Latest news with #Laureate
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Elora hosts ‘Longest BBQ' in celebration of Food Day Canada
People in Elora on putting on a culinary show for what they call the 'Longest BBQ' event. CTV's Alexandra Pinto takes weather on the road. Elora prepared to welcome thousands of people on Tuesday as the community hosted a big celebration for Canadian food. Elora's Longest BBQ 2025 took over the heart of downtown as a kickoff for Food Day Canada. The day encourages people to shop, cook and dine Canadian. 'It's unbelievable. We started this event years ago and it was such a small little thing that mom started and its grown and grown and grown,' Jeff Stewart, executive director of Food Day Canada said. 'Tonight, we're going to expect somewhere between 8,000 to 10,000 people.' Anita Stewart launched Food Day Canada in 2003. She was known for saying, 'Canada is food and the world is richer for it.' She was a broadcaster, an accomplished author and Canada's first Food Laureate at The University of Guelph and was known for being a champion for Canadian farmers and chefs. Jeff said his mother would be proud to see how the event has flourished. 'I think she would say the same thing that we're saying right now: we want people to choose Canadian food first. There's an opportunity right now to support our local farmers, to support our local restaurants and really get behind this idea that choosing Canadian food first is something that builds our economy, helps the environment and its delicious!' Elora Longest BBQ A long table was set up for Elora's 'Longest BBQ' on July 29, 2025. (Alexandra Pinto/CTV News) In the spirit of the event, over 25 local restaurants and vendors joined in the festivities in Elora. A series of tables, adorned in red and white, stretched across a bridge from Carlton Place to East Mill. Participants were encouraged to grab a bite, sit down and share the joy of Canadian cuisine with a neighbour or a stranger.
San Francisco Chronicle
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
If San Francisco's drag laureate can't make a drag club work in the city, who can?
If Oasis and its proprietor D'Arcy Drollinger are drag mothers to San Francisco's LGBTQ nightlife, the children are in mourning. 'D'Arcy has helped put Bay Area drag on the map and supported countless artists in the process,' said Oaklash drag festival and nonprofit co-founder Mama Celeste, who performed early in her career at Oasis' Daughter night. Now, with the nightclub and cabaret's closure at the end of the year, that map is losing its lodestar. It's 'a huge loss for the queer and trans community,' Mama Celeste said. The news, announced Monday, July 21, underscores a stark reality in this post-pandemic era: even the most beloved and high-profile landmarks of queer nightlife are not immune to the pressures threatening the city's cultural fabric. Drollinger, as San Francisco's Drag Laureate and the creative force behind community traditions like 'The Golden Girls: The Christmas Episodes,' brought star power, ingenuity and an unwavering following to the club. For performers and audiences alike it's not just a loss — it's a warning. 'If a great room with great live entertainment, and a strong, supportive, deeply connected community can find itself forced to shut down, we're all in danger,' said Jim Sweeney, founder and host of the Hubba Hubba Revue at the neighboring DNA Lounge. Drollinger founded the award-winning nightclub and performance venue with fellow drag entertainer Heklina and business partners Jason Beebout and Geoffrey Benjamin in 2014 at a time when 'we were desperately in need of something like Oasis,' said drag performer Peaches Christ. 'There really isn't anything like it,' she went on. The loss is especially painful, she added, because it also marks the end of a venue co-founded by her close friend Heklina, who died in London in 2023. (Peaches Christ is hosting a benefit for Heklina's archives at the club on Monday night.) Michael Phillis, whose 'Baloney' burlesque review (with Rory Davis) and 'Patty from HR' character both found cult followings at the club, said that he and many performers 'cut our teeth here, honed our craft here, made a name for ourselves here, celebrated wins and losses and the everyday struggle of being gay, being fabulous, being alive.' 'Running a business is so demanding and requires constant effort and attention, and then throw a wig on top of it — D'Arcy used the club to unify our community with open arms,' said drag queen and community activist Juanita More. Throughout its decade in operation, Oasis built a reputation for attracting queer celebrity clientele and in the last few years has become a destination for 'RuPaul's Drag Race' stars. It's also been known for creating programming with an emphasis on racial, ethnic and diversity such as 'Reparations,' which focuses on Black performers. Breonna McCree, the co-executive director of the Transgender Cultural District, called it 'a vibrant cultural hub for queer and trans artistry.' Drollinger, who became sole owner in 2020, guided Oasis through the COVID-19 pandemic by launching Oasis TV, which streams past performances at the venue, and 'Meals on Heels,' a food delivery service featuring drag performances that drew national attention. 'I know D'Arcy and the entire team at Oasis worked so hard to hang on through the pandemic,' acknowledged District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey. 