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May 5, 2025  marks the 15th anniversary  of the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ Peoples (MMIWG2S+). This day, also known as Red Dress Day , can be traced back to a powerful installation art project  by Canadian Métis artist Jaime Black . The installation was “an aesthetic response to a critical national issue.” Black described her hopes for the installation which first took place in 2010, “ Through the installation I hope to draw attention to the gendered and racialized nature of violent crimes against Aboriginal women and to evoke a presence through the marking of absence .”   In an effort to carry on Black’s message, amplify Indigenous voices, and bring awareness to our local community, the London Arts Council  in partnership with the City of London Culture Services  have installed red skirts  created by Indigenous artist and educator, Kathleen Doxtator  from  Oneida Nation of the Thames , in the windows of the J. Allyn Taylor building (267 Dundas St).                       Click through the installation photos by using the arrows on the right and left. The red skirts are displayed to acknowledge the many missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples across Turtle Island , and the ongoing calls for support . There are great resources provided by other organizations. To learn more about MMIWG2S+ and participate in local events in commemoration of the day, please check out the following websites below:  Jaime Black; The REDress Project:   https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/ Amnesty International:   https://amnesty.ca/red-dress-day/    Atlohsa:  https://atlohsa.com/pages/event-calendar#calendar-4ef8aad2-6fa3-4d70-aa25-30be926391df   Kathleen Doxtator’s work as an artist, educator and community advocate centres Indigenous resilience, culture, and storytelling. She creates handmade ribbon skirts, beadwork, buttons, and wearable art that honour ancestral traditions while uplifting contemporary Indigenous voices, through her business Guided by Our Gifts . " I created these skirts to be simple, yet powerful – because that’s what Red Dress Day means to me. On May 5th, we show up in red to honour and stand with Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse people who are disproportionately affected by violence. These skirts are my way of showing up—with love, resistance, and remembrance stitched into every seam."

The 2025 LBMX Musicians Mentorship Program  is an initiative designed to support emerging London-based Bands through paid performances, resume-building opportunities, and tailored music industry mentorship. Now in its third year, the program continues to spotlight local talent and support their development with real-world experiences and professional guidance. Participating Bands will receive: Paid live performances   to build meaningful professional experience and public visibility through diverse live music performance opportunities. Resume-building exposure  through a high-profile performance at ExtravaBandza 2025 , supporting Canadian rising star/headliner, Renforshort. Known for her immersive performances, Renforshort has headlined international tours and supported major artists like Yungblud  and Lauv . She’s played sold-out shows in global cities and performed at top festivals including Lollapalooza , Festival d’Été , and Riot Fest , sharing stages with stars like Miley Cyrus  and  Post Malone . Pre-show performance training , panel discussions , and a targeted professional development workshop . Paid Live Performances & Resume-Building Exposure: Saturday, May 31st – London Music Week Kickoff Performance Each Band will perform as part of the opening celebrations for London Music Week , one of the city’s premier music events. Between June and August – Performance at Dundas Place Vendors Market Each Band will perform once at Dunda Place Vendors Market , gaining exposure to new audiences in a public setting. This opportunity will help each Band develop and refine audience retention and engagement skills/strategies. Saturday, September 6th – ExtravaBandza 2025 The grand finale of the program, where all LBMX Musicians Mentorship Program Bands will perform at ExtravaBandza , as supporting acts for the headliner, Renforshort . Hosted in collaboration with Fanshawe College Orientation Week , this event offers major exposure in a high traffic festival-style environment. All performances will include full technical support: staging, sound technician(s), and audio equipment will be provided.     