Toronto, The Bloor St. Culture Corridor - April 2024
Alliance Française de Toronto
A night of musical splendor comes to Toronto on April 5, as four renowned musicians unite to present an evening of vocal and instrumental mastery. On April 4 and 18, enjoy French cinema with screenings of “Nous” and “Gagarine”. On April 13, Ombres Folles, will present an object and shadow performance for young audiences, inspired by the novel, The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha. Join AFT on April 13, for an online lecture "Ambroise Vollard, Visionary Art Dealer", by art historian Gilles Genty, in collaboration with the Toronto Public Library. On April 20, enjoy an energetic and joyful concert by French band, Taqsim Driver as they kick off their Canada tour in Toronto. As part of the Belgian Days in Toronto, Alliance Française Toronto, the Embassy of Belgium in Canada and the General Delegation of Wallonia-Brussels in Quebec invite you to the screening of "The (Ex)perience of Love", on April 23. Visit their website for more details.
ROM
Celebrate Earth Day all month long! Experience the best of the best in nature photography with the latest edition of Wildlife Photographer of the Year on now at ROM. Each photograph illustrates emotive and surprising glimpses of life on our planet through exceptional talent, technical expertise, and the perfectly captured moment. Plus, on view until April 7, don’t miss the final days of Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery. This thought-provoking exhibition explores cultural and natural response to life and death and asks big questions including: What will happen to my body?” and What will happen to my ‘Self’?”. Discover how climate change and death affects art, culture, and nature through the ages in their permanent galleries with the latest group tours: Climate Change: The Epic of Life, Death, and Hope and What’s Death got to do with it? Book a tour today at groupsales@rom.on.ca. Learn more at their website.
VEMU Estonian Museum Canada
On April 2, join VEMU for a lecture on Estonian Architecture by Ott Rätsep and Toivo Tammik from the Louis Kahn Society. Following this on April 3 at Tartu College, Estonian Music Week Concert Series will be hosting an intimate concert with Estonia’s ascending pop star ALIKA. The evening will feature a Q&A with the artist, followed by an intimate unplugged-style concert, where you’ll experience a different side of ALIKA’s pop anthems. Tickets are $20/$15 and can be found at estonianmusicweek.ca. On April 6 at 3pm author Vaike Külvet will be presenting her new book, "Memoir of an Exile". Finally, VEMU's ongoing "Keelekohivik"/Estonian Language Café will continue on April 10 and 24 at Tartu College, 7pm. These events are suitable for beginners who want to practice their conversation skills. More information can be found at their website.
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
18th-century Bohemia is the inspiration behind Bohemian Rhapsody: Haydn & Brenda, marking the Tafelmusik debut of Bulgarian violinist and guest director Zefira Valova. Concertmaster of the high-octane period orchestra Il Pomo D’Oro, Valova is featured in the energetic Violin Concerto in A Major by the prolific Bohemian violinist František Benda. Hear for yourself why Valova’s new recording of this music shot to the top of the classical charts. Opening with the Symphony in D Minor by the Bohemian/German composer Carl Stamitz, the Bohemian connection continues with Haydn, who spent formative summers in Bohemia as a young man in the employ of Count Morzin. Tafelmusik’s own Keiran Campbell takes centre stage as soloist in Haydn’s show-stopping Cello Concerto in C Major. Click here for more details.
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema's April program will feature riveting new docs, special events, and the return of North America's premier doc film festival. Catch premieres of Remembering Gene Wilder, a loving tribute that shines a light on the beloved actor and comedian; Food, Inc. 2, the much-anticipated sequel, which centres on innovative food producers facing down the multinational corporations who have tightened their stronghold on our food supply; 500 Days in the Wild, award-winning filmmaker Dianne Whelan's incredible six-year journey as the first person to travel 24,000 km over land and water on the Trans Canada Trail; and more. International humanitarian icon and bestselling author Roméo Dallaire joins Curious Minds Author Talks to discuss The Peace: A Warrior's Journey. Hot Docs Festival returns to the Cinema April 25 to May 5, premiering the finest Canadian and international docs like Union, Made In England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger, Michel Gondry, Do It Yourself, Born Hungry, Le Mans 55: The Unauthorized Investigation, and many more. Visit the Hot Docs website to view their programming schedule.
The Royal Conservatory
The Royal Conservatory's April concerts feature the Grammy Award-winning South African acapella ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo on April 6. World-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli performs the timeless songs of Broadway and Hollywood on April 19 while Juno Award-winning Canadian vocalist Caity Gyorgy sings bebop and swing. Mali's great diva Oumou Sangaré makes her Koerner Hall debut on April 20. Pianist Richard Goode performs an all-Ludwig van Beethoven program on April 21. Violinist Daniel Hope explores the rich world of Irish music with his ensemble on April 24. Singer-songwriters Alex Cuba and Raul Midón feature on a double bill of soul and Latin pop sounds on April 26. Additional concerts this month include American jazz vocalist Lizz Wright and Lebanese-Canadian drummer Sanah Kadoura on April 27, the Dover Quartet with Norway’s foremost pianist Leif Ove Andsnes on April 28, and more. Head to their website to learn more.
918 Bathurst
918 Bathurst has a packed April 2024! Their month heats up with two back-to-back events, as Humber hosts a salsa fundraiser on April 4 and the F for Flamenco festival hosts Isaac Tovar on April 5. Labyrinth Ontario is throwing their annual fundraiser on April 18. The Music Gallery hosts three events at 918 in April, with more info to be announced soon. And of course, Annex Chess Club continues their weekly tournaments every Monday from 6:30pm. For more information, head to their website.
