts Centre, 1172 56th Street
Enjoy a fun, casual atmosphere surrounded by like minded adults, as we dive into the world of paint nights. Cost is $5 — register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Fall Into Arts and Culture: Adult Paint Night (North Delta)
Friday, Oct. 6, 7-9 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
Enjoy a fun, casual atmosphere surrounded by like minded adults, as we dive into the world of paint nights. Cost is $5 — register at cityofdelta.perfectmind.com.
• Ukulele Circle
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2:30-5 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
Led by Gary Cyr, the Delta Ukulele Circle is an enthusiastic, welcoming and supportive crowd of music lovers with an appreciation for the ukulele. This tiny instrument provides a unique opportunity for individuals wanting to play and enjoy music together with others in a very social setting. Admission is $5. Visit deltaukes.com for more info.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Ukulele Circle players find new home in North Delta after move from Surrey venue
• Killer Verse
Friday, Oct. 13, 7-10 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
Do you remember listening to scary stories by the eerie light of a flashlight held up to the chin? On Friday the 13th the Delta Literary Arts Society in co-operation with the City of Delta invite you to experience the chill again with their third-annual dramatized journey of terror as local actors and filmmakers will bring the unsettling to life. Tickets are $20 and available at eventbrite.ca.
• Love Bomb
Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m, and Sunday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.; North Delta Centre for the Arts, 11425 84th Avenue
A rock concert within a play — and a mystery on top of that! A concert of emotions rips through Justine’s first performance in years. Because of one uninvited guest, her music takes on a life of its own. Directed by Renee Iaci, Love Bomb takes an intimate and emotionally brace look at sex trafficking. Saturday evening tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for students and seniors, while Sunday matinee tickets are $25 adults, $20 for students and seniors. Available for purchase at eventbrite.ca.
• Heritage Baking
Sunday, Oct. 15, 1-3 p.m.; Harris Barn, 4140 Arthur Drive
Using a heritage recipe from the Delta Archives and seasonal ingredients, bake a delicious treat! Each participant will bring home two types of baked goods and all materials will be provided. Admission is $5.
SEE ALSO: Culture Days coming to Surrey, White Rock, Delta with several events
Also starting next month are a pair of local classical music concert series put on by the Vancouver Chamber Music Society.
NEXUS Chamber Music will kick off the society’s 2023/24 Delta Evening Series with a performance at South Delta Baptist Church (1988 56th Street) on Friday, Oct. 13, then launch the 2023/24 North Delta Matinee Series at the North Delta Centre for the Arts on Oct. 17.
Four other shows are planned the Delta Evening Series, all at South Delta Baptist Church: Vancouver Cello Quartet & Nathan Chan on Nov. 17, Trio Seoul on Feb. 23, Stefan Jackiw and Kevin Ahfat on March 8, and New Orford String Quartet on May 17.
Single tickets for the Delta Evening Series are $40 ($20 for students), and season subscriptions are $160 ($80 for students).
Also performing in the North Delta Matinee Series are the Vancouver Cello Quartet (Nov. 14), VAM Chamber Players (Jan. 30), Molly Carr and Anna Petrova (Feb. 20), and VAM Chamber Players (April 9), all at the North Delta Cenre for the Arts, with a 1 p.m. show by the New Orford String Quartet at South Delta Baptist Church on May 14.
Single tickets for the North Delta Matinee Series are $25, and season subscriptions are $125.
Tickets and subscriptions, as well as setlists, are available at vancouverchambermusic.com/delta.
— with files from Malin Jordan
