This is a busy month at the Civic Theatre. We have a wide array of film offerings coming up, with some really good titles in the works, like The Lobster (featuring Colin Farrell), Nice Guys (Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling), Money Monster (George Clooney and Julia Roberts), Love and Friendship (Kate Beckinsale) and, finally, The Jungle Book. In addition, we are looking forward to screening the Royal Ballet’s production of Frankenstein (yes, ballet!).
But as a centre with a mission dedicated to more than movies, we have some other interesting events coming up as well. On Thursday we are hosting a free live stream of the re:generation 2016 Cultural Roundtable, happening at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster. Presented by the BC Alliance for Arts and Culture, this event is focused on the topic of leadership in arts, culture and heritage sectors in BC. With 10 diverse and insightful speakers and panelists hailing from funding, philanthropy, education and cultural organizations, there will be plenty to think about and stir up ideas for our local conversations that afternoon.
On Thursday, June 16, we look forward to welcoming BC Culture Days manager Nazanin Shoja, who will give a Culture Days workshop (Culture Days are Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, supporting the national celebration of art, culture and heritage across Canada). Aimed toward professional and amateur artists, arts organizations, cultural workers and community organizers, this interactive workshop will focus on how to plan, market and publicize local Culture Days activities, as well as connect with other artists and organizers to find ways of working together collaboratively towards their common public engagement goals. (We’re so excited Nazanin is coming to town, that we’re giving away three weeks of on-screen advertising to one lucky workshop attendee!)
While these events are separate programming, they both speak to goals that are very appealing to me: finding ways to communicate and collaborate locally with other groups and individuals. Sharing resources. Building alliances. I love that these kinds of events give us the opportunity to learn more about who is doing what in our community, and finding new ways to help one another.
Both events are free and open to the public. More information and registration links can be found at civictheatre.ca.
Eleanor Stacey is the executive director of Nelson Civic Theatre Society.