A choral tribute to the Tragically Hip, a one of a kind dance workshop, and a “Rusty Orchestra” rehearsal led by Music Director Alexander Shelley, with more than 50 free arts workshops taking place, you won’t want to miss this years’ Culture Days in Kingston, Ontario.

Culture Days is a free annual event designed to invite the public to celebrate and explore arts and culture in every province and territory in Canada. All activities are free (no ticket required), bilingual and open to all.

As the final updates to Southam Hall are completed ahead of the spectacular reopening on October 2, the National Arts Centre will hold all of its’ Culture Days workshops in Kingston, Ontario this year, at The Isabel Bader Centre and at the Tett Centre.

More than 2,000 free activities will take place in more than 170 communities across Ontario to celebrate the seventh anniversary of Culture Days on Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2016.

Choose from a myriad of FREE hands-on and behind-the-scenes activities in a wide range of disciplines including: visual arts, music, dance, theatre, architecture, heritage, martial arts, literature, craft, Indigenous arts, culinary arts and new media. Discover some of the great artists and cultural groups from the Ontario's arts and culture has to offer. No experience necessary, the possibilities are endless!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ON OCTOBER 1ST

11:00 – 12:00 p.m. Join Siôned Watkins NAC Dance at the Rehearsal Hall at the Tett Centre, for a Gyrokinesis® workshop. The Gyrokinesis® method is a movement method that gently works the entire body and is for all abilities. (Ages 16+)

1:00 p.m. – Kingston’s own Shout Sister! Choir leads the audience in a sing-along tribute to the Tragically Hip in the Main lobby at the Isabel Bader Centre. The choir takes an unorthodox approach to choral singing, performing a variety of music from pop and Motown, to folk, to a touch of country and blues.

1:45 p.m. - Gyrokinesis session (10 minutes) with Siôned Watkins. Main lobby at The Isabel Bader Centre.

2:00-3:00 p.m.- Alexander Shelley will lead a public rehearsal  of a “Rusty Orchestra” at The Isabel Bader Centre. The Rusty Orchestra is a concept being embraced around the world. The orchestra will consist of members of Orchestra Kingston (a community based orchestra) as well as members of both the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Kingston Symphony. Repertoire: Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 2.

3:00-3:15 p.m. – “Rusty Orchestra,” led by National Arts Centre, Music Director, Alexander Shelley will perform Bizet’s Carmen Suite No. 2 The Isabel Bader Centre. Professional players from both the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Kingston Symphony will perform together. 

3:30-3:50 p.m. - Performance of Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D Major, K285 by Amelia Lyon (Principal Flute Kingston Symphony, 2008 NAC Orchestra Bursary Competition winner) and she will be joined by three members of the NAC Orchestra: Marjolaine Lambert (violin), David Thies Thompson (viola), and Timothy McCoy (cello).

4:00-4:45 p.m. - World renowned bassist Joel Quarrington will present a 45 minute talk about his formidable career as Principal Bass of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the London Symphony Orchestra.

All events are free, available on a drop-in basis, and open to all ages except where noted.