Manitoba Winter Explorer Guide: 10 spots for enjoying arts & culture
Posted
November 30, 2022
| Author Jillian Recksiedler
Manitoba is Canada’s cultural cradle with world-class museums, stellar performing arts groups and a tight-knit creative community - be it musicians, chefs or filmmakers - that call it home. During winter, plan a visit to one of these cultural cornerstones.
Qaumajuq
Winnipeg Art Gallery
Winnipeg Art Gallery's new addition, Qaumajuq (pronounced kow-ma-yourk), houses more than 14,000 pieces of contemporary Inuit art in a showcase visible vault that reaches three storeys high. The first of its kind in the world, Qaumajuq combines art and technology to create direct connections to the land, people, and culture of Canada’s North.
Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba
Brandon
This cultural hub along Rosser Avenue is found on the second level of Brandon’s town centre. Free and open to the public, it is worth a visit to AGSM to view the contemporary art exhibits in the main exhibition space, which regularly features works of regional and national artists, including student work from Brandon University. Be sure to browse the cute gift shop, too, for some locally made finds.
Northern Manitoba’s Trappers’ Festival
The Pas/OCN
This venerable cultural festival of Northern Manitoba celebrates 75 years in 2022. The King Trapper Contest is a signature event, where hardy Northerners vy against one another in uniquely Canadian sports such as tree felling, canoe packing, moose calling and trap setting.
Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre
Winnipeg
The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre is a mainstay in Winnipeg's art scene and has an incredible lineup this winter, with main stage shows like Into the Woods, Trouble in Mind and the Secret to Good Tea on the roster.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights
Winnipeg
It stands alone as the only museum in the world dedicated to the topic of global human rights issues. Through eye-catching design and poignant, interactive content in ten permanent galleries and two temporary galleries, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is a reminder of the darkness of days past and a beacon of hope towards a brighter and more just future.
New Icelandic Heritage Museum
Gimli
This signature museum shares the struggles and triumphs of the first Icelanders in the region in 1875. Included are stories about the first Ukrainians in the area as well as the important role of the Indigenous figures, such as John Ramsay, in the survival of these settlers. Save time for a kids' photo op to dress up in Viking garb.
The Manitoba Museum
Winnipeg
In recent years, the Manitoba Museum has renovated a few of its core nine galleries, giving Manitobans a reason to return to this family favourite. The updated Prairies Gallery now shares more Indigenous stories with artifacts like a beautiful plains tipi and Red River cabin and cart. The renovated Nonsuch Gallery still showcases the life-size replica of the fur trade vessel that launched the Hudson’s Bay Company. In the new Winnipeg Gallery, learn about notable citizens and capital city pop culture.
Heritage North Museum
Thompson
This cozy log cabin museum is packed with an impressive collection of boreal forest critters and artifacts from the city's more recent mining history. It also honours traditions of the local First Nations with a signature diorama of a birch bark canoe and caribou hide tipi as the centrepiece of the room.
The Forks
Winnipeg
Where the Assiniboine meets the Red River has been a place of cultural exchange for over 6,000 years. Indigenous roots are celebrated in vibrant and modern public art and murals found throughout the site. Recreation like ice skating, snowshoeing and fat biking abound on the frozen river trail, a perennial winter tradition. Head indoors to warm up après skate in The Forks Market, a hub for top food and drink vendors, as well as a treasure trove for independent shops and local makers.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Winnipeg
Manitoba is very fortunate to be the home of many world-class performing art groups, but none more reputed than the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. RWB is Canada’s oldest ballet institution, so be sure to show some support for this cultural icon when the curtain rises this season for four performances, including holiday favourite The Nutcracker.
About The Author
Hi, I'm Jillian, a marketer, communicator, traveller and Manitoba flag waver. Growing up in rural Manitoba during the '80s means I have a penchant for daytrips, maps (the paper kind), and prairie sunsets. I never tire of sharing stories about my home.
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