November 2020 is scheduled to mark the grand opening of the redeveloped first floor Market Wing at City Hall.
Located within Kingston City Hall National Historic Site, the new space has been designed to feature “exhibitions and programs that combine history and the arts to highlight Kingston, and to explore a diversity of histories, stories and ideas relevant to residents and visitors alike.”
Space dedicated to showcasing Indigenous history and culture and the people who have lived in this area “since time immemorial” is expected to begin development in 2021, led by an Indigenous curator and involve ongoing consultations with the community.
“The Market Wing is being redeveloped in response to the findings that have emerged from the ‘Your Stories, Our Histories’ project. Residents have asked that the City rethink how we interpret local history to reflect greater equity, diversity and inclusion by broadening the range of histories and stories that get shared, and with a particular focus on presenting Indigenous history and culture,” said Cultural Director Colin Wiginton. “This new space will provide new opportunities to look at the past, present and future with a critical eye, and combine history and the arts in ways that bridge these two sectors to highlight Kingston’s diverse cultural heritage—natural, tangible and intangible— alongside the local arts ecology and creative industries. Achieving these ambitions will take time but it’s exciting to be able to start the process this fall.”
A re-mount of the popular exhibition Ontario Street: Brewers, Bakers and Boiler Makers, 1830-1970, previously presented at the PumpHouse Museum will be part of the opening exhibit. Also featured will be ‘Then & Now’, a temporary exhibition highlighting the work of Kingston-based artists who have been asked to respond to a selection of historic images of Kingston.
The City is inviting emerging Kingston-based artists to submit two-dimensional artworks in a variety of media in response to a selection of historic images of Kingston.
“Artists are being asked to create artworks that consider how the community has evolved and changed over time in relation to its landscapes, landmarks, values and/or ideologies,” explains a media release. “The City’s curators will select the artworks to be featured as part of this exhibition with input from the Cultural Heritage Working Group connected to Heritage Kingston.”
The deadline to apply is October 7, 2020. Download the full Call for Submission here
Photo: Google.com
