Toronto - March 2023 The Bloor St. Culture Corridor
Happy March from the BCC! We've got you covered for your arts and culture events, including family friendly activities for March Break. Check out the listings below and start planning your trip to the Bloor St. Culture Corridor.
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Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will feature an exciting slate of premieres, author talks and special events in March. Canonical storyteller Margaret Atwood takes the Hot Docs stage on March 6 for the exclusive premiere launch of her hotly anticipated new book Old Babes in the Wood. Toronto-born writer Monica Heisey will be joined by other talented local storytellers for an evening of lively conversation celebrating the Canadian launch of her internationally bestselling novel, Really Good, Actually. On March 12, join Hot Docs for a free broadcast of The 95th Academy Awards, live from Hollywood. Experience never-released footage of Carole King's triumphant 1973 NYC concert Home Again: Carole King Live In Central Park. See the world through the eyes of a Toronto-based ink maker creating stunning colours harvested from natural ingredients in The Colour of Ink. Follow the ongoing saga of the US Justice system vs. the world’s most famous political prisoner, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, in Ithaka. Music on Film, presented in partnership with the RCM, returns this month with a screening of Song of Rapa Nui. Visit the Hot Docs website to view their programming schedule.
Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
During the Month of March, the Gallery at the Miles Nadal JCC presents Amanta Scott’s The Faces of Tikkun Olam, portraits of her ancestors and people in our community who are helping to repair the world. Scott's encaustic painting evolves through successive layers of molten beeswax, fused with a torch or iron. Opening reception: March 1. Join them in the Al Green Theatre on March 5 for Purim and International Women’s Day with a live taping of the podcast, “Shticks and Giggles”, featuring comedians Laura Leibow, Rachel Manson and Natalie Norman. Meanwhile, Kelly Fritsch and Anne McGuire, co-authors of the disability justice children’s book We Move Together will be giving a presentation titled "Changing the Narrative: Disability Representation in Children’s Literature" on March 14 as part of their Disability Culture Club virtual series. Musical Theatre classes for young adults with developmental disabilities and/or ASD start on March 26. Discover more Arts & Culture, Aquatics, Inclusive Jewish Community, LGBTQ+ programs, ECE, Camps, Fitness and Wellness at their website.
ROM
Everyone knows Tyrannosaurus rex. Or, do they? On view March 11 through September 4, 2023, ROM presents, T. rex: The Ultimate Predator, an exciting new exhibition that takes a fresh look at the king of the tyrant lizards, highlighting the latest scientific research and important discoveries about tyrannosaurs — research that challenges preconceived notions about dinosaurs. Join them this March Break and buy tickets at their website.
IMAGE CREDIT - Adult T. rex illustration by Zhao Chuang: courtesy of PNSO.
Toronto Reference Library
From conversations with authors to musical performances, Toronto Reference Library presents a range of free in-person and online literary and cultural events. On March 8, author Nancy Marie Brown discusses her new book, “Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Iceland's Elves Can Save the Earth” in an online event. On March 13, author Suzette Mayr talks about her Giller Prize-winning novel, “The Sleeping Car Porter” in the Appel Salon. From March 20-26, the premier of RETOLD: A Musical Performance Event features three new works based on the short stories of award-winning Canadian author Mavis Gallant, presented with Musical Stage Company and Yonge Street Theatricals. And on March 29 in the Appel Salon, interdisciplinary artist and award-winning writer Jessica Johns talks about “Bad Cree”, her haunting debut novel where dreams, family and spirits collide. Explore these and more programs at tpl.ca.
Alliance Française de Toronto
An exhibition on Montreal by Dakksh Nagpal will take place from February 25 to March 11. Enter the wonderful world of Pomelo on March 4 at 2pm, an adventure for children and adults where the little pink elephant observes the cycle of life through the seasons. As part of International Women's Rights Day, they will screen 13 short films by Alice Guy, the first female director of fiction films in the history of cinema, on March 9 at 7:30pm. A music lecture will be hosted by Société d'Histoire de Toronto on March 22 and presented by Deanna Gontard. The Isabel Bader Theatre will host the dance performance Èbe March 26 at 5pm. The piece features a chorus of five accordion-robots and choreography rooted in flamenco to explore the communicative dimension of breath. Finally, the film "Skies of Lebanon" will be screened in their theater on March 30 at 7:30pm. Visit their website for more information.
