November 3-6, 2021 | Firehall Arts Centre| 280 E. Cordova
Opening Night: November 3 at 7:30pm
Performance Times: Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30pm
Tickets: From $15; Available online at firehallartscentre.ca or by phone at 604.689.0926
(Vancouver, B.C.) – The Firehall Arts Centre, in partnership with Vancouver Moving Theatre, is thrilled to produce and present, as part of the 2021 DTES Heart of the City Festival, Openings: A Cultural Sharing from Wednesday, November 3 to Saturday, November 6, 2021.
Co-created by storyteller, filmmaker and performer Rosemary Georgeson (Coast Salish/Dené), and the Firehall’s Artistic Producer Donna Spencer (hybrid settler), Openings: A Cultural Sharing is a series of conversations and presentations with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Artists from many different nations about resilience, hope, and humour.
Following on the success of last year’s In the Beginning: A Cultural Sharing, Georgeson and Spencer have gathered together ground-breaking women in the arts to share how they are telling their stories through film, on stage, and in literature; members of the LGBTQ2+ community to share queer Indigenous stories in the arts; leaders in the resurgence of canoe culture; and artists who make us laugh.
Wednesday, November 3 at 7:30pm
Openings: Women Standing Their Ground in the Arts
Join filmmaker Loretta Todd (Monkey Beach) and actor/director Renae Morriseau (M’Girl) as they discuss with other ground-breaking female artists the challenges and successes of women who stand their ground in the creative sector.
Thursday, November 4 at 7:30pm
Openings: Queer Indigenous Stories in the Arts
Billy Merasty and Bernie Williams share Queer Indigenous stories about working in the arts.
Friday, November 5 at 7:30pm
Openings: Canoe Power
Bob Baker, one of the leaders in bringing the canoe culture back to the West Coast, is joined by other canoe culture leaders to discuss the impact of the resurgence of the canoe in First Nations’ lives.
Saturday, November 6 at 7:30pm
Openings: Is That Really Funny?
The week of cultural sharing concludes with comedian Keith Nahanee, actor Curtis Ahenakew, and stand-up comic/playwright Brenda Prince.
For more information on the Firehall Arts Centre and details regarding Openings: A Cultural Sharing, please visit the following platforms:
Website: www.firehallartscentre.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/firehallartscentre
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FirehallArtsCte
Instagram: www.instagram.com/firehallartscentre
For more information on the 2021 DTES Heart of the City Festival, visit www.heartofthecityfestival.com.
About Firehall Arts Centre:
Throughout these pandemic times, when experiencing the arts can truly lift spirits and provide enjoyment, the Firehall Arts Centre has worked to bring theatre, dance and music to our communities through outdoor live performances, limited live audience indoor performances, podcasts, and online presentations. With a mission to enrich lives and expand minds through the arts, the Firehall Arts Centre is one of the most unique cultural institutions in the Greater Vancouver area, and in more predictable years, hosts over two hundred performances per year. Located in the city-owned heritage fire station built in 1906, the Firehall’s intimate black box studio theatre along with its outdoor courtyard performance area and its rehearsal studio have served to support innovative, eclectic, and often politically-charged theatre productions as well as exquisite, cutting-edge dance and music performances. The Firehall is proud to support emerging and established performing artists and companies, and strives to program work that is inclusive, culturally rich, and reflective of the many voices and perspectives in Canada. www.firehallartscentre.ca
