Tourism Winnipeg

70 70 h. Enhancing exposure to the Arts and Other Causes As mentioned in Section 3., the Winnipeg Arts Council plays a huge role in connecting Winnipeg's arts community. Along with supporting local festivals and events, the Winnipeg Arts Council supports the operations of a wide variety of organizations from the major institutions (Winnipeg Art Gallery, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra etc.) to community- based organizations like West End Cultural Centre, Freeze Frame, and the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Art – they cover the entire arts ecosystem in one way or another. Some notes of distinction when it comes to supporting the arts and culture: Winnipeg is one of only a handful of Canadian cities that supports individual artist creation at the municipal level. Winnipeg's Public Art program, created and managed by the Winnipeg Arts Council, includes local, national and international commissions, artist residencies and an innovative collaborative community art program. It is widely known as a standard-bearer for Public Art in Canada and in 2016 was presented with the Creative Cities Network of Canada's inaugural Award of Excellence in Public Art -- Winnipeg was the first city to ever receive it. Winnipeg Arts Council is not only a funder, but an active city-building agency that creates and partners in programs connecting citizens to the arts in all kinds of ways, as both observers and participants. WAC created, developed and managed the effort resulting in the city being named Cultural Capital of Canada in 2010. A couple of notable things that grew out of that project were Close Encounters: The Next 500 Years which was an exhibition of contemporary Indigenous art from around the world, the largest of its kind ever staged, and the International Cello Festival of Canada, which was the first cello festival ever held on the continent. Winnipeg's local festivals provide an opportunity to showcase local visual and performing artists. Many local music festivals from Winnipeg Folk Festival to Festival du Voyageur to Big Fun Festival make a point of hiring both upcoming and established local Manitoba acts. Local artisans and crafters can be found selling their wares at the Winnipeg Folk Festival handmade village or in Folklorama cultural pavilions. The annual Culture Days/Nuit Blanche is strong example of seeing an event with arts merge together as it features thousands of free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate "behind-the-scenes," to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, designers and other creative people in their communities.

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