June Updates
- London Arts Council
- Jun 23
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 14
Engaging, honouring, celebrating, learning. June holds much cultural significance as we recognize Indigenous History Month, Indigenous Solidarity Day (June 21), Canadian Multiculturalism Day (June 27), Pride Month, and Seniors Month.
We look forward to connecting with you and celebrating cultural vibrancy through our upcoming events including a Songlines Mural Unveiling of two local artists' works this Thursday, June 26.
Thank you to our operational partners for your ongoing support. Your critical funding and partnership provide crucial support for LAC in maintaining and growing capacity for ongoing development, implementation, and delivery of professional artistic programs and services for our community and the local arts sector.
We extend our gratitude to our strategic programming partners whose generosity helps us support the local arts community and artists with meaningful programs and opportunities.
PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
Traces of Time Exhibition of Paintings by Artist Ani Sarian at RBC Place Gallery. Exhibition continues through June and ends in September this year.
The London Arts Council in partnership with the City of London, London Music Office, and the Rotary Club of London invite you to a Songlines Mural Unveiling by local artists at South London Community Centre!
Join us this Thursday, June 26 at 12:30pm for the unveiling of two murals at South London Community Centre – Colourful Communities by Aruba Mahmud and Joy by Maisa Mreiwed.Colourful Communities takes inspiration from coral reefs around the world and through this piece, Mahmud hopes to remind viewers of the beauty and the need to take care of the natural world. Joy evokes the power of community and the beauty of nature through a variety of symbolic depictions. Mreiwed, through this piece, reflects the Centre's integral role in bringing community together.
While Colourful Communities is installed at the South London Community Pool and Joy is installed at the South London Community Centre, both projects will be unveiled at the South London Community Centre. We look forward to sharing more details at the unveiling!
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Time: 12:30pm start (doors at 12pm), followed by a reception
Location: South London Community Centre (1119 Jalna Blvd, London On)
PROGRAMS AND LEARNING
June sees the continuation of Growing Together Through the Arts Workshops being delivered in the city. These senior-focused workshops include Watercolour Art, Collage, Music, Pottery, Landscape Painting and Theatre. These workshops are made possible through the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility; Seniors Community Grant.
Relevant dates:
June 25, 12:45-2:15 | The Joy of Music – Stronach
Belong (Expansion) – Inclusive Arts Experiences for Indigenous Communities through TVDSB
Belong Expansion Youth Art workshops with an Indigenous focus were delivered in May and June at Beal, Saunders and Huron Park High Schools in partnership with TVDSB. These sessions concluded on June 5.
Belong (Expansion) – Inclusive Arts Experiences Youth and Children Summer Workshops
Belong Expansion Youth Art workshops will be delivered this summer (July-August) at Arva Eco Park. Twelve workshops will be delivered in total between the July 8 and August 14. These workshops will be twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30pm - 2:30pm and cater to ages 4-14.
INDIGENOUS LONDON ARTS
On June 21 we shared a message with our community on social media (Facebook; Instagram; LinkedIn) in commemoration of Indigenous Solidarity Day, also known as National Indigenous Peoples Day.
As part of this post, we highlighted Quashtaadying "Coming Together," a piece by Garrett Nahdee. Nahdee is an incredibly talented self-taught artist from Walpole Island First Nation. Quashtaadying depicts a rare occasion, the eclipse, which in Indigenous beliefs signifies the Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon reuniting.
"My work depicts a grandmother in the 7 grandfather teachings, which emphasizes the important role of grandmothers, often overlooked, although they carry and provide the 7 teachings for the community. […] I included the eagle at the top as the eagle represents love. Then we have Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon reuniting in the eclipse. Then we have the beaver for wisdom, the raven for honesty, the wolf for humility, the bear for courage, the bison for respect, and all of which are resting on the shell of the turtle. The Indigenous community calls North America Turtle Island. The turtle represents the truth, symbolizing that we live in alignment with our values. We must teach, defend, and abide by the truth.”
With June being Indigenous History Month, this is a time for Canadians to recognize the diverse cultures across First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, the history of the land stewarded and honoured by Indigenous communities, and the significance of Indigenous knowledge, including the preservation of language and traditions.
Consider engaging with the following resources:
To learn more about the ongoing opportunities, projects, and stories shared by Indigenous artists through Indigenous London Arts and the London Arts Council, visit the link below.
ARTS ACTIVATIONS
For June, we have live music at Covent Garden Market every Saturday from 8:30am - 1:00pm and Lunchtime Music at Market Lane every Friday from 11:00am - 1:30pm. We’re also supporting Hamilton Road BIA’s Carnival at St. Julien Park and East Park’s Canada Day Poutine Party, supported by The Paul Seed Fund.
This year's LBMX Musician Mentorship Program is well underway, with Bella Rosa, Saveria, Pot Is Drugs, and Tyrone Traher and the Rottweilers selected as 2025 participants. May was an incredible month for the program, kicking off with our first-ever pre-performance training session on May 24 at the Digital Creative Arts Centre. The session featured a mentor panel with Mai Tilson, Cynthia Nakeyar, and past program participant, Jeremy Fox Revett (pictured l-r).
The bands received high praise for their rapid improvement, and they put their new skills to the test the following week at the FCLMA Kick-Off Block Party on Dundas Place.
Next up for these artists is the program's educational component, featuring workshops and a panel discussion!
FUND DEVELOPMENT
On June 19th, The Paul Seed Fund, held at London Community Foundation, announced grants totalling more than $235,000 to boost live music performances in London by creating connections and opportunities for musicians, venues, and audiences. The grants will support live music activities coordinated through the London Arts Council and the London Music Office over the next year.
“This is wonderful news for London’s music/arts community, especially in economically, socially, and politically turbulent times like now. I am positive that this strategic investment and multi-sectoral partnership will become a significant milestone that puts us on a promising path to fully realize London’s great potential as a vibrant arts and culture hub,”
“Consistent and resumé-enhancing opportunities are fundamental in creating conditions where artists and the sector can continue to grow and thrive. I am thrilled that through these exciting initiatives, supported by the Paul Seed Fund through the London Community Foundation, the London Arts Council will be able to showcase London's talented artists in a highly visible manner to Londoners and visitors while supporting diverse events and ongoing work of community organizations through curated and enriched artistic/cultural experiences.”
- Eunju Yi, Executive Director, London Arts Council
Board Retirement Announcement:
Thank you Allyson Vanstone!
“Allyson Vanstone is stepping off from the LAC Board of Directors after having served three two-year terms since 2019-2020. She served as Chair of the Board for most of those years and I’m very grateful that she served as past chair this year as well.
Allyson has led our board through many different adventures, in her time as Board Chair -- through and after COVID and the hiring of our current Executive Director, Eunju Yi. She has seen our board at its slimmest and has been instrumental in growing it to now a fuller and diverse board.
She led with great leadership, grace, wisdom, thoughtfulness, and a tremendous passion for the arts -- all with that signature warmth and joy she exuded. We will miss her greatly and we are hopeful that the positive impact Allyson has made will continue to have lasting effects in our work.”
- Janet LooChair, LAC Board of Directors
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