Culture Calling

Notes from the Local Arts Scene

As I write this column we are once again in the midst of a snowstorm. While beautiful, it is complicating my goals of ensuring that I get out more to enjoy our amazing regional arts and culture offerings. But spring is on the horizon! With warmer weather, sunnier skies and so many great events coming up, I can’t wait!

The literary arts are alive and well in London. Did you know the Department of English at Western University has one of the longest running Writer-in-Residence programs in Canada, operating since 1972? Celebrated authors have included André Alexis, Margaret Avison, Bill Bissett, Bonnie Burnard, Austin Clarke, Ivan Coyote, Emma Donoghue, Margaret Laurence, Drew Hayden Taylor, Jane Urquhart, and many more.

This year’s Writer-in-Residence is Anna Chatterton, a writer and theatre artist. Chatterton has been a finalist for Governor General’s Awards, nominated for five Dora Mavor Moore Awards, winning the 2018 Outstanding Production for an Opera. As the Writer-in-Residence, part of the gig is to have office hours open to both Western students and the London public to discuss your creative writing projects. With her background and breadth, emerging authors and playwrights may want to take advantage of her expertise to discuss new work. Just a thought.

Another aspect of the Writer-in-Residence program is the Student Writer-in-Residence. This innovative program — unique in North America — was developed in 2013 by Western University Students’ Council and the Department of English and Writing Studies. The mandate of the program is to provide support for an accomplished undergraduate writer while allowing other students to benefit from the writer’s creativity, expertise and organizational skills. This year’s Student is Jaya Sinha, who writes both prose and plays and has scheduled office hours.

I encourage any writers, no matter their development level, to access either of these amazing resources — it doesn’t cost anything to have a consultation with them and they are eager to help you develop your own craft.
• uwo.ca/english/people/writer-in-res.html
• uwo.ca/english/people/student-in-res.html

London has other literary options for writers, aspiring or established. Writing tends to be an isolating process and discovering community can be helpful. The London Writers Society, a non-profit founded in 2007, aims to provide community, information and exposure for new and experienced writers in our region. It is a membership-based organization, but your first meeting is free to see if this is for you. They meet on the 4th Tuesday of each month and have a variety of workshops and speakers aimed at all writers.
• londonwriterssociety.ca

The Forest City Open Mic for Poetry is a fantastic experience for poets and listeners alike. This event is scheduled to re-start in March and is held at Mykonos Restaurant on the second Tuesday of each month. If you haven’t attended a slam before, this is a great one to try out. They are fun, casual, and you just may be inspired to test your own skills.
• forestcityopenmicpoetry.weebly.com

Antler River Poetry (formerly Poetry London) holds regular readings and events at Landon Library in Old South. Antler River Poetry partners with other regional organizations to provide national poets touring opportunities. They host monthly readings featuring a dynamic mix of voices from local writers to established Canadian poets. Their workshops, open to everyone, are held before each featured reading and provide a wide range of poetry-related opportunities for local writers and poets. Well worth checking out.
• antlerriverpoetry.ca

Self-publishing is now a normal part of the writing process. Local artist Ben Benedict is releasing Variations in Landscape: The Catalogue. “I was inspired by a trip to Iceland where every artist has a catalogue. Senior artists have books published on them,” says Benedict. This catalogue “traces landscape production in SW Ontario from Homer Watson through the Group of Seven to the London Regionalist to myself. I identify key tools and techniques I have ‘borrowed’ from the regionalist including a contemporary view of the state of our industry.” Ben is a visual artist, community advocate and strong promoter of London.

Who knows, Variations in Landscape: The Catalogue might just inspire conversations about the state of visual arts in London.
• benbenedict.ca

One way to gain an appreciation for London’s rich and dynamic visual art culture is through the London Artists’ Studio Tour, running from Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26. The Studio Tour is an annual event featuring professional and emerging artists and 2026 marks its 33rd year. The Tour started in 1994 with 10 participating artists, and this year features 30 artists working in a wide range of media, styles and subject matter.

Committee Member Lisa Stead says, “The free, self-guided tour is a three-day event that combines the unique opportunity to explore the studios that artists create in, witness the processes behind their work and engage directly with local creators from across the city. With pride, it brings our community together to celebrate the creativity, culture and the artists that help to shape our city’s identity.”

Paint Ontario 2025 Honourable Mention Award winner “Forest Sunshine” by John Lightfoot

London Artists’ Studio Tour oil painter and ceramicist Carol Finkbeiner Thomas

The Studio Tour is a juried event and offers an unparalleled opportunity to “peek behind the curtain” into the creative environment and process of local artists. Last year there were approximately 8,000 to 12,000 visits across 29 studios and organizers are expecting this year to be just as busy. Maps to all the studios and hours will be available at various locations throughout the City. Make sure to pick one up and plan your route.
• londonstudiotour.ca

The Grand Bend Art Centre’s annual show and main fundraiser, Paint Ontario, runs May 2–17. Held in the Bend’s Legion Hall, this curated event allows artists to network and share creativity, and the public can view over 200 works of art.
• paintontario.com

Theatre isn’t always merely a “sit in your seat and be quiet” event. If you are looking for more of an experience in your theatre-going, then Evil Dead: The Musical is the show for you. From March 19–22 at Wolf Performance Hall, Mavis Productions is once again presenting this show that takes cult classic films and turns them into a musical. This is a funny (and bloody) spoof on the horror genre that has really bad jokes, punny songs and even a “Splatterzone.” If that is not your thing, you can find a seat that is well outside of the zone and still enjoy the show.
• mavisproductions.ca

Locally written and produced theatre is not as abundant as it was before Covid. But there are signs of a renewal. Local playwright Jason Rip has rewritten his 2012 play, Luce. This production is part of AlvegoRoot Theatre’s 2026 season and is directed by Adam Corrigan Holowitz. According to Holowitz, “this is a circus tale of a sad clown, an aging tightrope walker, a melancholic ringmaster and a runty giraffe. When I saw the original production I fell in love with this play. It is a perfect example of what Jason does very well: create flawed and gritty characters with heart and humour.”

Luce runs April 15–19 at Manor Park Memorial Hall.
• alvegoRoottheatre.com

Arty-Facts

London Symphonia is presenting An Enchanting Afternoon: Peter and the Wolf on Sunday, March 8 at Metropolitan United Church. This is a fantastic way to introduce younger audiences to an orchestra. The London Children’s Museum will have pre-concert activities and after the concert there will be an Instrument Petting Zoo that will allow for up-close interaction with various instruments. They have family-friendly pricing for this show and it will definitely delight audiences of all ages.
• londonsymphonia.ca

One of Canada’s finest (and a London favourite) singer-songwriters is back at the Wolf Performance Hall on April 24. Royal Wood & Fortunate Ones are bringing their Have a Heart Tour to London. Tickets will sell fast so don’t delay.
• lpl.ca/events/royal-wood-x-fortunate-ones-have-heart-tour

London’s Great Lakes Blues Society is a little gem of an organization that not everyone has discovered. At the time of printing they did not have their April act confirmed but put Saturday, April 11 at the German Canadian Club on your calendar. Their shows are always guaranteed to chase the blues away! I’ll write more once they have announced their full season.
• glbs.ca

And a fingers‑crossed shout out to Lifestyle’s own Bryan Lavery.

Bryan is nominated as a finalist for the Ontario’s Southwest Luminary of the Year Award. The winner and award will be presented at their tourism conference in London on March 3.

Go Bryan! Of course, we all know you are a winner no matter the outcome!
• swotc.ca