Community Celebration
Wednesday October 30, 6pm – 7:30pm 
Carnegie 3rd floor Gallery and Classroom, 401 Main
Ten years ago, in celebration of Carnegie’s 100th anniversary, the neighbourhood was invigorated by the two-week presentation of In the Heart of a City: The Downtown Eastside Community Play at the Japanese Hall. Over eighty performers from the community performed to eight sold out houses and standing ovations. The Heart of the City Festival is built on this legacy. Join cast and crew and other community participants for an opportunity to socialize, catch up, compare stories, and watch a short film on the play. With words from Michael Clague about his experiences as Director of the Carnegie Centre during the making of the Community Play. If you weren’t involved in the Community Play please feel welcome to attend as sharing is a big part of remembering. Refreshments provided. Everyone is welcome! Free

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Visual Arts
FEELS LIKE HOME Agnes Pedersen, Gena Thompson, Festival retrospective 
Opening reception: Wednesday October 30 4:30pm – 5:30pm 
Carnegie 3rd floor Gallery, 401 Main 
Exhibition October 30 to end of November
Three cases, three different collections. The Festival is proud to present the owl paintings of Agnes Pedersen who is 10 years old and was born in the Downtown Eastside (not in a hospital!). Agnes’ obsession with owls began while reading about owls hooo find belonging in a magical owl community. Agnes also acts, sculpts, enjoys nature photography and makes jewelry out of pop can tabs. The Festival is also pleased to present the photographs of Gena Thompson. Gena has developed her craft as a member of the Downtown Eastside community, which influences how she portrays her subjects. She points her camera at interesting colours and lines and hopes you see the life in all of her subjects, whether animate or inanimate. The third case features a visual retrospective on ten years of the Heart of the City Festival. Free

Cultural Sharing
Wednesday October 30, 1:30pm – 4pm 
Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell
There is an active Aboriginal culture program at Oppenheimer that includes drumming, carving, painting, beading, medicine healing and sharing of stories. The Park is pleased to present a showcase of many of the Aboriginal artists working, sharing and creating their work. Get a close look at some carvings, ask about the Memorial Totem Pole, muse on the Welcome Posts, and see the newly-built Aboriginal Medicine Wheel Garden. The Harmony of Nations Drum Group will perform during the afternoon. Come and see what Aboriginal artists are doing at Oppenheimer Park. Everyone welcome. Free

Presentation
Tuesday October 29, 8pm – 9:30pm
Chinese Cultural Centre Museum, 555 Columbia
City Opera Vancouver offers an informal presentation about the creation of the new opera Pauline (by Margaret Atwood and Tobin Stokes) scheduled to premiere May 2014. City Opera will provide an introduction to the life of Canadian poet and performer Pauline Johnson (1861-1913) and a taste of the music from the opera. The Festival is thrilled to welcome special guests including composer Tobin Stokes, director Norman Armour, singer Rose-Ellen Nichols, pianist David Boothroyd, and conductor and artistic director Charles Barber. Discussion welcome. Free

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