ArtandCulture, Juneau

This Anchorage museum offers an in-depth look at Alaskan Native life—with a big focus on Alaska Natives. Watch dancing, listen to stories, meet carvers and explore recreated winter dwellings. The setting is so small and intimate that visitors are sometimes even invited to join the dancers on stage. You'll see how Alaska Native history is not a collection of artefacts behind glass: this is a living, dynamic culture that you can experience firsthand. Of course, you can also see plenty of crafts and handiwork: beautifully adorned moose hide boots, birch bark baskets, and tunics made from seal hide. Outside, you can check out the life-sized traditional native dwellings—like a Supiaq, a semi-subterranean home built by the Alutiiqs to shelter themselves from the harsh Alaskan climate. Or, enter a Southeast Alaska Longhouse—large wooden constructions with no windows and only a smoke hole at the top—that generally housed several families. Inside you will find four beautifully carved posts that each represent a different culture. Each post is carved and painted with a different theme of respect; respect for family, environment, culture, and self. Aside from the beauty of the ornate posts, it is very unique to be able to experience four cultures in one house. https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-native-heritage-center

This museum in downtown Anchorage may house artefacts that are hundreds of years old, but its high-calibre collection—and its solid connection to the community—makes it feel like a living museum. Even though the art-gallery-sized space feels intimate, this is the largest private collection of its kind in Alaska. The museum was started by the First National Bank of Alaska in 1976, as a way for the bank’s owners, the Rasmussen family, to create a space for high-quality art and artefacts largely from Alaska's native tribes, such as the Northwest Coast Indian, Athabascan, Aleut, Yupik and Inupiaq tribes. Wells Fargo bought the museum in 2000 and has its own piece of Alaska history to share: the bank and delivery service used to ship gold out from the Klondike during the gold-rush days of the late 1800s and early 1900s, while also bringing in both miners and materials. To date, the museum’s collection now has about 6,000 artefacts and works of art, as well as 4,000 books, in museum branches around the state; this Anchorage flagship, though, has 900 pieces on display, including traditional clothing, a collection of historic Alaskan business tokens, a Bering Sea kayak covered in traditional seal skin, and paintings by such famed Alaskan artists as Sydney Laurence, Fred Machetanz and Eustace Ziegler. https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-heritage-museum-at-wells-fargo

Alaska's largest museum, the Anchorage Museum tells the real story of the North. The twisting story, the unsuspected story, the many-faceted story- a story that weaves together social, political, cultural, scientific, historic and artistic threads. Explore the full diversity of Alaska Native cultures, including masterworks of Alaska Native art and design from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution. The Art of the North galleries in the museum’s new wing present the museum’s art collection from the perspectives of American art and an international North. Paintings, sculpture, photography, video and other media offer varied perceptions of the Northern landscape and wilderness through historical and contemporary depictions of both land and people. The new Alaska Exhibition tells the story of Alaska through multiple voices and perspectives reflecting the ingenuity, technology, ways of knowing and intimate understanding of the landscape that have allowed people to survive and thrive across the North. The exhibition is organized by 13 themes reflecting essential aspects of life in Alaska, both today and throughout the state’s rich history. These themes reveal the identity of Alaska and its people. Discover Alaska and the Arctic through science. In the 11,000-square-foot Discovery Center, visitors of all ages are introduced to Alaska and the Arctic through technology, interactive installations, artwork, marine-life tanks and more. Space is divided into several distinct areas, each providing an opportunity to learn about our Northern environment. https://www.anchorage.net/listings/anchorage-museum/36698/

Located in the historic 4th Avenue Market Place in downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Experience Theatre’s Earthquake Exhibit and Safe-Quake Theatre experience take you back in time to 1964 on the fateful Good Friday when North America recorded it largest earthquake ever at a magnitude of 9.2. https://www.anchorage.net/listings/alaska-experience-theatre/39062/

