What is Culture Days?
Virtually any activity is possible during Culture Days as long as it is free and brings creators and the public closer together: visitors to a theatre are invited to attend a dress rehearsal, a professional songwriter records a song with a class of students, a glassblower shares the glow of their studio, a museum opens its restoration workshop to the public, a walking tour encourages neighbours to look at their architecture in a whole new light … the possibilities are endless! You can view 2016 Activities on this page.
There is no fee to register. If you have a free participatory or interactive arts or cultural activity to offer the public during the Culture Days weekend—be it new or something you already have planned — email Arts Milton with your idea! We will require the details of you and your activity, including names, contact info, description and a representative photo. We will then register your activity with Culturedays.ca where it will benefit from a major national marketing and communications campaign, including access to free customizable Culture Days materials to help promote your activity.
For best results and to increase the chances of attracting attendance to your activity, consider working collaboratively with other Activity Organizers at our hub location.
Activity Guidelines
Your activity must be free to the public
All activities registered as part of Culture Days are to be offered as free activities. All Organizers volunteer their time, staff and materials.
The activity should take place during the Culture Days weekend: September 29-October 1, 2017
Activities registered as part of Culture Days take place during this year’s Culture Days weekend, but you do not need to have three days of activities or activities that last all day. Milton benefits well from a number of single one-hour participatory events on Sept 30 or Oct 1. If your organization already offers arts learning or outreach activities, simply schedule one of your regular events during Culture Days.
The activity needs to be participatory
All Culture Days activities are participatory in nature. This means that your activity involves some kind of hands-on aspect or offers the public “backstage”/behind-the-scenes access to see how you do, and what you do. Invite the public to go beyond a typical audience experience and instead play a part in the creative process. For instance, if you are in a choir, rather than stage a performance, you might offer a workshop on how to sing or harmonize; if you own or operate a dance studio, you might offer a dance class.
Engagement and participation is key regardless of the activity. Don’t forget that fun counts too! Most people love to do what they normally don’t have a chance to experience.