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This year’s Diwali Festival in B.C. promises to both entertain and educate. Founded by Rohit Chokhani, Diwali in B.C. is an artistic platform and a celebration of the festival of lights during the Indian New Year. A multi-cultural festival, Diwali promises to engage artists and people from different backgrounds and specialties. Raised in Mumbai, Chokhani…
Joining in the celebration of Japanese heritage, the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre will be holding the annual Nikkei Matsuri Summer Festival from September 1–2. Roger Lemire, Nikkei Centre’s executive director, shares his experience with various cultural aspects. He first explains what the term “matsuri” means to him. “It basically means festival. And in…
Chocolatier and sommelier Geoseph Domenichiello will be hosting workshops on chocolate tasting July 29 and Aug. 20 in order to offer Vancouverites a new perspective on chocolate. Domenichiello has worked as a sommelier since 2007, trying to bridge the gap between good quality chocolate and consumer. While developing his styles as a sommelier, he noticed…
Alik Schastlivenko wants to tell Canadians about his country. He wants to hear about Canada too and about other countries, about the food, music, dancing, and culture that make all people who they are. “When we open our eyes and ears and try to be a little bit flexible,” says Schastlivenko, “we can understand each…
“Mythmaking,” the theme for this year’s Indian Summer Festival will focus on storytelling, the human imagination, and how both of those affect how people and society function. How sharing stories and memories – and which ones are chosen to be shared – are crucial, and one of the keys to how people shape their histories…
Culture lovers can taste Pakistan’s best cuisine, and experience its fashion and music during the Pakistani Festival at Georgia Street Plaza on Sunday July 8. With musical performances and a fashion show, the free event is a great opportunity for the Vancouver public to get to know Pakistan’s rich cultural traditions. Unity The Pakistani people…
VANCAF, the Vancouver Comic Arts Festival, is a free two-day celebration of comic and graphic arts held at the Roundhouse Community Centre May 19–20. With a line-up full of Vancouver artists, as well as international artists, the festival shines a light on the growing comic book community here in Vancouver. This year’s festival features local…
The Vancouver Tattoo and Culture show will be at Vancouver Convention Centre in Canada Place, Hall C on Apr. 20–22. With almost everyone nowadays having at least one tattoo, it is hard to believe a time when being a tattoo artist was not seen as a good profession. Two artists who saw the possibilities in…
The cultural heritage of Maillardville, Coquitlam will be fully on display soon at Mackin Park for the Festival du bois (March 23–25), says Johanne Dumas, the festival’s managing artistic director and a festival veteran of over 20 years. “We want to celebrate everything that’s been in Maillardville over the years,” Dumas explains. “We’d be fools…
The 8th Annual Vancouver South African Film Festival (VSAFF), a non-profit festival, runs at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts March 23–25, 2018. The event will showcase feature films and documentaries that explore the culture, history and politics of South Africa. Co-founded by Ruth and Cecil Hershler, VSAFF has the dual purpose of educating…
The Vancouver International Women in Film Festival (March 7–11) will be giving the public a chance to experience Tidal Traces, a four-minute, 360-video VR dance piece co-created by film director Nancy Lee and choreographer Emmalena Fredriksson. This virtual reality work places viewers in the centre of the performance. In it, three characters, played by Zahra Shahab…
Taking a leap into another perspective, the organizers of DocuAsia Forum offer viewers a special chance to see documentary film Les Sauteurs (Those Who Jump) on March 10, 2018 at SFU Harbour Centre. The Cinevolution Media Arts Society is responsible for programming the twice-annual DocuAsia Forum. Their 2018 spring edition will follow a theme of displacement by…
“I’ve witnessed first-hand the ability of music to bring people out of where they’re trapped and to bring people together,” says Gavia Lertzman-Lepofsky. Lertzman-Lepofsky and Jessica Heaven are the creative directors behind HEARTBEAT, a musical event that aims to bring people from diverse communities together to spark conversation. “Simply put, the event is a concert of…
