Today, we want to take you outside to the Garden/Gathering Space.
The Garden/Gathering Space has been designed to support Indigenous cultural resurgence, storytelling frameworks and stories that guide and direct us from the land outward. A space to gather and offer opportunities for connection and sharing to strengthen our futures together as a community. Led by Ronnie Dean Harris, our Indigenous Cultural Developer, six artists and community members were engaged in the design and interpretation of the Garden/Gathering Space. Atheana Picha, Diamond Point, Raine Pierre, Hailee Stogan, Kaitlyn Cunningham and Ronnie Dean Harris — their familial and community-based connections to these lands, stories and languages have helped tremendously in conceptualizing this work.
“The garden space is representative of the flow of the river and of the notion that the Transformers wrote their stories onto the land through these transformations”, said Harris. “The frame of the structure is a nod to the ancient framework of Coast Salish plank houses. This area of New Westminster does not sit on the north/south grid of the rest of the Lower Mainland but rather follows the bend in the river. So, the front of the garden faces the river and mountains and includes many native plant species, in an effort for the land to recognize itself.” In addition to native plant species and greenery, the Garden/Gathering Space will include public art and Halkomelem language installations.
This project has been generously funded by Canadian Heritage, Heritage BC and Vancouver Foundation for a combined grant support of $808,000. But in order for the space to grow to its full potential, we are looking to community support, which will go towards enhanced public art, indigenous plant and language installations, interpretive panels and displays, and more.
If you have the means, please consider donating today and directing your funds to the Garden/Gathering Space as part of the Great Canadian Giving Challenge. Until June 30th, every $1 donated to the Massey Theatre Society through CanadaHelps gives us the chance to win $10,000. Additionally, every $10 donation that you make gets you an entry to win incredible adventure-themed prizes!
During this challenge (and always) we’re fundraising for community, as community is the heart of who we are. From our Community Kitchen to our Garden/Gathering Space. From Artist Access to Artistic Collaborations. From Audience Members to Performers and Crew. These funds will help us connect more with our community as we enter our 75th year.