Bata Shoe Museum
Mark your calendars for the opening of the Bata Shoe Museum’s new exhibition Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear on April 18. This exhibition examines both the development of footwear forensics as a means of solving crime and the social constructions of criminality from the nineteenth century to today. It also considers how clothing and footwear play roles in cultural ideas of criminality informed by assumptions and bias. It will take visitors on a journey to sleuth out the central but complex role of footwear in crime, policing, the judiciary system and our cultural ideas of criminality. Join them for their FREE Community Weekend on April 20 and 21 where they will be offering free admission all weekend to celebrate the opening. Have you ever wanted to learn how to write a theatrical play? Dramatic Soles: A Beginner Playwriting Workshops welcomes new and emerging playwrights to explore the writing process as inspired by footwear and crime with Canadian Playwright Steven Elliott Jackson on April 27. Participants will learn play constructing, formatting, character construction, plot development, and theme devices that make great plays. Keep up with their website and social media for all the latest updates at their website.
Women's Art Association of Canada
Dignam Gallery presents Keeping Dreams on view now until April 13, poised to unravel the intricate tapestry of resilience and the pursuit of happiness. This curated group show brings together artists from across Ontario from diverse backgrounds and disciplines exploring the depths of human experience. BEYOND, Korean & Canadian Arts Exchange Exhibition will be on view April 17-27 in the Dignam Gallery. Opening reception will take place on April 19, from 5pm to 8pm. The Ruth Upjohn Gallery is dedicated to member solo exhibitions, presenting Marion Yanase until April 6; Adriana Lee from April 10 to 20; Yafang Shi from April 24 to May 4. WAAC Education Committee's ARTIST'S VOICE FREE speaker series invites Jamie Fleck. Registration is now open. Visit their website for more information.
The Japan Foundation, Toronto
Join JFT on April 4 to celebrate National Ramen Day with their screening of Come Back Anytime, a documentary about ramen master UEDA Masamoto and his wife Kazuko who have been running their Tokyo restaurant for 40+ years. Registrations for Spring term Japanese Language Classes are now open! JFT offers Canada-wide online courses for various levels up to intermediate speakers. Their next JFT Hybrid Book Club will be deep diving into manga (Japanese comics) in late April. Stay tuned for the manga of choice! On April 24, Japanese designer duo matohu will arrive in Toronto for an exclusive lecture discussing their integration of Japan’s traditional craftsmanship into modern couture. Of course, don’t miss JFT’s ongoing exhibition, From Edo to Meiji: Transformation of Japanese Ceramics, with materials on loan from the ROM. For more information about both in-person and virtual events, film screenings, classes, and gatherings at JFT, please visit their website.
Toronto Reference Library
This spring, the library offers a diverse and exciting range of programs featuring local and international authors, thinkers and artists in discussion about their new books and big ideas. On April 5, Maltese-British journalist Paul Caruana Galizia discusses his memoir, A Death in Malta, and what's at stake when journalists become targets of violence, in conversation with Michelle Shephard. On April 17, top memory researcher Charan Ranganath speaks about his new book, Why We Remember, offering insight into how we can take control of our unconscious mind to live happier, more deliberate lives. Award-winning author Gina Apostol speaks about her latest novel, La Tercera, on April 23. And, on April 30, international Booker Prize-shortlisted author Mariana Enríquez discusses her acclaimed novel, Our Share of Night. Reserve your free tickets today by clicking here.
Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
The Miles Nadal JCC is blooming with all-inclusive arts & culture throughout April! Learn with Theatre Critic Lynn Slotkin about The Group Theatre and how they revolutionized art and changed the world, April 1, 8 and 15. Brush up on your ukulele in their adult classes starting April 2 and 3. Their spring Klezmer Ensemble directed by Eric Stein starts April 2 and is the only Klezmer open-learning hub for instrumentalists in Toronto! Meet author Rebecca Margolis on April 7 when she discusses her award-winning book, Yiddish Lives On. Join Chief McMichael Collection Curator, Sarah Milroy as she presents “Uninvited: Modern Canadian Women Artists” for their annual Beverley Fingerhut Memorial Lecture on April 11. Brush up on Passover music on April 17 during “Sing Along, It’s Passover” with Rabbi Ryan Leszner. All this plus Wellness, Aquatics, Accessible and Inclusive offerings, LGBTQ at the J, Early Childhood, Camps and much more at their website.
Gardiner Museum
It’s your last chance to see the landmark exhibition Magdalene Odundo: A Dialogue with Objects before it closes on April 21. This is the Canadian debut and largest North American exhibition by Dame Magdalene Odundo, the world’s most celebrated ceramic artist. On April 3 from 6-7pm, multidisciplinary artists will share poetic interpretations inspired by the themes, narratives, and emotions evoked by Odundo’s magisterial ceramic vessels. Ticket are pay what you can! Then on April 13 from 11am-1pm, take part in Slow Art Day, a global event with a simple mission: help more people discover the joy of looking at and loving art. Immerse yourself in a mindful exploration of Magdalene Odundo: A Dialogue with Objects and take time to observe and appreciate the intricate details, forms, and stories woven into each vessel. Free with admission! Plan your visit at their website.
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
Blackhurst Cultural Centre: 777-779 Bathurst St. blackhurstcc.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. 4/1/2024 |
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