Ontario CultureIf you enjoy the arts, you’ll LOVE exploring Ontario culture.
Ontario is home to many wonderful craftspeople, artists, musicians, actors and dancers. What a treat to witness their work first-hand. You could even plan your whole vacation around cultural activities --- I usually do! I live in Ontario and I’m always on the prowl for great artsy experiences close to home. Here are some of my best tips for culture-vultures! MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES Looking for Canadian art? The best way to see works by major Canadian artists like Norval Morrisseau, Kenojuak Ashevak, the Group of Seven, Tom Thomson, and Emily Carr is to head to one of the major art galleries such as: Art Gallery of Ontario If you can’t make it to one of these, check smaller local galleries. Many have excellent, if smaller, collections of Canadian art. For the work of contemporary Canadian artists, visit this gallery in Toronto: Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA) The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Art Gallery of Hamilton often feature temporary exhibits showcasing one contemporary artist, so check their web sites for details about their shows as well. The Power Plant in Toronto is another great spot for new art. Note: The AGO, the ROM and the Art Gallery of Hamilton also have great collections of international art, both historic and contemporary. ARTS AND CRAFTS STUDIOS Don’t you love watching artists at work? It’s fun and inspiring, and you can learn so much about how art and crafts are made. Harbourfront Craft Studio and the Williams Mill Art Centre in Glen Williams Ontario are just two year-round places to explore. There are many more; just check with the local tourist board of the city or town you’re visiting. Many communities also have annual Studio Tours where artists temporarily open their workshops to the public. If you want to combine nature and art I’d recommend the Haliburton County Studio Tour. You need a car but it’s worth it! My sister and I attended one year and we really enjoyed the journey. LIVE PERFORMANCES Do you love live theatre? You’ll find performances all across the province, from small towns like Orillia to big cities like Toronto. For more info, see my page on Ontario Theatre. If you’re a music lover, you’ll be spoiled for choice every night in Toronto, but check out the smaller cities too. The casinos also host concerts. We love our music festivals in Ontario... they're a big part of Ontario culture. Some of the biggies are the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Blues Festival and of course the almost weekly music festivals that run at Harbourfront Toronto in the summer. For classical lovers, there’s the Brott Summer Festival in Hamilton and Burlington. A friend and I went to their opera concert last year, and we both thought it was fantastic. The conductor, Brott, is a real entertainer… this ain’t your stuffy music crowd! The Festival of the Sound is Parry Sound is another big classical fest. Is dance your thing? The National Ballet of Canada is world-revered. You can also find flamenco, belly dance and folk dance troupes across the province. And don’t miss the annual Grand River Powwow where you can get down and dance with the best! ONTARIO HISTORY AND HERITAGE SITES Want an escape from modern life? If you love heritage buildings and living history sites, check out my page on ONTARIO HISTORY.
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