Celebrating Culture Days 2021


Date: Oct 17
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Where: Level 3 Atrium
Music

Culture Days is a National Celebration of arts and culture.

Drop in each Sunday afternoon to listen to the diverse musical talent in our community as we celebrate Culture Days together!

About the Performer:
Jing Xia is a Chinese guzheng player based in St. John’s, Canada. Xia started learning the instrument at six years old and completed her bachelor’s degree in guzheng performance in 2013. Since moving to Canada in 2015, her musical interest has expanded from traditional, folk, and contemporary guzheng music to new musical possibilities through intercultural, improvisational, and experimental music-making. Xia has played with various musicians and musical groups, including Paul Bendzsa, Mei Han, Shanneyganock, Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra, and Roadrunner (Amsterdam). She has been active in the multicultural musical scenes in North America and performed in diverse musical events, including Sound Symposium, George Street Festival, and Vancouver International Jazz Festival. Driven by a passion to share Chinese culture and promote intercultural exchange, Xia formed the Light Wind Ensemble, the first Chinese instrumental group in Newfoundland, in 2019. Besides her musical practices, Xia is currently a PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Upcoming Performers:

Sunday, October 24 - Angelica López - Mexican pianist

All Ages Welcome. Space is limited and restrictions due to COVID 19 will be in place for everyone’s safety. Masks Required.

Events & Programs

10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Playdate

Join us for a delightful morning at The Rooms!
Bring your little ones to our enchanting Harbour View Room for unguided playtime surrounded by an array of toys and books tailored for infants and toddlers aged 0 to 4.

No prior registration is necessary; simply pay your admission at The Rooms front desk and drop in anytime between 10:30 am and 12:00 pm! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please note that caregivers must accompany their children throughout the session. While our program room can accommodate up to 20 adults with their little ones, if it reaches capacity, we kindly ask caregivers to momentarily step back to make room for others to join in the fun.

The Playdate is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms Members.

With support from Thomas and Susan (Kent) Foran Family Foundation.

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Craft at Risk

Eco printing is a great technique for those new to natural dyes. It has a striking visual impact, is easy to learn, and everyone comes away with something — in this case, a piece of silk fabric and dyed watercolour paper. Natural dyeing, the process of adding colour to textile materials through the use of natural materials such as plants or animals, was added to the 2024 Craft at Risk List and listed as Endangered.

Cost: $40 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. All materials included. Register online!

About the Presenter:
Susan Furneaux is a teacher, artist, craft consultant, and mentor. She specializes in natural dye and fibre techniques, learning, teaching, and exhibiting throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, nationally and internationally. Susan has won multiple awards for her embroidery, natural dyes, and innovative use of natural materials, including the 2024 Arts NL Arts and Education Award. In 2022, Susan was a mentor with Heritage NL’s Mentor-Apprentice Program. Motivated by reciprocal knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the preservation of traditional skills, Furneaux shared the craft of Bark Tanning.

Presented in partnership with Heritage NL.

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Open House

Come with your family to share in The Rooms Provincial Archives Open House!

Visit the Reference Room to see archival treasures, talk to reference staff about genealogy collections, or take a “Behind the Scenes” vault tour.

Vault tours: 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm

Children can also join in the fun by creating their own handprint family trees or making a personalized button. Enjoy coffee, cookies, and prizes!

Free event. 

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Tour

Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador

Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.