CREATING, SHARING AND CONNECTING! 

Vaughan is a proud annual participant in Culture Days – a free, national event that brings the city together to celebrate diversity, creativity and inclusion through the magic of art, music and food.

York Region Public Health’s COVID-19 guidelines 

• Do not participate if you have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
• Avoid all close contact by staying two metres away from others.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Sneeze or cough into your sleeve or tissue and wash your hands afterwards.
• Wear a mask when physical distancing cannot be maintained and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Please note: The City of Vaughan is not holding any in-person events related to Culture Days. The events below are being run by third parties. 

FEATURE

Vaughan International Music Festival – Free drive-in event at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre’s (VMC) SmartCentres ArtWalk 

101 Edgeley Blvd.

Friday, Sept. 24, 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Celebrating culture through music! The first Vaughan International Music Festival celebrates the diverse culture of Vaughan through music and showcases the performing arts with young musicians in Vaughan for all to enjoy. Musical genres include orchestral performances, African, Asian, Italian and spoken word. Presented by Arcadia Live! Productions and Lal Entertainment and SmartCentres. Register to reserve your spot. Learn more

#VaughanInternationalMusicFestival

Verve Lounge – Cultural musical performances (virtual)

Enjoy various musical genres performed by rising-star professional musicians. Experience Asian, Italian and Portuguese music every week of Culture Days with family, friends and loved ones and show your support. Presented by Arcadia Live! Productions.

Schedule

Friday, Oct. 8 and 17, 7 p.m.

Alessandro Montenelli performs the contemporary sounds and songs of Italian culture.

Friday, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. 

Melanie Letra-Frade performs many genres, including bossa nova, fado, soul, jazz and indie rock.

Learn more:

• Arcadia Live Productions YouTube channel

• Arcadia Live Productions Facebook page

Woof-a-palooza presents Dog-ography (virtual)

Friday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Learn more: woofapalooza.ca

#Dogography #DogsOfVaughan

Virtual Family Yoga with South Asian Association of Vaughan

Saturday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 

Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Learn more: facebook.com/events/1066903240417161/ 

Happy Chi Academy – Virtual classes

Morning zoom classes:

8 Brocades Qigong beginners Tuesdays 11 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.

Participate on Zoom

Evening zoom classes:

8 Brocades Qigong beginners Wednesdays 7 p.m. – 7:40 p.m.  

Participate on Zoom 

Learn more: happychi.ca 

FEATURE

The Inaugural Group Show at The Studios at Assembly Park 

80 Interchange Way

Friday, Sept. 24, Saturday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Sept. 26, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.

The Inaugural Group Show at The Studios at Assembly Park showcases 13 local emerging artists from York Region, curated by local Vaughan artist Stefano Bove. The show includes Jury and Public award prizes for best in show. 

Participating artists include: 

Al Capo

Alex Sauret 

Ali Pilli

Alysha Rocca

Amanda La Grotta

Andrew Abballe

Denise Greco 

Giulia Venir

Maria De Zorzi 

Michelle Turco 

Nursel Gwen 

Sinziana iordache

Stefano Bove

Admission is free and COVID-19 protocols and social gathering restrictions are in effect. To learn more, follow @assemblyparkVMC on Instagram. #assemblyparkVMC

Assembly Park Mural at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) – Futura 2021 by artist Andre Kan

80 Interchange Way

Friday, Sept. 24, Saturday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Sept. 26

The North, East and West murals at Assembly Park in the VMC featuring Andre Kan’s paintings serve as excitable blueprints for a possible reality. Each work depicts the artist's signature imaginative building blocks that converge and begin to build upon each other, strengthening each other towards an ever-transforming space. Andre Kan is a Toronto-based painter. Since graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2014, he continues his creative pursuits as an artist, muralist, photographer, curator, producer and musician.

The mural programming at Assembly Park will be executed from @assemblyparkVMC (Instagram) #assemblyparkVMC

This project was made possible through the collaboration with QuadReal.

The Woodbridge Village Farmers Market 

FEATURE

Friday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m. – Honeymoon Short Film Premier

Friday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. – The Storm Short Film

Friday, Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. – Second Chances Short Film

Friday, Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. – The Goodbye Short Film 

FEATURE

Vaughan Latin Festival and Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations – Virtual event

Saturday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Live broadcast showcase

October is Hispanic-Latin American Heritage Month. Celebrate with exciting performances, music, culture and kids’ entertainment featuring international artist Caro Lopez! In 2018, Caro Lopez recorded her first single with Spanish hip hop artist Haze called Quiero Volar, inspired by flamenco and hip hop and produced by Eban Music. 

Learn more: fuerzalatinaservices.org 

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection – Virtual tours

“A Like Vision”: The Group of Seven at 100 Virtual Tour

Sundays at 12:30 p.m.

