This release was issued under a previous government.

Alberta Culture Days 2016

From September 30 to October 2, Culture Days will be filled with  hands-on art workshops, live musical performances, historical exhibits, doodle walls and art displays, puppetry, outdoor movie screenings, delicious food and so much more.

“Alberta Culture Days is a wonderful celebration of Alberta’s diverse and vibrant art and culture community, highlighting all the amazing aspects that make this province so unique.  The arts and cultural sector not only improves our quality of life, but is also a significant economic driver supporting local businesses and creating jobs”

Ricardo Miranda, Minister of Culture and Tourism

As part of the celebrations, these organizations will offer three days of major programming for Albertans to enjoy:

  • Lac La Biche Lions Club
    • A variety of diverse cultures will be displayed through a series of family friendly events. Under the theme “Better Together,” Culture Days events will promote working to build a better and more tolerant community and province.
  • St. Albert Cultivates the Arts Society
    • More than a dozen events are planned, including a paint party with 200 people led by local artists. The city will also feature Keys to the City, with pianos in interesting locations.
  • Beaumont Society for the Arts
    • The Festival des Beaux Arts features literary and visual arts displays, workshops with local artists, live performances and a historic Casavant Freres organ.
  • Creative Airdrie
    • A month-long celebration, ARTember, culminates in “Culture at the Creek,” a city-wide celebration of the arts with a variety of fun events, from live music and performances to hands-on art activities to public art participation projects. 
  • Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation, Banff
    • Eight organizations are working together to host Alberta Culture Days: Banff Buffalo Days. Activities and events will celebrate the return of the bison to Banff National Park and the signing of the Buffalo Treaty by 12 nations/tribes in a historic treaty of co-operation, renewal and restoration with First Nations leaders.

Fifty-one other groups throughout the province were selected as celebration sites to hold one and two days of family friendly programming. Grants totaling $200,000 were awarded to the various sites in support of Alberta Culture Days.

Hold your own event

While 56 sites have been named official celebration sites by the government this year, anyone can host an Alberta Culture Days event. It can be something as simple as a block party or as elaborate as a concert. Organizations hosting a Culture Days event are encouraged to post their events to the National Culture Days Calendar. Planning ideas and customizable promotional tools can be found at ab.culturedays.ca.  

In 2015, more than 71 communities and organizations held 884 events, with more than 130,000 Albertans enjoying the festivities.

Alberta Culture Days is part of National Culture Days, a movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the artistic and cultural life of their communities.