Professional Development Opportunities: Saturday, May 24th – Pre-Performance Training A mandatory training session for all Band members , focused on preparing for live shows, tightening performance quality, and building strong stage presence. Between June and August – Panel Discussions A curated series of industry panels featuring artists, music professionals, and community organizers, covering essential topics such as: Grants & Funding  – Navigating financial support for your music Booking & Touring  – Getting shows and planning your route Marketing & Promotion  – Building your audience and brand Music Law & Business  – Copyright, royalties, and agreements Financial Literacy  – Managing taxes and finances Collaboration & Community  – Working with organizations and building relationships Minimum one Band member is required   to attend. Late September – Beyond the Show: Your Next Step – Strategy Workshop   This focused session will explore how to maximize momentum after a show — from content creation and networking to securing future bookings and press. Minimum one Band member is required   to attend.     Timeline (May – December 2025) LBMX Musicians Mentorship Program 2025 Timeline and Requirements Description Timeline Attendance Requirement LBMX Musicians Mentorship Program Online Application Process Commences April 2025 N/A Assessment and Selection Process May 2025 N/A Pre- Performance Training May 24th, 2025 All Band members required Kickoff Performance – London Music Week May 31st, 2025 All Band members required General Music Industry – Panel Discussion June – August 2025 Minimum one Band member required Dundas Place Vendors Market – Performance June – August 2025 All Band members required ExtravaBandza 2025 - Performance September 6th, 2025 All Band members required Beyond the Show: Your Next Step – Workshop Late September, 2025 Minimum one Band member required   Payment (per Band) Description  Amount London Music Week Kickoff Performance    $1,000.00 Dundas Place Vendors Market Performance $1,000.00 ExtravaBandza Performance $1,000.00 Total $3,000.00 Program Eligibility For the LBMX Musicians Mentorship Program opportunity, a Band must meet the following eligibility criteria: All Band members must be 18 years of age or older. Band must have a minimum of 3  members. At least 2/3 of Band members must reside in London, Ontario or the surrounding First Nations communities—including the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, the Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Munsee-Delaware Nation. Note: The Band’s main contact or lead applicant must be a resident of London or surrounding First Nations. The Band’s core/main activity must be based in London, Ontario, and the Band must be connected to London’s music community. A minimum of two years of professional experience as a Band, with a history of receiving compensation for work and opportunities within the music industry. Band must be considered emerging. LAC defines an emerging Band as a group of developing artists actively building their presence in the music industry through performances, recordings, and audience engagement. These Bands are starting to gain traction, building a following, establishing their musical identity and reputation, and demonstrating strong artistic potential. Must be committed for all dates included in the Timeline & Requirements . Selection Criteria   1.       Artistic Merit – 40% 2.       Program Alignment – 30% 3.       Passion and Commitment – 30%   Application Information You MUST read the full application information for this opportunity prior to filling out the online application.

The Gallery In response to demand from local artists for exhibition space and to promote and celebrate our talented local artists, the London Arts Council and the City of London Culture Services have collaborated with RBC Place London to pilot The Gallery program at RBC Place London as part of our London Arts Live (LAL) program offerings. The purpose of The Gallery is to promote the work of artists and creators residing in London and surrounding First Nations to display original artworks for exhibition, with sales opportunities, on highly prominent and specially designated wall space within this municipally owned building. For the sixth exhibition, The Gallery featured artworks created by Ani Sarian , a local visual artist. Born in Damascus, Syria, Ani Sarian is of Armenian descent. From an early age, she found solace in painting, using art to express her inner thoughts and emotions. For Sarian, art serves as a refuge—a safe space where she can process and understand the world around her. Sarian studied at the Djemaran Academy in Aleppo from 1978-1980 and the Sarian Academy in 1981. In 2012, as the war in Syria escalated, Sarian and her family relocated to Canada (2016), seeking safety and stability. In this peaceful environment, Sarian has once again immersed herself in her creative practice. An