A beloved Burnaby arts festival is returning this week – get ready for artistic performances both in-person and online, community art displays, artist talks, art demos and more.
Between Feb. 3 and 12, the free Stride Burnaby Arts Festival will host a kaleidoscope of activities including an art walk, story walk, musical concerts, a poetry zone and the unveiling of the Free Little Art Gallery.
The festival, hosted by North Burnaby Neighbourhood House, will have a 2023 theme of “connections.”
Everything arts in Burnaby
Illuminate the Arts (Feb. 2 at 5 p.m. to Feb. 3): Lights on the SkyTrain guideway by Metrotown and at city hall will glow with “the colours of creativity” (yellow, red and blue) to mark the beginning of the festival.
Multicultural Storytime (Feb. 4 at 11 a.m.): New writers from Culture Chats BC read their tales for children and short stories of life, friendship and kindness at 2055 Rosser Ave.
Grand Opening of the Free Little Art Gallery (Feb. 4 at 1 p.m.): Swing by the grand opening of “Burnaby’s littlest art gallery with the biggest heart” at 4191 Hastings St. by the Dairy Queen. You can also add your own small artistic creation to display in the inaugural exhibition. Registration not required, drop-ins are welcome.
Skabala – Modal Musings (Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.): This musical duo draw inspiration from the sounds of water and wind and will present a 40-minute performance of “modal improvisation with bodhran, guitar and flute fusing Indian, Middle Eastern and Celtic music.”
Exquisite Corpse Workshop (Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.): Join artists for an afternoon of surrealist art history at Brentwood Mall (4567 Lougheed Hwy.), as artists Jennie Johnston and Dorothy Doherty host a workshop on the art-play exquisite corpse to create beautiful – and wacky – works of collaborative art.
History of Hats Off Day (Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.): At the McGill branch of Burnaby Public Library, Stride Burnaby Arts Festival will host the premiere screening of a 30-minute documentary on the history of one of Burnaby’s most beloved festivals: Hats Off Day.
Celtic Kitchen Party (Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.): It’s a good old-fashioned kitchen party with Celtic tunes, lively storytelling and joyful dancing at Gilmore Community School Gym at 50 Gilmore Ave.
Live Demo of Fluid Art Techniques (Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m.): Local artist Marika Morrissette will share her process in creating fluid art at the North Burnaby Neighbourhood House (4908 Hastings St.) – and even let viewers in on a few creative secrets.
Reconciliation Hearts (Feb. 11 at 1 p.m.): The workshop at North Burnaby Neighbourhood House (4908 Hastings St.) includes lessons on Indigenous issues, fabric art and gift-making, according to the event page. Participants will learn about Truth and Reconciliation and create sewn fabric hearts for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
Art After Dark (Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.): This fun-filled, all-ages arts pop-up experience will be a fabulous celebration of art in the community at Confederation Park (look for the giant glowing cube!) The Art Cube returns, and illuminated art by Burnaby local Nickie Lewis will also be featured.
Other activities include the art exhibition Stride at the Shadbolt, with visual art displayed in the Shadbolt Centre for the Art’s Centre Aisle Gallery until Feb. 23. More exhibits part of Stride’s art walk can be found on the festival’s map online (and it’s the perfect time to visit some fantastic Burnaby Heights businesses).
The poetry zone has been integrated into community infrastructure, with bright yellow poems on poster columns at intersections along Hastings between Ingleton and Madison.
For more information on the festival, visit the event website.
