A cultural hub in Winnipeg's exchange district is getting a $4-million kickstart from the federal government, CBC News reports. The development, on the site of the old Public Safety Building, will house four arts organizations on its first and second floors — Creative Manitoba, Mentoring Artists for Women's Art, Urban Shaman and Video Pool Media Arts Centre. The remaining floors of the 10-storey building will have 102 units of affordable housing. Construction will begin in 2023.
The City of Burnaby will be offering artist residencies at two restored heritage homes in Deer Lake Park once public health restrictions are lifted. Free accommodation at either the Baldwin House or the Eagles Estate is available to professional artists for up to four months. Residents will work with the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts or the Burnaby Art Gallery on artist-led community engagement projects. Each house can accommodate up to four artists at one time. For more information, go to Burnaby.ca/air.
More Canadian art galleries are reopening as provinces ease health restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19. The Winnipeg Art Gallery reopened Feb. 14, while the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, also in Winnipeg, opens Feb. 23. In Ottawa, the National Gallery of Canada reopened on Feb. 18 and the Canadian War Museum on Feb. 17. Visitors are advised to check websites for the latest updates and safety protocols.
Vancouver's Capture Photography Festival, which runs in April, has announced artists for four billboard projects. They are Stephen Shearer, Vikky Alexander, Anique Jordan and Sarah Anne Johnson.
Getting involved with the arts leads to better health, including mental health, says a study by Hill Strategies Research in Hamilton, Ont. Canadians’ Arts Participation, Health, and Well-Being says studies have found attendees or participants in 15 arts, culture and heritage activities, including things like going to an art gallery or a musical performance, are more likely to report very good or excellent health.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has appointed Yves Théoret as deputy director. He has worked previously at the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, the National Gallery of Canada and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto. The gallery also appointed Natalia Bojovic as head of exhibitions production and Carolina Calle Sandoval as head of exhibition administration.