Follow along on a virtual guided tour of “A Like Vision”: The Group of Seven at 100, which celebrates the centenary of the Group of Seven’s first exhibition. Revisit old favourites and experience new surprises, including a look at the new exhibition Jon Sasaki: Homage. Beginning on June 20, this virtual tour will explore Sasaki’s suite of photographs that depict petri dishes with bloomed bacterial cultures derived from swabs of the palettes and brushes used by members of the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson. These large-scale works reveal microscopic details and affirm a playful reverence towards the Group’s legacy while reframing the genre of landscape painting through the lens of photography.

Register: mcmichael.com/event/virtual-tours/

Denyse Thomasos: Odyssey Virtual Tour

Mondays, until Oct. 24, at 12:30 p.m.

Join an experienced McMichael Docent on a virtual guided tour of Denyse Thomasos: Odyssey. Co-curated by Gaëtane Verna, Director of The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery in Toronto, and Sarah Milroy, Chief Curator of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, this exhibition explores a body of work that recalls the history of the African diaspora and blurs the line between representation and abstraction. With a painterly approach, Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos explored the structures that confine and define us – whether political, social or architectural – while calling on her extensive travel experiences and understanding of human behaviour to imbue her work with limitless energy. She holds a unique place in the history of Canadian art, adding to a narrative from which Black, Indigenous and people of colour’s voices have for too long been excluded.

Register: mcmichael.com/event/virtual-tour-of-denyse-thomasos-odyssey/

Vaughan Public Libraries – Virtual programs and art installation

Table reading of The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde

Friday, Oct. 1, 8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Join Vaughan Public Libraries for an evening of laughter and follies as we table read one of Oscar Wilde's most beloved theatrical comedies. Session is hosted live on Zoom. Register on Eventbrite. No professional acting experience required.

Learn more: vaughanpl.info/programs/view/3070

Transforming Garbage Workshop

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

What is garbage? How do we define what materials can be reused? Any material can be reused to create art. Upcycling is the most effective way to combat waste and share resources within your community. This workshop breaks down the importance of upcycling materials for creation. Bring all kinds of garbage and we will make a composition together. Participants will have creative control over their work to create a piece of art with the materials in their own home/community. Presented by artist Alysha Rocca. For ages 10 and over. Session is hosted live on Zoom. Register on Eventbrite.

Learn more: vaughanpl.info/programs/view/3079

The Social Bubble Art Installation by Alysha Rocca

Civic Centre Resource Library, 2191 Major Mackenzie Dr.

September to November 2021

Mondays to Thursdays: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Fridays: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturdays and Sundays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The Social Bubble is a public art installation speaking to the resilience of our community and how artists are responding to the global pandemic. It is composed of art pieces encapsulated by recycled clear plastic. The sculpture includes pieces of art from local artists, responding to how COVID-19 has impacted their creative life. Every piece of plastic in this sculpture is recycled. Recycled plastic is important to this structure because it reduces waste in our community and repurposes objects into fine art. This year, World Clean Up Day is on Sept. 18, 2021, and the “Social Bubble” encourages others to look at their waste and recycle or repurpose materials into art pieces. Art is essential. Art has maintained a life through centuries and is prominent all over the globe. 

Smart Centres VMC 2021 September – October
101 Edgeley Blvd.

PXL Gallery

The PXL Gallery is the latest public art installation in the VMC. This modern art installation stands at 10,000 square feet and features rotating exhibits of curated moving artwork created by acclaimed digital artists. The PXL Gallery, which adorns the façade of one of the SmartVMC residential towers, is integrated into the area’s architecture and building design. 

ArtWalk murals

The ArtWalk murals feature art by a roster of acclaimed artists, including Barcelona-based Ricardo Cavolo, Montreal-based Jeremy Shantz and Toronto-born birdO and Ben Johnston. It is comprised of four vibrant, colourful murals spanning 30,000 square feet. 

ArtWalk Food Market

While visiting the city’s downtown core, stop and grab a bite at the ArtWalk Food Market – featuring food trucks with cuisines from around the world. The market is open daily from noon until 8 p.m. (10 p.m. on Thursdays and Saturdays) until Thursday, Sept. 30. See the complete food truck listings here.

ArtWalk Drive-In Movies

Enjoy watching a free movie under the stars at the ArtWalk Drive-In, every Thursday and Saturday night, through to Thursday, Sept. 30. See the full movie schedule here.

Metropolis in Motion 

While visiting the VMC, take some time to explore the nearby public art installation – Metropolis in Motion. This City-curated panoramic installation features the transforming graphic design of established Vaughan-based artist Frank Mazzuca and stands at 63-feet wide and 10-feet tall.

Check out "A Day in the Life," featuring the artist Alessandro Montelli!

The City of Vaughan is a proud annual participant of Culture Days, a free national event celebrating arts, culture, creativity and inspiration in Vaughan. To celebrate our 11th year, the City of Vaughan held a month of free digital and on-site activities for family, friends and neighbours. With more than 50 events and interactive programs scheduled, there was something for all residents to enjoy.

Keep sharing how you celebrated using #VaughanCultureDays on social media!

Thank you to this year's participating organizations and businesses!