'I obviously root for the success of all our LGBTQ+ community institutions, but we were especially rooting for Oasis in the District 6 office.' Dorsey said he's already contacted Anne Taupier, director of San Francisco's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and plans to convene a meeting with all Oasis employees to ensure they're plugged into job placement and workforce services. Drollinger said the decision was painful but unavoidable. After two years of shrinking audiences and declining bar sales, the financial pressure became too great. Costs have continued to climb, especially for insurance and security following an armed robbery at the club in July 2024. He's holding on to the hope that a surge in support could carry Oasis to one last celebration on New Year's Eve, which would mark the venue's 11th anniversary. But even if Drollinger reaches that goal, the permanent closure of Oasis has broader implications. As Devlin Shand, founder of the community gallery Queer Arts Featured, noted on social media, it's 'a loss that will have reverberating consequences for our performance art scene.' Without the club, the South of Market's 11th Street corridor becomes 'less of a broader destination,' Sweeney said. The area has already suffered the loss of Slim's, its successor YOLO, Paradise Lounge and Studio Z. 'One of the best things about nightlife is that the more bars and venues in a neighborhood, the better we all do,' said the Stud Collective, the group behind neighboring South of Market queer bar the Stud, in a statement. Their own history is a testament to that resilience; after four years without a physical home, the Stud reopened in 2024 on Folsom Street. 'If there is one thing the Stud has learned in our 70 years is, it's not over till it's over,' the collective added. The Stud's revival serves as a reminder that queer spaces can bounce back— but only with sustained community support. 'We can't just talk about how much the arts matter, we have to be there. In the seats. At the shows,' said Shane Ray, founding artistic director of Ray of Light Theatre, which produces 'The Rocky Horror Show' at Oasis each fall. 'Showing up now, not just when something's at risk of disappearing.' To that end, drag performer and Stud Collective member Honey Mahogany issued a call to action: 'Oasis isn't closed yet! I hope to see many of you there over the next few months.'
Channel 4
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Channel 4
The poet laureate and the lost villages of Durham's coalfield
When mining communities in County Durham were put in Category D status back in the 1950s – it spelled an end to any future economic development, with a third of villages declared no longer viable. That D came to stand not just for decline, but also disappearance as local people were forced to leave their homes and some villages were demolished. But the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage and his band have been reviving their memories in song with a performance in County Durham.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Detroit Partnership for Arts Education Officially Launches to Elevate the Importance of Youth Arts
Detroit city, schools, healthcare, corporate, arts and community leaders unite to create first-ever cross-sector collaborative to promote youth arts access for all DETROIT, July 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Detroit Partnership for Arts Education (DPAE), catalyzed and coordinated by the collective impact initiative Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA), officially launched today. DPAE is a cross-sector collaborative supporting arts education access for all Detroit youth, emphasizing its benefit and application across a wide array of industry sectors. Supported by the Detroit Mayor's Office and the Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), DPAE brings together a powerful coalition of leaders in healthcare, youth services, philanthropy, workforce development, education, community development and the arts. Founding members include healthcare pioneers Robert Riney, CEO, Henry Ford Health and Dr. Herman Gray, former CEO of Detroit Medical Center and United Way for Southeastern Michigan; foundation stewards Angelique Power, President and CEO of the Skillman Foundation and Andrew Stein, President and CEO, The Children's Foundation; arts visionaries Jessica Care Moore, Detroit's Poet Laureate and Mike Banks, Detroit Techno pioneer, along with many others from Detroit's civic, corporate, and cultural communities. "Detroit is building an innovative model that demonstrates what can happen when healthcare, schools, and grassroots organizations join forces to support our young people in arts education," said Bob Riney, CEO of Henry Ford Health. "Arts education enriches individual lives, but it cannot thrive as an isolated silo. From community health, economic development, educational outcomes, and more, arts education impacts every facet of our community. So many industry sectors benefit when a child has access to the arts." Launch Highlights The public launch of DPAE marks the release of three major initiatives developed through this collaboration: The Detroit Youth Arts Navigator, A Vision for Arts Education in Detroit report, and the Detroit Arts and Education Data Project. Both the Vision and Data Project were funded by The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and The Kresge Foundation. Detroit Youth Arts Navigator Developed with Digital Detroit Media and Data Driven Detroit (D3), the Navigator centralizes Detroit's arts education offerings for the first time ever. The free and comprehensive online hub at helps families, students, and educators discover and access youth arts programs citywide. The searchable map-based platform allows users to explore programs by discipline, age, cost, accessibility and more. More than 45 community youth