KULTURA Filipino Arts Festival, presented by the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture, has a vibrant schedule of events programmed from August 5 – 9. Contemporary and traditional Filipino culture will be showcased through performance art, visual art, dance, music, poetry, craft and cuisine.
Notable Filipino performance artist, Carlos Celdran, will open the festival on Wednesday, August 5 at OCAD Auditorium.
Fresh from a sold out run off-Broadway (Ma-Yi Theatre, NYC) in Fall 2014, Celdran’s performance Livin’ La Vida Imelda takes a metaphorical scalpel to the beloved/hated, infamous first lady Imelda Marcos, to reveal how she has influenced Philippine history and Filipino identity for better or for worse.
“We’re thrilled to have Carlos return to open the 10th annual KULTURA festival,“ commented Nicole Cajucom, Kapisanan’s new executive and artistic director. “This thought provoking, and… entertaining work casts the mythology of Imelda into an entirely new light, particularly for a younger generation who know little about her impact in our history.”
Carlos Celdran’s performance run is from August 5 – 8 from 6 – 10PM. Tickets for the opening night fundraiser on August 5 are $60, additional performances are $30.
Also at KULTURA this year, participants of a five-month arts-based, cultural immersion program for Filipino youth will present their final exhibit featuring the female participants of CLUTCH Volume 7 alongside the male participants of NAV Volume 2.
Together, they will present stories related to Filipino-Canadian identity through art created since March 2015. Through workshops and one-on-one mentorships, these young adults have been encouraged to explore identity, culture and history, intertwined with hands-on, technical and conceptual training in the arts.
The opening reception of the CLUTCH and NAV exhibition is on August 6, from 7PM at Kapisanan Headquarters. Admission is FREE.
KULTURA features other great events, including a KAIN KALYE: Filipino Street Eats Competition, KULTURA Live! and KULTURA Marketplace, all happening at Yonge-Dundas Square on Sunday, August 9 from 12 – 7pm. FREE admission as well. For full festival listings and other information, please visit kultura.ca.