What was it like for a family living in Anchorage in 1915? The Oscar Anderson House Museum, located in Elderberry Park at 5th Avenue and M Street, is the perfect way to find out. Oscar Anderson played a large role in the development of early Anchorage, and his house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The restoration took place between 1978-1982 with help from the Anderson Family, and particularly their daughter Ruth. The interior was intricately restored to represent its earliest décor. The Museum was opened to the public in the early 1980s and has provided Alaskans and visitors with a chance to experience life in early Anchorage for over 30 years. Tours are available by appointment and regularly from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Or come visit during Swedish Christmas, the first two weekends each December, when the house is elaborately decorated and special Swedish treats are available. https://www.alaska.org/detail/oscar-anderson-house

Appreciate nature from three breathtaking perspectives - Capilano Suspension Bridge, Treetops Adventure and the exciting new Cliffwalk. The 450 ft (137m) long, 230 ft (70m) high Capilano Suspension Bridge has thrilled visitors since 1889. While the wobbly bridge and stunning location is a Vancouver landmark, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park offers an all-encompassing BC experience. History, culture and nature are presented in unique and thrilling ways with knowledgeable staff and interpretive signage providing as much, or as little, information as guests want. 1890's costumed staff provides entertainment, conducts guided tours through the Story Centre and eco-tours in the rainforest. Guests interact with First nations staff either at the Big House or in the rainforest. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park has the world's largest private collection of totem poles, including early 1900's local Coast Salish in the Totem Park and Haida, Tsimshian and Tlingit poles that have been carved on-site over the past 20 years in Kia'palano. The 100 year-old Trading Post, which retains its early 1900s mercantile flavour, sells Canadian gifts and take home memories. Seasonal events like Raptors Ridge birds of prey June to October and Canyon Lights in December enhance the many experiences at this year-round destination. https://www.tourismvancouver.com/listings/capilano-suspension-bridge-park/17604/

Just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver and the Vancouver International Airport, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC houses one of the world’s finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations arts in a spectacular Arthur Erickson designed building overlooking mountains and sea. See magnificent carvings, weavings and contemporary artworks inside the soaring glass and concrete structure of the Museum’s Great Hall. Admire the world’s largest collection of works by acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid, including his famous cedar sculpture The Raven and the First Men. Explore the Museum’s Multiversity Galleries where more than 9,000 objects from around the world are displayed. Visit the award-winning Koerner Ceramics Gallery, displaying a collection of European ceramics unique to North America. Stroll the Museum’s grounds, where monumental Haida houses, poles and Musqueam house posts capture the dramatic beauty of traditional Northwest Coast architecture and design. Enjoy a wide range of special exhibitions and public programs, including free guided gallery walks, visit the MOA Shop and relax in Café MOA. https://www.tourismvancouver.com/listings/museum-of-anthropology-at-ubc/17853/

Jericho Arts Centre (JAC) is a 135-seat performance venue located off NW Marine Drive near Jericho Beach in the heart of Vancouver’s West Side. It is operated by the Friends of Jericho Arts Centre Society (FoJACS), a non-profit society made up of the users and volunteers who work on JAC. FoJACS leases JAC from the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation. http://www.jerichoartscentre.com/

The First Nations Totem Poles in Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia are the most visited attraction in Vancouver, British Columbia, and possibly all of Canada! There are a number of beautiful totem poles in Stanley Park at 2 different locations within the park. http://stanleyparkvan.com/stanley-park-van-attractions-totem-poles.html

In the 1970’s, Granville Island began its successful transformation from an industrial wasteland to one of the most beloved public spaces in Vancouver. As Vancouver’s premier artistic and cultural hub, located in an urban, waterfront location and steeped in a rich industrial and maritime heritage, this unique destination attracts millions of visitors each year from Vancouver and around the world. The charm of Granville Island lies in its unexpected mix of uses. The famous Public Market, open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, is home to more than 50 independent food purveyors and contributes to the Island’s appeal as a renowned culinary destination. In the Net Loft Shops and Railspur District, many of Canada’s best artists and designers can be found. Granville Island is home to many cultural venues and hosts numerous performing arts and cultural festivals year-round. https://granvilleisland.com/

