On behalf of H’art Centre, I would like to thank everyone who took part in All Around the World in One Night on February 28, 2015. We held this special event to celebrate the completion of our successful work with Immigrant Services Kingston and Area (ISKA) on the joint arts program, The Box of Cultures. But judging by the fun and festive turn out, the event didn’t mark the end of a program but the beginning of a beautiful relationship.
First, I would like to applaud Ruth Noordegraaf and her ISKA team for their months of work on the Box of Cultures program and their support on the 28th. Thanks to their partnership, we were able to give newcomers and foreign residents the opportunity to practise their cultural activities in an affordable, available and accessible space in downtown Kingston.
Next, I want to recognize guest speaker Felix Akol, President of the Kingston African Caribbean Collective; MPP Sophie Kiwala, the Kingston Drumming Circle; the samba band Oi Sambistas!; Mr. LoveClub; The Box of Cultures participants, the guest artists, and artist-instructors including Rose Hogan, Oksana Yang, Chaka Chikodzi, Kala Seraphin and Yessi Belsham for making the event so special.
At every successful event, there are many people working unnoticed behind the scenes. So, I want to thank our volunteers, booth operators, Queen’s research team, local media, the H’art family, and the local restaurants who made donations of cultural food samples including: Panera Bread, Limestone Kabob House, Pasta Genova, Golden Thai and Bay Jam.
This experience with ISKA brought a wonderful, warm, positive energy into THE BOX space. As the first of our three arts outreach projects supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation this year, it marks a great start to increasing access for all to the arts in Kingston.
We wish ISKA the best of luck in their continuation of The Box of Cultures program and we look forward to supporting in any way we can.
The Box Manager