Culture Days returns Sept. 18 to Oct. 4, bringing free arts, culture, heritage, and community experiences to St. Catharines and communities across Niagara. This year's celebration features exhibitions, performances, artist-led activities, library programming, and opportunities to participate in hands-on creative experiences.

Upcoming City of St. Catharines Culture Days Highlights



• Join us for Culture Days Flag Raising Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 18 at 4:30 p.m.
• Drop by the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Culture Days Hub for free arts activities and performances by local artists and community groups on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Take part in free, hands-on paper craft workshops at the Kiwanis Aquatics Centre on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Free St. Catharines Public Library programs and activities
• Many other programs led by individual artists and artist organizations across in St. Catharines!

Niagara Artists Centre welcomes renowned Canadian artist Jon Sasaki for Everything in Balance, a participatory performance that invites community members to contribute everyday objects to a large-scale balancing installation.

Over the course of six hours in the outdoor lot behind the Niagara Artists Centre, Sasaki will assemble a large, suspended mobile sculpture, incorporating objects contributed by visitors. Throughout the performance, as new objects arrive, they will be added to the suspended armature, incorporated carefully into its overall structure, with thought and care taken to avoid tipping and affecting its equilibrium. The sculpture will be in constant flux. Every new object will necessitate a rebalancing of its overall assembly.

Performance Day

Friday, Sept. 18

📍Niagara Artists Centre, NACyard

🕘 3 to 9 p.m.

Donate your Object to Everything in Balance

We are seeking objects that can act as a stand-in to symbolize a personal set of values or priorities. For example, a person who is interested in cooking or food security might arrive with edible plant cuttings. Someone who values responsible journalism, or the printed word, might bring a copy of last week’s newspaper.

Each object must weigh 5 pounds or less. Please note that objects will not be returned upon completion of the project. Treasured, sentimental objects or irreplaceable family heirlooms are not recommended!

You can donate your item to the project on the days below or bring it directly to the Niagara Artists Centre during the performance.

Object Collection Days

📍 Market Square Farmers' Market, Culture Days Booth

🕘 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Thursday, Sept. 17

Presented as part of Culture Days 2026, CURRENT brings together the work of 10 Niagara artists selected through the City of St. Catharines' annual juried exhibition process. Inspired by the theme of movement, change, and connection, the exhibition explores the many currents that shape Niagara, from its waterways and landscapes to the social, cultural, and political forces influencing our lives today.

Through a range of artistic perspectives and mediums, CURRENT offers a snapshot of the creative energy flowing through the region and celebrates the diverse talent of Niagara's visual arts community.

The exhibition will be on display at St. Catharines City Hall starting Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, through Jan. 22, 2027.

CURRENT Opening Reception

Friday, Sept. 18 | 5 p.m.

📍St. Catharines City Hall, Third Floor, Chambers Gallery

Held immediately following the Culture Days Flag Raising Ceremony, the reception will include remarks, light refreshments, and an opportunity to meet artists and explore this year's exhibition.

The St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP) is designed to support the creative sector and strengthen the overall cultural ecosystem in the City of St. Catharines.

Upcoming Deadline:

• Sept 17: Arts Development, Culture Builds Community, Sustaining - Festival, PAC Facility Access and Individual Artist Micro-Grant Programs

Application materials for Sustaining programs (Festival), Development programs (Arts Development, Culture Builds Community and Individual Artist Micro-Grant), and PAC Facility Access Program as well as the online applications, are available on the City's website.

Local Happenings

Niagara Songwriters Club

📍Mahtay Cafe

7 to 9 p.m.

Upcoming 2026 Sessions

• Sept. 14
• Oct. 5
• Nov. 2
• Dec. 7

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Forces of Nature

Sept. 12 to 30

📍Niagara Artists Centre



Presented by Paper Bananas, Forces of Nature is a group exhibition featuring the work of 14 Niagara artists exploring themes inspired by the natural world. Visitors are invited to experience a diverse range of artistic approaches and perspectives in this annual members' exhibition.

