Culture Days in Elgin County

Culture Days is a not-for-profit organization that aims to build a "national network of cultural connections devoted to providing Canadians with opportunities to participate in, and appreciate, all forms of arts and culture.” For the past seven years, the last Friday of September has kicked off a three-day national celebration to increase Canadians' “awareness, accessibility, participation, and engagement” in their communities’ vibrant cultural life.

​Culture Days celebrations return this year from Friday, September 30th to Sunday, October 2nd, and there are tons of free, participatory arts activities happening across Elgin County for you to participate in!

The two signature events of Culture Days in Elgin County that you do not want to miss are Culture Talks and The West End Arts Mingle.

Culture Talks launches the all-weekend event on Friday night from 6:00-8:30 at the Port Stanley Library and Festival Theatre, beginning with a reception. The evening will feature two prominent speakers, including Former Director of Scotiabank’s Fine Art Collection, Co-Chair of the Scotiabank Photography Award, and Canadian Art Champion Jane Nokes, who will be speaking about corporate sponsorship of the Arts to support growth and economic development. Paul Roth, Director of the Ryerson Image Center, will also attend, discussing the power of image and the growing photography sector in Canadian culture. The event will have local speakers as well, with the goal of celebrating our region’s cultural assets and creative potential.

The West End Arts Mingle will take place on Saturday from 9:00-7:00 at the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre, with tons of fun and free art activities all throughout the day. The event will also consist of an opening reception for the Art Centre’s newest juried exhibition, “In the View of the Artist,” from 1:00-3:00. There will be lots going on for both kids and adults, including crafts, displays, refreshments, and live music, making it the perfect community celebration of St. Thomas’s amazing artistic culture.

Check out all of the other Culture Days activities happening around Elgin County!

Friday, September 30th:

​St. Thomas:

• Key Making Workshop at Medlyn Studios | 11:00 & 1:30
• Celtic Monogram Making at Romantic Designs | 9:00-12:00; 1:00-4:00
• "Gadgets and Gizmos" Exhibition at Elgin County Museum | 10:00-4:00
• Concrete Garden Ornament Demonstrations at Concreations | 11:00-5:00
• Collaborative Collage Making at St. Thomas Public Library | 6:00-8:00
• Movie Night: "Dark Horse" at St. Thomas Public Library | 6:00-8:00

Port Stanley:

• Tea and Travel Series at Port Stanley Library | 9:00-1:00
• Art Demonstrations and Clay Art Making at Art Emporium |11:00-4:00
• Abstract Art Colouring at Portside Gallery | 1:00-4:00
• Culture Talks at Port Stanley Library | 6:00-8:30

Aylmer:

• Pottery Demonstrations at Pinecroft |10:00-3:00
• Art Restoring and Preserving Your Art at Minerva Art Gallery | 10:00-5:00

Dutton:

• ​Gallery Tour at Village Crier Gallery | 9:00-5:00

Saturday, October 1st:

​St. Thomas:

• West End Arts Mingle at St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre | 9:00-7:00​
• Key Making Workshop at Medlyn Studios | 11:00 & 1:30

• Watercolour Dragonfly Making at Romantic Designs | 9:00-12:00; 1:00-4:00
• Green Screen Photos at St. Thomas Public Library | 9:30-11:30
• Music Workshop at St. Thomas Public Library | 10:00-10:40; 11:00-11:40

• "Gadgets and Gizmos" Exhibition at Elgin County Museum | 10:00-4:00
• Encountering History at Elgin County Archives |10:00-4:00
• Studio Open House at Kettle Creek Pottery |11:00-5:00
• Concrete Garden Ornament Demonstrations at Concreations | 11:00-5:00
• Opening Reception of "In the View of the Artist" Exhibition at St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre | 1:00-3:00

Port Stanley:

• Art Demonstrations and Clay Art Making at Art Emporium | 11:00-4:00
• Abstract Art Colouring at Portside Gallery | 1:00-4:00
• Glass Fusing at Rubyeyes Kraftwerks | 1:00-4:00

Aylmer:

• Pottery Demonstrations at Pinecroft | 10:00-3:00
• Art Restoring and Preserving Your Art at Minerva Art Gallery | 10:00-5:00
• Mennonite Cultural Demonstration at Aylmer Old Town Hall Library | 11:00-4:00

Sparta:

• Scarecrow Festival at Sparta | 10:00-4:30

Shedden:

• Tea and Travel Series at Shedden Library | 3:30-4:30

Dutton:

• ​Gallery Tour at Village Crier Gallery | 9:00-3:00
• Art in the Library at John Kenneth Galbraith Library | 10:00-5:00

Rodney: 

• ​Art Drop-In at Rodney Library | 10:00-12:00

Sunday, October 2nd:

​St. Thomas:

• Faerie House Making at Romantic Designs | 9:00-12:00; 1:00-4:00

Port Stanley:

• Art Demonstrations and Clay Art Making at Art Emporium | 11:00-4:00
• Abstract Art Colouring at Portside Gallery | 1:00-4:00
• Glass Fusing at Rubyeyes Kraftwerks | 1:00-4:00

Central Elgin:

• Honey and Tea at Wildflowers Farm | 1:00-2:30