Overlooking Victoria's majestic Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings are open to the public year-round. Visitors are invited to discover the architectural splendour of the Parliament Buildings and learn about British Columbia's Legislative Assembly. The Parliament Buildings are open to the public from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Visitors are welcome to join one of the regularly-scheduled guided tours or to explore the buildings on their own self-guided tour. During the busy summer season, the Parliament Buildings are open for tours seven days a week, including statutory holidays. https://www.tourismvictoria.com/see-do/activities-attractions/attractions/british-columbia-parliament-buildings

See all of British Columbia at the Royal BC Museum, a world-class museum of natural and human history. Explore our core galleries and immerse yourself in tales of where we've been and where we are going. Discover things and people you never knew before. Marvel at the totems, masks and cultural treasures featured in the world-class First Peoples Gallery. Experience authentic artifacts and highly realistic settings -- from the Woolly Mammoth in his rocky, icy world to a tar-scented trip on the HMS Discovery. Your experience doesn't end with Museum's galleries. https://www.tourismvictoria.com/see-do/activities-attractions/attractions/royal-bc-museum

The Kelowna Art Gallery is located in the heart of Kelowna’s Cultural District in downtown Kelowna, BC. Its offer visitors the opportunity to explore changing exhibitions of both historical and contemporary Canadian art in four gallery spaces, including an outdoor courtyard area. The Gallery offers art classes and workshops for adults and teens in the fall and winter, and art camps during spring and summer breaks for children. Its popular Family Sundays offer visitors the chance to get creative with guided hands-on art activities based on a new theme each week, after they get inspired by the current exhibitions on view. The gallery hosts a number of events throughout the year, including artist’s talks, lectures, and panel discussions, fundraisers, community projects, and other special events. The Kelowna Art Gallery also have a permanent collection of upwards of 800 works of art and a range of publications that produce to accompany its exhibitions. http://kelownaartgallery.com/about/

The Kelowna Community Theatre is Kelowna’s professional presenting house and the Interior’s largest performing arts venue. Each year the Theatre is home to over 250 events ranging from comedy to music, dance, theatrical performances and everything in between. Since opening its doors on September 13, 1962, the Theatre has grown from a small community theatre to a vibrant performance hub in the heart of the Cultural District. For 50 years, people have been entertained and inspired by their peers, first class presenters and performers from around the world. With exceptional local, national and international artists scheduled to perform this year, everyone is sure to be entertained. https://www.tourismkelowna.com/listing/kelowna-community-theatre/250/

Known for boundary-pushing exhibitions, Henry Art Gallery aims to inspire original thinking. Visit this University of Washington museum to see a sizable collection of contemporary art, photographs, costumes, and textiles. https://henryart.org/

Music, science fiction, and pop culture all come together at the fascinating Museum of Pop Culture. The Frank Gehry-designed building looks like a smashed guitar from above, while inside, its colorful exhibits cover everything from the history of indie video games and horror films to Nirvana, the Seahawks, and more. http://www.visitseattle.org/partners/museum-of-pop-culture-mopop-pd/

In the heart of downtown, SAM wows with its light-filled galleries housing everything from Australian aboriginal paintings and ancient Mediterranean sculptures to Native American house posts. Plus, its lineup of rotating special exhibits continues to draw arts-lovers season after season. http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/

The tallest observatory of all is located inside the sleek Columbia Center. Head to the 73rd floor, where you’ll be treated to 360-degree views that include the Cascade and Olympic Mountains, Elliott Bay, and all of Seattle’s skyline. https://www.skyviewobservatory.com/

Open since 1952 on Capitol Hill, Frye Art Museum is always free. Alongside the permanent collection from the Fryes, who amassed more than 230 paintings—primarily late 19th- and early 20th-century German art—you’ll find cutting-edge rotating exhibits on offer. http://www.visitseattle.org/partners/frye-art-museum/