Community Conversation: The Future of Rodman Art Institute of Niagara

Sept. 15 | 5 p.m.

📍 Old Fire Hall, 16 Towpath St., Thorold

The public is invited to join the Rodman Art Institute of Niagara for a community conversation about the organization's future. As RAiN looks ahead and plans its next chapter, community members are encouraged to share their ideas, feedback, and aspirations for the role of arts and culture in Niagara.

Whether you're an artist, arts supporter, or community member, this is an opportunity to help shape the future vision of one of Niagara's important cultural organizations.

John Coltrane 100 Fundraiser



Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

📍Helliwell Hall, 107 St. Paul St.

Celebrate the legacy of jazz icon John Coltrane with an all-star lineup of Canadian jazz musicians, including Pat LaBarbera, Kirk MacDonald, Terry Clarke, Neil Swainson, and Brian Dickinson. This special fundraising concert supports the Niagara Jazz Festival's community programming, youth education initiatives, and emerging artists.



Tickets from $19 + fees. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Niagara International Music & Film Festival (NIMFF)

Sept. 17 to 20, 2026

📍 FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

The Niagara International Music & Film Festival (NIMFF) returns this September, celebrating the powerful connection between music and film through screenings, live performances, industry events, and special guest presentations.



Held at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, the four-day festival brings together filmmakers, musicians, creators, and audiences for a dynamic showcase of creative talent from Niagara and beyond.

The Bach Walk: A Downtown Concert Trail Through Six Suites

📍Downtown St. Catharines

Sept. 19 | 1 p.m.

Experience Bach's complete Cello Suites across six unique downtown venues presented by Gallery Players of Niagara.



Well Done Super Market

Sept. 20 | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

📍 Niagara Artists Centre Yard Free Admission

Shop local and connect with Niagara's creative community at Well Done Super Market, a community vendor market presented by Quite Alright and Niagara Artists Centre. Featuring local makers, artists, and small businesses, the market offers a great opportunity to discover unique handmade goods while supporting local creatives.

All ages welcome. Licensed event.

Opening Reception

The still cloud, in anger, in awe.

📍Visual Arts Gallery, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts

Sept. 24 | 5 to 7 p.m.

Department of Visual Arts faculty exhibition by Derek Liddington. Exhibition runs until Oct. 10.

Dog Days of Ontario Culture Days: Niagara-on-the-Lake 2026

📍 Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre | 247 Ricardo St., Niagara-on-the-Lake

Sept. 26 | 12 to 4 p.m.

Produced in partnership with the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre, this multi-location conceptual art project explores the special relationship between dogs and their humans through two interactive experiences:

🐾 Guess Your Dog's Age or Weight

A "carnival guesser" will attempt to guess your dog's age or weight. In exchange for a donation to a local dog charity, participants will receive a custom-minted commemorative coin.

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🎨 A Portrait of the Person Making a Portrait of Your Dog

Visitors can receive a free sketch of their dog from a local artist, while a second artist simultaneously creates a drawing of the sketch artist at work. Dog owners keep the portrait of their dog, while the secondary drawing becomes part of a future publication by Micah Lexier.

Autumn Playday at The Brown Homestead

Sat. Oct. 3 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

📍 The Brown Homestead

Drop-in event | Pay-what-you-can

Celebrate Culture Days with a family-friendly day of outdoor discovery at St. Catharines' oldest home (c. 1796). Enjoy harvest-inspired crafts, archaeology activities, heritage demonstrations, storytelling, and hands-on experiences with community partners including the St. Catharines Public Library, Niagara-on-the-Lake Tiny Museum, and Habitat for Humanity.

Visitors can also catch a stop of Brief Encounters, a multi-site theatrical production by Essential Collective Theatre that unfolds across locations throughout St. Catharines.

Creative Aging at Willow Arts Community

Free | Drop-in programs

Create

Wednesdays in October | 2 to 4 p.m.

📍 Willow Studio, 366 St. Paul St.