arts programs and data from over 100 schools are featured, including DPSCD and charter schools. "The arts are the best way we find our voice. We learn that our ideas are our currency, we practice critical thinking, and we learn to connect deeply with others and ourselves," said Angelique Power, President and CEO of the Skillman Foundation. "We want every Detroit youth to have access to all of this and to shape their own artistic journey. It's how we ensure Detroit remains a creative and entrepreneurial hub for generations to come." A Vision for Arts Education in Detroit A new report titled "Detroit Partnership for Arts Education: A Vision for Arts Education in Detroit," funded by the NEA with matching funds from The Kresge Foundation, lays out a unified citywide vision for equitable access to arts education through shared metrics and cross-sector collaboration. It is one of the final deliverables of an NEA "Collective Impact" grant secured for Detroit by Connect Detroit for its program partner, DEYA. Connect Detroit is a nonprofit organization addressing local problems in Detroit by facilitating and mobilizing support of collaborative community solutions. The grant award was terminated in May 2025 but not before the DPAE's convening and data collection were completed. Historically, the NEA Collective Impact grants have been awarded for multiple years to support the development of citywide arts education efforts in such cities as Chicago, Boston and Houston. With potential changes to the federal agency, future NEA funding for Detroit's arts education collective impact efforts is currently in jeopardy. "Detroit is well-known for its artistic and cultural contributions to the world," said Dr. Herman Gray, former CEO, Detroit Medical Center and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "This report raises a vital question: If every Detroit child were intentionally exposed to arts education early on, how much stronger could our community be? As a pediatrician and child advocate, I believe one of the best things we can do is ensure every child, no matter their ZIP code, receives an excellent education that includes the arts." Detroit Arts Education Data Project The Detroit Arts Education Data Project, also funded by the NEA with support from The Kresge Foundation, and led by DEYA and D3, provides a comprehensive look at where and how Detroit youth engage with the arts. This multi-source research project collected and analyzed data from more than 105 public schools, state databases, and community organizations to understand the current state of youth arts access in Detroit. The findings provide a baseline for advocacy, investment, and planning toward equitable arts access. "This is more than just data. It represents a movement rooted in collaboration, imagination, and a shared commitment to ensuring every Detroit child has access to the transformative power of the arts," said Nafeesah Symonette, Executive Director of DEYA, a collective impact initiative that serves as a catalyst for cross-sector collaboration to ensure all youth have access to Detroit's rich cultural legacy and transformative power of the arts. "Our process united voices across the city. Now, with the Navigator and this vision, we take our first steps from vision to action." "The arts are a powerful driver for a well-rounded education, and we have prioritized access to art and music in the same way we think about math and reading," said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, DPSCD Superintendent and DPAE Honorary Co-Chair. "We have made tremendous strides but know there is still room for growth. We cannot stop until every young person in Detroit, one of the world's great cultural powerhouses, has access to quality arts education. Cross-sector partnerships like DPAE are essential to realizing that vision." To access the Detroit Youth Arts Navigator and read the full report and data project, visit To learn more about Connect Detroit, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Detroit Partnership for Arts Education Sign in to access your portfolio
United News of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
PM Modi leaves for Rio de Janeiro to attend 17th BRICS Summit
Buenos Aires/New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) After concluding his visit to Argentina, where he held talks with President Javier Milei, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Brazil today, to attend the 17th BRICS Summit at Rio de Janeiro and for a state visit to Brasilia. He said in a post on X: 'My visit to Argentina has been a productive one. I am confident that our discussions will add significant momentum to our bilateral friendship and fulfil the strong potential that exists. I thank President Milei, the Government, and the people of Argentina for their warmth.' Earlier, the PM also paid homage at a bust of poet Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Buenos Aires. 'Paid homage to Gurudev Tagore in Buenos Aires. Gurudev Tagore had visited Argentina in 1924 and had left a lasting impression on the minds of many people in this nation, especially scholars and students. 'We in India take immense pride in the contributions of Gurudev Tagore to our nation's history and culture. His emphasis on learning and education is also very motivating.' In Buenos Aires, the PM was also presented with the Key to the City from Jorge Macri, Chief of the City Government of Buenos Aires, in a ceremonial honour in recognition of PM's contributions in strengthening the bilateral ties. Brazil is the fourth leg of the PM's five-nation visit. He has already visited Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina. UNI RN
