One of my favourite choral ensembles is back for the new year. Yes, I'm talking about the group I recently named my Rising Stars of 2014: VanDeca.
The New West-based choir is offering up a concert next Friday, Jan. 23 in Vancouver.
The Songs from the Silver Screen concert features songs from a wide range of popular films, including Titanic, Dirty Dancing and more.
Tickets are $20 at the door, or $15 if you buy them ahead.
"This beautiful and epic music needs a great venue, so we have chosen Pyatt Hall at the VSO School of Music," the choir writes on Facebook.
The school is at 843 Seymour St. in downtown Vancouver.
Find the choir at www.facebook.com/VanDecaMusic or on Twitter, @VanDecaChoir, for all the details.
*
Did you make a New Year's resolution of an arty sort? Perhaps you've vowed to take up painting or learn a musical instrument.
If so, then you have no excuse for not following through, because the City of New Westminster has a host of new programs starting up that cater to just about every interest.
Having picked up both the city's winter Active Living Guide and the new brochure for Anvil Centre, I can safely say that whatever your interest is, there's a program for you. The city is offering up a host of arts programs for adults, from watercolours, drawing and painting to printmaking, batik, pottery and memoir writing.
Many of those programs are offered at the new Anvil Centre (which unto itself is enough of an incentive to sign up, just for the chance to spend time in that spiffy new facility!). Most are getting started pretty soon, so don't delay if you think you may want to sign up for a course.
There are also a number of drop-in "cafés" at the Anvil Centre for those who don't want to sign up for an ongoing course. There's a Saturday Studio Series running from January to March, with a drop-in for visual artists in Studio 413 from noon to 3 p.m. Or you can drop in to the Cultural Café, a networking place for artists and cultural workers, with talks and panel discussions - that runs Saturdays from 3 to 5 p.m., also in Studio 413. And there's also the Media Art Café series, which is designed to encourage conversation around new media and creativity. Those will run in the Anvil Centre Program Room 311 - call 604-527-4640 or watch www.anvilcentre.com for dates.
The Anvil Centre also offers guitar, bass, violin and piano lessons for all ages. You can pick up a copy of the city's Active Living Guide or the Anvil Centre brochure at city facilities. Or you can download the Active Living Guide at www.newwestpcr.ca or the Anvil Centre brochure at www.anvilcentre.com.
*
If you're a fan of public art (as I am), then here's some good news: the City of New Westminster has put out a call for new public art proposals.
The city is calling for proposals for a public art installation on the median along Columbia Street's east end, acting as a visual gateway marker into the downtown.
"The call seeks work that is positive, celebrates downtown New Westminster and is reflective of the heritage, growth and development of the city," the city's call for proposals reads.
The total budget available is $75,000. Artists must provide a proposal, CV and up to 10 digital images of previous public art projects.
For all the details, you can check out the call for proposals on the city's website.
*
Here's one for you basement songwriters.
If you're looking for a place to share your original work, then look no farther.
Enrico Renz and Lawren Nemeth are back with their Songwriters Open Mike Night on Sundays at 7 p.m. at Renaissance Bookstore. The Royal City Literary Arts Society event is open to all songwriters who want to share their own work, with a goal to encourage new and emerging artists. Check them out on Facebook - search for RCLAS New Westminster Songwriter Open Mic - to see the weekly word challenge and get all the details.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected].