Seattle’s best view since 1914 now offers a reimagined visitor experience. Travel through fascinating exhibits that take you on a journey through Smith Tower’s storied past including a ride in the tower’s historic Otis elevator. Make your way to the top of the tower for an amazing vantage point from the Observatory, including an open-air deck with 360-degree views of Seattle and beyond. http://www.visitseattle.org/partners/smith-tower/

Explore on your own or join a docent-led tour for an interactive and unique adventure into the world of contemporary glass. Explanatory commentary in the form of interpretive text panels, interactive technology and gallery guides are provided to ensure your experience is meaningful and engaging. The galleries at Museum of Glass are dedicated to both temporary exhibitions, as well as works from our Permanent Collections that feature twentieth and twenty-first century glass. The exhibitions span a wide range and convey the meaning and motivations of the artists with the help of Curatorial Team of Museum. On the third Thursday of every month, Museum of Glass is open late, 5-8pm, with no admission fees. Stop in to see Hilltop Artists in the Hot Shop, explore our current exhibitions, and discover special hands-on projects in the Education Studio. https://museumofglass.org/

Look at gorgeous crafts that can be ceremonial, expressive, sculptural, and more with a strong emphasis on personal cultural expression. From musical instruments to sculptures, every piece of fine craft the gallery carries is a part of an artist's portfolio which evolves as they progress in their discipline. Experience original exhibitions and fabulous shopping at the Alberta Craft Gallery in Calgary. The best place to discover Alberta-based artists working in ceramics, wood, metal, jewelry, fiber, stone, and glass. The Gallery features rotating exhibitions throughout the year. Visit the Alberta Craft Gallery and over 30 other art studios and organizations at the new SPACE King Edward, located in the vibrant Marda Loop neighborhood. https://www.visitcalgary.com/places/alberta-craft-gallery

Escape Today at Heritage Park Historical Village. See and feel the past as it comes to life in front of your eyes. This unique Park’s attractions and exhibits span Western Canadian history from the 1860s to 1950s. You will see the vital story of the settlement of the west not only preserved, but presented alive and in great working condition! Ride the authentic steam train, make old-fashioned ice cream with the prairie townsfolk, explore our First Nations encampment, enjoy the antique midway, savour fresh baked treats from the Alberta Bakery, enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride, and set sail on Calgary’s only paddlewheeler. With over 180 exhibits on 127 acres of land, Canada’s largest living history museum offers an authentic experience from four key periods: the 1860s fur trading era and First Nations encampment, 1880s rustic pre-railway settlement, a bustling 1910 prairie railroad town and the 1930s -50s in Gasoline Alley Museum and Heritage Town Square. As an accredited museum, Heritage Park is proud to preserve and share history in a way that lets visitors experience it with all five senses. Costumed interpreters add another dimension to the immersive historical experience and bring the attractions and exhibits to life. https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/attractions/heritage-park-historical-village

Calgary's newest natural wetland on the city's southeast border opened summer 2011. The 30-hectare park is named after former Mayor and Premier Ralph Klein. Learning gardens. Interpretive trails. Wetland viewing areas. Study stations. Environmental education centre includes classrooms and meeting rooms. Available for corporate functions, weddings and private bookings. The 30-hectare park on Calgary’s southeast edge offers learning gardens, a natural playground, interpretive trails and wetland viewing areas. The environmental education centre includes classrooms and meeting rooms. https://www.visitcalgary.com/places/ralph-klein-park-environmental-education-centre