Bata Shoe Museum
Step into NATURE for the Bata Shoe Museum’s March Break this year! From March 13-18, the Museum will be filled with a variety of arts and crafts ~ make your own shoebox garden, puzzles, flower keychains, or your own necklace. Enjoy reading a book in their Cobbler’s Corner and try-on funky footwear throughout the Museum. Stay sustainable by repurposing your socks in new and creative ways! There’s still spots to sign up for their Sock Repurposing workshop with interdisciplinary artist Camila Salcedo on March 19. On March 22 at 7pm EST, they will be hosting their March Salon Series with Kimberly Jenkins, founder of The Fashion and Race Database who will give audiences more insight on the impact of our clothes and how we express ourselves, through the lenses of politics, race, psychology and anthropology. Starting Saturday, March 25 until Saturday, April 29, they will be hosting another 6-week moccasin-making workshop in partnership with Manitobah Mukluk’s Storyboot School. Keep up to date with everything new at Toronto’s favourite shoebox by signing up for e-newsletter or by checking their website.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
This March, experience Tafelmusik's double bill of Bach—Bach to Bach! Bach's Library (March 3-5 at Jeanne Lamon Hall) is an evening of elegant suites, a virtuoso harpsichord concerto, and music by those who inspired Bach—as well as the Tafelmusik debut of renowned harpsichord soloist and guest director Francesco Corti. Bach St John Passion (March 23-25 at Jeanne Lamon Hall) is turbulent, intense, and tender - a Passion for our times. Their special performances of Bach’s masterpiece include projections of images, curated by director Ivars Taurins, from the illuminated Saint John’s Bible. Harrowing, passionate, and tender by turn, the St John Passion reflects our world as well as Bach’s. Visit their website for tickets and information.
The Music Gallery
Join the Music Gallery for a free, open level listening and sounding event for a collective creative experience, using Deep Listening® materials by Pauline Oliveros. Through text scores of Oliveros, Anne Bourne will guide you to use listening strategies and voice toning. On March 4, SlowPitchSound and Mo:delic Arts explore the idea of a symbiotic relationship between sound and visuals, sharing their process live with a series of improvisations in their performance entitled Mutualism: Landscapes from Scratch. Centered around the theme of environmentalism, SlowPitchSound performs a live score accompanied by the landscaped collage visuals of Mo:delic Arts projected from a powered turntable which serves as the canvas. Pianist, composer, and interdisciplinary artist Morgan-Paige kicks off the night with an emotional performance with formal compositions and raw lyrics. For more information, visit their website.
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
In March, JFT will be adding additional openings on select Fridays and Saturdays. Take this opportunity to visit the JFT Library and Part 2 of its ongoing exhibition: Hiroshige’s “Edo Hyaku” with Originals from the ROM. Those interested in learning more about the pieces featured in this exhibition will want to sign up for two related in-person talks, on March 11 and March 16, at the centre. If you cannot make it to JFT’s in-person events, check out the exclusive online interview between beloved Japanese author NISHI Kanako and Canadian scholar Dr. Christina Laffin, available from March 10 to March 19. Rounding out the talk is an online screening of a film based on one of Ms. Nishi’s novels, to be available from March 17 to March 19. For more information about both in-person and virtual events, film screenings, classes, and gatherings at JFT, please visit their website.
University of Toronto Faculty of Music
March 6-8 the University of Toronto Faculty of Music is thrilled to welcome drummer, composer, producer and educator Terri Lyne Carrington, 2022-23 John and Claudine Bailey Distinguished Visitor in Jazz! Carrington, who recently won her fourth GRAMMY Award for jazz album New Standards Vol. 1, will hold two public master classes and perform with the U of T Jazz Orchestra. March 9-12 U of T Opera presents the premiere of Arthur Benjamin’s A Tale of Two Cities based on the celebrated novel by Charles Dickens. Distinguished Canadian director and choreographer Kelly Robinson will stage the new production and Sandra Horst conducts. Thursdays at Noon wraps up the season with a series of Laureates concerts showcasing the Faculty’s rising stars: Small Jazz Ensembles (March 2); Norcop Winners’ Recital with baritone Jamal Al Titi and collaborative pianist Indra Egan (March 16); and the Galimir Award Winner (March 30). Visit their website for details.
The Royal Conservatory
The Royal Conservatory's March concerts begin with a performance by the Ukrainian world music quartet DakhaBrakha on March 3. Described by Sir Simon Rattle as "one of the greatest musicians England has produced," pianist Imogen Cooper will perform works by Beethoven, Liszt, and Schubert on March 5. Canadian songwriters Lorraine Segato, Alex Whorms, and Nefe discuss the story behind their songs with host Blair Packham on March 11. Chineke! Orchestra, the ground-breaking European orchestra of ethnically diverse musicians conducted by Andrew Grams, makes its Koerner Hall debut with pianist Stewart Goodyear on March 18. The world-renowned Takács Quartet will perform works by Haydn, Schumann, and Fanny Mendelssohn with acclaimed pianist, Jeremy Denk. Additional concerts this month feature Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, Schubert and Tchaikovsky performed by the Benedetti Elschenbroich Grynyuk Trio, the Glenn Gould School's performance of Jonathan Dove's Flight, among others. Head to their website to learn more.
VEMU Estonian Museum Canada
On March 1 at 7pm, come and celebrate the year of movement with VEMU and Fitness Professional Julia DeSotto by joining them for an online Zumba class for ages 55+! On March 5 at 1pm, artist and educator Camille Intson will be holding a workshop designed for participants to reflect on their relationship to Estonian identity and culture through creative writing and oral storytelling exercises. There will be two film screenings at VEMU this month. "Language Rebel. Mati Hint" (2022) will be shown on March 15 at 7pm. Following this, "Baruto - Lost in Translation" (2009) a film about a professional sumo wrestler from Estonia, will be shown on March 19 at 3pm. On March 22 at 7pm, there will be an exhibition opening of Estonian Memory Institute’s "A story of Siberia, photos: Vello Hindreus 1930-2020" with speaker Ülle Kraft. More information can be found on their website.
