Early Projects
Since its inception, the St. Norbert Arts Centre has had an active role as a community creator, presenter, facilitator, publisher, public space, and historic site; expressing its core values of diversity, equality and harmony. The Centre does not distinguish between professional and community cultural activities but rather provides an opportunity to expanded dialogue between the arts and other realms of social expression. Past events and projects have seen collaboration in diverse fields such as education, academics, activist practices, health care and spirituality. SNAC's continuing vision of organic, process-driven collaborations between all players is an important community-building endeavour.
Many of our early projects were produced as part of our "Living Earth Culture Village", the St. Norbert Arts Centre’s residency program welcoming people from all walks of life to participate in a community cultural experience focused on environmental activism.
Butterfly Garden
Mike MacDonald | 1996
Senior Video/Installation Artist Mike MacDonald created his first Butterfly Garden on the grounds at SNAC in 1996. This Artists' Website documents the flowers and butterflies here. Winner of An Aboriginal Achievement Award in 2000.
Solar Greenhouse
Jen Bamford |
Though this project was designed and built in the early SNAC era, it stands today and is a thriving part of the current centre grounds. This greenhouse incorporates solar design principles as well as an aquaculture system and hydroponics gardens. It was designed by a number of community members with the help of Tang Lee Professor of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary.
The World Peace Pagoda
This Pagoda was constructed by the Dharma Centre of Winnipeg and the Buddhist community of Manitoba under the direction of the Venerable Syadaw U Thile Wunta of Burma. The opening ceremony of the Pagoda was held on Monday September 25th, 2000. The pagoda is located behind the St. Norbert Arts Centre overlooking the river and can still be visited today.
depARTures
St. Norbert Arts Centre | 1997
SNAC's six-year old arts programming for art-smart kids.
This programme was developed in partnership with Winnipeg School Division No. 1, with sixty students from five different inner city schools having participated in the inaugural session of the programme in Winter/Spring 1997. The programme garnered very favourable reviews in the community, most notably from the Canadian Society for Education Through Art, which nominated the depARTures programme for the Fitzhenry & Whiteside Award for Excellence in Art Education
Monstrance
Diana Thorneycroft | 1999
Monstrance is a provocative two-part installation exploring society's devotion to the dead by Winnipeg artist Diana Thorneycroft. Well-known for her compelling, theatrical photographs revealing the darker side of the human psyche, this installation is a new direction for Thorneycroft and forms part of a larger photographic project.
Photo: Winnipeg Free Press
Ten Little Indians
Various Artists | 2001
This show brings together senior, emerging and junior First Nations artists in an open studio-gallery format. Junior artists may benefit from interaction with senior and the public may interact with artists working in a setting open to all. Working in diverse media, from stacks of stones to data bases, these contemporary artists will address stereotypes and past, present and future aboriginal issues from the vantage of 2001, the dawn of the new millennium.
The Spirit Garden
Christine Unger | 2001
The St. Norbert proudly presents the wonderful production The Spirit Garden by R. Murray Schafer. This piece of extraordinary musical theatre has a little of everything and the St. Norbert Arts Centre with its beautiful gardens and spectacular ruins is an ideal setting for this all outdoor presentation. The centrepiece of the work is a functional garden designed by the composer together with Landscape Architect, Ted MacLachlan, and First Nations artist Mike MacDonald to reflect the cultural and ecological diversity arising from the many different groups of people who settled in this area. The project is designed to become an annual, community driven event, reawakening people’s connection to the deeply embedded rhythms of planting and harvest and its cross-cultural mythic significance. This production encompasses many disciplines: dance, orchestra, choir, opera, acting, audience participation and environmental activism.
R. R. Métis Jamboree
Red River Cart Committee | 2002
The Red River Cart Committee created a number of Red River Carts in 2002 for use at the Indigenous Games.
A Day in the Life of a Trappist Monk
St. Norbert Arts Centre | 2008
The monks of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Prairies have welcomed artists from the St. Norbert Arts Centre into their archival history. Here we have found a story of peace, a community of love and devotion, an ancient way of life guided by the principles of simplicity, self-sufficiency and prayer. Join us as we discover a spiritual journey through the humble daily life of a 21st Century monk.