Older adults (55+) are invited to explore their creativity during Create, a free weekly drop-in studio program. Participants can learn new art-making techniques from guest artists, work on personal creative projects, and connect with others in a welcoming studio environment.

Discover: Topics in the Arts

Fridays in October | 3 p.m.

📍 Willow Studio, 366 St. Paul St.

Join Willow Arts Community for Discover, a free weekly series for older adults (55+) featuring talks, demonstrations, and discussions on engaging topics in the arts. These drop-in sessions offer an opportunity to learn, share ideas, and connect through artistic conversation.

SCAA Fall Art Show & Sale

On view until Oct. 18

📍 Mahtay Café & Lounge

The St. Catharines Art Association's Fall Art Show & Sale, curated by Bart Gazzola, features work by local artists and offers visitors the opportunity to discover and purchase original artwork in downtown St. Catharines.

SEED TRAY

On view until Oct. 24

📍 Niagara Artists Centre



Artist Maggie Groat's exhibition SEED TRAY brings together collage works, archival materials, and research developed through her ongoing project S LOWER F. The exhibition explores ideas of slow-making, gardening, gathering, and renewal through a living archive of works on paper.

Professional Development Opportunity

Financial Literacy for the Arts Series

📍The Film House

Upcoming Sessions

• Oct. 5, 2026
• Nov. 9, 2026
• Jan. 18, 2027
• March 1, 2027

Presented by FirstOntario Credit Union and FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. This free four-part series is designed for artists, creatives, and arts workers looking to strengthen their financial knowledge and professional practice.

Calls, Opportunities, Resources

Lumière: The Art of Light 2027

Deadline: Sept. 18

Ontario artists are invited to submit proposals for light-based installations at Ontario Place.

Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail 2027 Call to Artists

Deadline: Sept. 18

Open call for emerging and established sculptors.

photoED Magazine: Real vs Imagined

Deadline: Sept. 18

Submit photographic work responding to the theme Real vs Imagined.

Voices and Visibility: Women, Art, and Political Change

Deadline: Sept. 28



Kawartha Art Gallery's upcoming juried exhibition exploring democracy, participation, and social change.

Join the FirstOntario PAC Board



Deadline: Sept. 28



The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is seeking board members with expertise in leadership, philanthropy, and tourism to support its ongoing development and governance.

Mandy Lowe Artist-in-Residence Program

Deadline: Sept. 30



A new residency supporting artists exploring health, learning, and community.

Neighbourhood Micro Grants

City of St. Catharines



Deadline: Sept. 30

Residents can apply for up to $1,500 to support grassroots projects that strengthen neighbourhood social, economic, and cultural well-being.

Wild Rose Farm Artist Residencies

Applications Ongoing until Filled

Two-week artist retreats in Mulmur, Ont.

Call for Creatives: Fashion in the Vineyard

Applications Now Open

Fashion in the Vineyard is seeking artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs for a curated marketplace taking place during the event on Nov. 28, 2026, at Hernder Estate Wines.



Applications are welcome from creatives working in:

• Jewellery
• Handbags
• Accessories
• Fashion crafts
• Footwear
• Fragrance
• Wearable art
• Other fashion and style-related creative practices

Downtown Animation Matched Funding Program

Deadline: Applications accepted on rolling basis.



Funding is available to support projects that animate downtown St. Catharines through public events, cultural programming, and placemaking initiatives.

Professional Development Workshop Series for Artists: Community Feedback Survey

We are exploring the potential creation of a professional development workshop series for artists and creatives in the community. These workshops could focus on practical skills, career development, funding opportunities, and navigating the arts sector.



Your feedback will help shape the program!

We want to help you get the word out about your upcoming arts and culture events, programs or helpful resources. Email us at: culture@stcatharines.ca.

The Cultural Services office is a division of the City of St. Catharines' Community, Recreation and Culture Services department. Cultural Services focuses on public art, community development, planning, and policies related to arts and culture in the City of St. Catharines.