Istituo Italiano di Cultura
On March 10, on the occasion of Italian Design Day, the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto, the Italian Trade Agency, in collaboration with ICCO - Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario and the George Brown College School of Design, present a panel discussion on the latest developments in Italian and Canadian design featuring renowned Italian designer Marco Trimarchi joined by Canadian designers Helen Kerr and Steve Verbeek. The event will be held at the Alliance Française, a BCC partner. Also, kick off spring by learning Italian or immersing yourself in Italy’s culture through the courses offered at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura. Registration opens on March 13, but be sure to register by March 26 to take advantage of Early Bird discounts. Click here on March 13 for information on our courses, and here to register for Italian Design Day.
Women's Art Association of Canada
Dignam Gallery presents The Women's Art Association of Canada: A Legacy Show, consisting of artworks by WAAC artist and founder, Mary Ella Dignam, along with her circle of women artists from the early 1900s until March 11. Ruth Upjohn Gallery presents Kyungmin Kate Lee until March 4; Iwona Kmiec from March 8 to 18; and Petek Ersozoglu from March 21 to April 4. On March 16 at 1pm, Artist’s Voice Zoom lecture series presents Correspondence with Penelope Stewart.
For registration and more information, please visit their website.
Gardiner Museum
This March, there’s something happening in every corner of the Gardiner Museum, from the galleries to the studios. Their March Break Camps offer kids and teens the opportunity to discover ceramic creatures—from ancient Peruvian birds to medieval Chinese dragons—before making their own ceramic artworks in their pottery studios. Check their website to register for any remaining spots. March is also the perfect time to plan a visit to the galleries. Explore an immersive world of more than 500 miniature clay figures in Karine Giboulo: Housewarming and see the lobby exhibition Replicas and Reunions: Ancient and Contemporary Ceramics from Ecuador before it closes on March 12. Every Sunday from 11am–3pm, join them for family-friendly clay activities, free for kids and included with admission for adults. Visit their website to play your visit.
The Bloor St. Culture Corridor, Toronto's most diverse arts and culture district, is a true creative cluster, an arts and culture destination, and a collaboration between some of Toronto's most dynamic arts and culture organizations.
The Bloor St. Culture Corridor offers the public a wide variety of arts genres, from museum experiences to films, art exhibitions to music concerts, and opportunities to experience some of Toronto's cultural diversity, including Aboriginal, French, Jewish, Italian, Japanese, Estonian, African and Caribbean arts and culture.
All Bloor St. Culture Corridor organizations present arts and cultural events for the public year-round in destination venues located in a cluster along a vibrant stretch of Bloor Street West. Each year more than three million members of the public go to Bloor St. Culture Corridor arts and culture destinations, and attend exhibitions, performances, and events. Together, the Bloor St. Culture Corridor organizations employ more than 5,500 culture workers and generate more than $629,500,000 in economic impact each year. In 2016, The Bloor St. Culture Corridor was successful in working with the City of Toronto to have the Bloor St. Culture corridor section of Bloor St. West designated an official City of Toronto cultural corridor.
The Bloor St. Culture Corridor includes:
918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education: 918 Bathurst St. 918bathurst.com
Alliance Française de Toronto: 24 Spadina Road alliance-francaise.ca
Bata Shoe Museum: 327 Bloor Street West batashoemuseum.ca
A Different Booklist Cultural Centre: 777-779 Bathurst St. adbcc.org
Gardiner Museum: 111 Queen's Park gardinermuseum.com
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema: 506 Bloor Street West hotdocscinema.ca
Istituto Italiano di Cultura: 496 Huron Street iictoronto.esteri.it
The Japan Foundation, Toronto: 2 Bloor Street East, Suite 300 jftor.org
Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre: 750 Spadina Ave. mnjcc.org
The Music Gallery: 918 Bathurst St. musicgallery.org
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto: 16 Spadina Road ncct.on.ca
The Randolph Centre for the Arts: 736 Bathurst St. randolphcentreforthearts.com
The Royal Conservatory of Music / Koerner Hall: 273 Bloor Street West rcmusic.com/performance
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM): 100 Queen's Park (Entrance on Bloor St. W.) rom.on.ca
Soundstreams: various venues on the Bloor St. Culture Corridor soundstreams.ca
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra & Chamber Choir: 427 Bloor Street West tafelmusik.org
The Toronto Consort: 427 Bloor Street West torontoconsort.org
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library: 120 St. George St. fisher.library.utoronto.ca
Toronto Reference Library: 789 Yonge Street torontopubliclibrary.ca
University of Toronto Faculty of Music: 80 Queen's Park music.utoronto.ca
VEMU Estonian Museum Canada: 310 Bloor Street West vemu.ca
Women's Art Association of Canada: 23 Prince Arthur Ave. womensartofcanada.ca
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Sandra P. 3/1/2023 |
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