Interview with Ani Sarian Traces of Time by Ani Sarian (May - September 2025) Q : Tell us the story behind the work that makes up the Traces of Time exhibition. How did it start? What was it inspired by? A:   Traces of Time  began as a deeply personal exploration into memory and the quiet ways time leaves its mark on both the body and environment. It was inspired by moments that slip through the cracks of everyday life — textures fading on walls, shadows shifting across a room, and emotional echoes of places once familiar. I wanted to capture the poetry in those traces and how they whisper. Q:  What inspires you as an artist? A:  I’m constantly inspired by the in-between — those liminal spaces where emotion meets form, memory meets material. Nature, decay, urban solitude, and the emotional resonance of overlooked details feed my imagination. I’m also deeply moved by human vulnerability in our attempts to hold on, to remember, to make meaning. Q: Walk us through the creative process behind this work. How do you go about creating these fascinating images which sit on the cusp between representation and abstraction? A:  My process often begins intuitively — with a gesture, a mark, a texture that feels right. I work in layers, allowing the piece to evolve rather than planning it rigidly. I let accidents happen and then respond. It’s a dialogue between control and surrender. I aim to evoke rather than describe — so what emerges might resemble something familiar, but it resists full recognition. That ambiguity is intentional — it invites personal interpretation. Q: Why does creativity matter to you? A:  Creativity is how I process the world. It’s a form of witnessing, of translating what can’t be said out loud. It creates connection—between inner and outer worlds, between people. In a society that often demands certainty and speed, creativity allows for pause, reflection, and vulnerability. It’s essential, not optional. Q: What is it like being a creative here in London? Are there gaps that currently exist when it comes to supporting the Arts? What kind of support is needed? A:  London is rich with artistic energy, but it can also be isolating and inaccessible—especially for emerging or underrepresented artists. There’s a need for more grassroots platforms, affordable studio spaces, and sustained mentorship, not just exposure. We need investment in not just finished products but the messy, unseen process of creation. Q: What do you envision now for your future in the Arts here in London? A:  I see myself building more community — collaborating across disciplines, mentoring younger artists, and creating immersive experiences that bring people into deeper engagement with art. I want to keep pushing the boundaries of my medium while staying grounded in honesty and emotional resonance. Q: What made you most excited about putting yourself out there to work with the London Arts Council and RBC Place London for this exhibition? A:  The invitation to share vulnerable, process-driven work in a public space felt both bold and affirming. Collaborating with the London Arts Council and RBC Place meant being part of a conversation — about what art can be, and who it’s for. I felt seen not just as an artist, but as a storyteller. Q: We hope to see lots more of your artwork around the city. Where else can we find your artwork? A:  You can find more of my work online on my Instagram page @ani_sarian . View the Traces of Time Exhibition at RBC Place London on the following dates: May 13 | 11:00am - 9:30pm May 15 | 11:00am - 9:00pm May 16 | 12:00pm - 8:00pm May 17 | 9:00am - 9:00pm May 21 - 25 | 9:00am - 6:00pm May 26 | 1:00 pm - 9:00pm May 28 | 10:00am - 8:00pm May 29 | 11:00am - 8:00pm June 2 - 6 | 8:00am - 5:00pm June 7 | 8:00am - 11:00am June 11 | 12:00pm - 4:00pm June 12 | 8:00am - 5:00pm June 16 | 9:30am - 2:30pm June 18 | 9:00am - 5:00pm June 19 | 9:00am - 4:00pm June 23 - 30 | 8:00am - 4:00pm July 3 | 11:00am - 2:00pm July 10 | 11:00am - 2:00pm August 14 | 11:00am - 2:00pm               August 21 | 11:00am - 2:00pm               August 23 | 4:00pm - 9:00pm August 28 | 11:00am - 2:00pm August 29 | 7:00am - 10:00am – more dates to be included – ** enter via the main doors on York St.** The objectives of the Gallery program are: to create a beautiful, unique, and cultured atmosphere; provide compelling experiences for local, national, and international visitors; educate the public by presenting a series of diverse artworks created by local professional artists; and provide professional opportunities for local artists, including increased promotion, sales, and career enhancement. For more information about this project or inquiries regarding purchasing artworks, please contact the London Arts Council at info@londonarts.ca