5 must-visit cultural experiences

For the past seven years, Myseum Toronto, a virtual museum, (with a few live and pop-up shows), has produced many exhibitions sharing citizens’ diverse stories. “At Myseum, the city is our museum and our work aims to connect our visitors and participants to this place and to each other,” says Nadine Villasin Feldman, above, Myseum Toronto director of programs. “We also believe that museums should be about listening to each other. I am also so grateful that we have the opportunity to provide spaces for people to tell their own histories.”

The museum has just moved into a brick-and-mortar space at 401 Richmond. The debut exhibition: “36 Questions That Lead to Loving TO.” “It’s a participatory experience that asks Torontonians to share their thoughts and experiences in the city,” Villasin Feldman says, “and to learn more about the people they share it with.” It offers six stations that prompt visitors to answer up to six questions, including the TO Love Line, where folks can record an audio message, and Dear Toronto, which encourages them to pen a letter to their city. “The exhibit has already produced some very moving answers,” Villasin Feldman says. “For me, what’s most moving about the answers is that our visitors thus far have identified people as being the most important thing in our city.”

Looking for some more inspiring programming to take in this spring? Here are Villasin Feldman’s must-visit picks.

Kakwitè:ne nikahá:wi:

A Call and Response to Spring

“It’s an outdoor film projection featuring eight music, dance and fashion performances by artists who’ve done innovative and important work in the city for many years, such as Elder Duke Redbird, Ian Kamau and Kaha:wi Dance Theatre.”

XOXO Downsview

“Downsview Park has launched an exciting new initiative to re-imagine the park as a site for arts and culture programming. I’m looking forward to exploring XOXO Downsview, (which) features local artists and involves installations, murals, multimedia works and an audio walking tour.”

Cultures, Climate, Care: Indigeneity & the Nature of Global Change

“Connecting the local to the global is important in the work we do at Myseum. This is a three-part workshop and conversation series at Goethe-institute Toronto designed to explore the connection between the natural, cultural and digital realms we inhabit.”

Toka

“Theatre Passe Muraille has been home to the city’s diverse theatre artists and storytellers for many years. I’m really interested in catching ‘Toka’ by Indrit Kasapi, a piece of physical theatre about modern-day blood feuds in post-Communist Albania.”

MBL: Freedom

“I can’t wait to see Syrus Marcus Ware’s interdisciplinary project, ‘MBL: Freedom’ at the Toronto Biennial of Art, which predicts a dystopian near future taking place between the years 2025 and 2027, and reflects on climate change, white supremacy, abolition and disability justice.”