Wanuskewin Heritage Park sits above Opimihaw Creek and the South Saskatchewan River near Saskatoon – a window into a part of Canada’s history that remains largely undiscovered, and a link to our past unlike any other National Historic Site in Canada. Wanuskewin’s uniqueness is not just the fact that there exists evidence of ancient peoples, but rather the composition of many different aspects of habitation, hunting and gathering, and spirituality – all in one place. The Wanuskewin area contains some of the most exciting archaeological finds in North America, many of which predate the pyramids of Egypt. To date, 19 Pre-Contact archaeological dig sites have been identified on the terraces and point bars in the Opimihaw Creek valley bottom or coulee depressions along the valley wall of the South Saskatchewan River. As soon as the Opimihaw Creek valley became available for human occupation 6,000 years ago, virtually every Pre-Contact cultural group recognized across the Great Plains visited this location. https://wanuskewin.com/

Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre Company is an award-winning Aboriginal performance and mentoring theater company that focuses on encouraging youth to engage in the performing arts and strives to increase inter-racial understanding. https://gtnt.ca/

Presents the works of local Saskatchewan and Western Canadian artists, as well as contemporary posters, prints, limited edition graphics and sculpture. Collector's Choice Art Gallery also have a full service picture frame shop and are able to do quick turnaround repairs and framing. https://www.collectorschoice.ca/

Founded in 1974, Persephone Theatre has become one of the largest theatres in Canada, and the largest in Saskatchewan. Founded by Janet and Susan Wright, and Brian Richmond (the theatre's first artistic director), Persephone Theatre has a long, rich history of supporting the arts in Saskatoon. In 2007 Persephone moved into their new theatre facility at the Remai Arts Centre at River Landing. Persephone’s seasons have grown to a six-play Main Stage series, a three-play second stage series (The Deep End) and six productions for youth (including a provincial tour). Persephone Theatre continues to support the development and production of new work and local playwrights. http://persephonetheatre.org/

Located in River Landing, Remai Modern is a direction-setting new art museum. It boasts 11 gallery spaces and a wide variety of programs including films, workshops, talks and more. The Cameco Learning Studio hosts art-making activities for all ages and the Art & Design Store offers a one-of-a-kind Saskatoon shopping experience. Visit remaimodern.org for a full schedule of exhibitions and events. Be sure to stop for brunch, lunch or dinner at Shift restaurant on Remai Modern's ground floor. Remai Modern is a thought leader that boldly collects, develops, presents and interprets the art of our time. Our mandate is to enable transformative experiences by connecting art with local and global communities. http://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/listings/Remai-Modern/1343/?fromMenu=640

The Ukrainian Museum of Canada overlooks the South Saskatchewan river and is within Saskatoon's vibrant downtown. In the summer, the riverbank is the center of many different heritage, arts and cultural events. The purpose of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada (UMC) is to acquire, preserve, study and interpret, on a national basis, representative artifacts which depict the Ukrainian heritage and its contribution to Canada. Museum has been building its library, archival and artifact collections since the 1930s. Its collection includes Ukrainian schoolbooks, records from some prominent Ukrainian Canadians, and extensive textiles, as well as numerous other items. http://www.umc.sk.ca/page/index_new

For almost 50 years member-run Handmade House has provided a unique, year-round craft market connecting Saskatoon shoppers with nearly 100 craftspeople from all across Saskatchewan. In the heart of the vibrant Broadway area, Handmade House features an ever-changing variety of unique handcrafted pieces. It's a refreshing change from mall fare and Big Box shopping! https://www.handmadehousesk.com/

Saskatchewan's premiere community owned, non profit arts and culture centre - offering a diverse variety of programming, 363 days each year. https://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/listing/broadway-theatre/16/

Transport yourself back to early 20th century Boomtown - from the general store overflowing with everything from nails to gingham, to be blacksmith shop ringing with the sound of the hammer striking the anvil. Explore the world of alternative fuel vehicles with the Fuelled by Innovation exhibit and Saskatoon's only vintage car collection. Don't miss Winning the Prairie Gamble - the story of Saskatchewan farm family as they grow and change over 100 years. Take your breath away - step into the WDM Saskatoon. A visit to Boomtown lets you walk through time. Saskatchewan inspired stories unfold everywhere as you journey from 1910 to the present. https://www.wdm.ca/stoon.html