Arts and Culture in November 2024

Mark the 150th anniversary of author Lucy Maud Montgomery with a visit to the Toronto Public Library’s latest TD Gallery exhibit, Patterns and Puffed Sleeves: Celebrating Costume Design through Anne of Green Gables. Get a glimpse of Anne’s iconic carpet bag, original costumes by Canadian designers Martha Mann and Marie Day, and archived costume designs from the library’s Special Collections. With free guided tours on Tuesdays (except December 24 and 31), this exhibit runs until January 12, 2025. The TD Gallery is located in the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street. Plan your visit: tpl.ca/tdgallery.

Join the Bata Shoe Museum for their annual Founder’s Lecture this year on Tuesday, November 5 as they welcome designer, educator, and trailblazer Dr. D’Wayne Edwards as their special guest speaker. Director & Senior Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack and Edwards will explore the convergence of culture, dress, and society through the lens of sneakers. This exclusive opportunity is something you won’t want to miss! Get creative by customizing your own sneakers on Saturday November 2 with artist Jasmin Pannu or celebrate the Eras Tour coming to Toronto by attending their Taylor Swift Fan Night on Tuesday November 12. Explore their new exhibition Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists that showcases iconic sneaker collabs by some of the most revered artists including KAWS and Murakami. Learn more on their website.

918 Bathurst has a full and exciting November lineup! They’re thrilled to host The Holy Gasp’s concert, “…And the Lord Hath Taken Away,” with a 45-person orchestra from November 7-10. Tickets are also on sale now for Rang Mahal, happening on November 15, an immersive tribute to the Mughal period, featuring Hindustani classical music and Kathak dance. “Asian Community AIDS Services” will be hosting a big fundraiser with drag performances on November 21. On November 23, “Your Dance Class” will present a special dance performance in the Sanctuary space. Finally, on November 30, comedian Arthur Simeon will be putting on a hilarious comedy show in their main Sanctuary space. And of course, Annex Chess Club continues their weekly tournaments every Monday from 6:30pm. For more information, head to their website.

Alliance Française Toronto is excited to present a series of exclusive events throughout November.

On November 1, meet French author Christophe Lebold for a discussion and book signing, celebrating the English release of his work on Leonard Cohen. Join them on November 7 for the exclusive screening of the French documentary Our Body. On November 8, immerse yourself in the country-folk world of Quebec artist Léa Jarry, whose authentic lyrics and captivating harmonies promise an unforgettable evening. On November 16, participate in their online conference with the Toronto Public Library, exploring how European Romantic painters, inspired by their travels to North Africa, shaped a new imaginative vision. On November 23, in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, they will screen the poignant French film Little Tickles. Finally, mark your calendar on November 14 to 28 for the annual European Film Festival. Visit their website for more details.

This fall, the Women’s Art Association of Canada (WAAC) presents an exciting lineup of exhibitions and events. On November 14, join Maia-Mari Sutnik for “Memory Unearthed: Henryk Ross’s Photography of Resistance.” From November 13-23, visit the Don Valley Art Club Holiday Show. From October 24-November 2, explore “Gathering Light,” a group exhibition. November 28 marks the opening of “Small Gems,” running until January 11, 2025. Don’t miss Martha Jordan’s “Artist Voice” talk on November 21 (1-2 PM) via Zoom, or the Turkish Bazaar from November 30-December 1. The WAAC Library is also open to the public on the first and third Saturdays of each month. For more information on events, visit their website.

Visits to the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto include prize draws, live artist interviews, and live music. Discover unique, handmade arts and crafts from local vendors—perfect for holiday gifts! Visit them November 22-24, November 29-December 1, and December 6-8, 2024, at 16 Spadina Road, Toronto, ON. Take advantage of livestreams of artist interviews and prize giveaways at noon daily. Support local, shop local, and find something special this holiday season! Visit their website to start shopping today.

The Royal Conservatory’s November concerts kick off on November 2 with a double bill featuring Italian jazz singer Ilaria Pilar Patassini backed by string musicians from The Glenn Gould School and a Toronto all-star band, and triple threat trailblazer singer and trumpeter Bria Skonberg. Pianist Benjamin Grosvenor performs Mussorgsky’s complete Pictures at an Exhibition and more on November 8. Violinist Leonidas Kavakos performs the complete Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin on November 9 and 10. Superstar South African singer Thandiswa Mazwai makes her Koerner Hall debut on November 16 with singer-songwriter Kunle opening the show. Classical guitar virtuoso MILOŠ performs Baroque to The Beatles with the Viano Quartet on November 17. Additional concerts this month include a screening of Larry Weinstein’s Beethoven’s Nine: Ode to Humanity on November 19, soprano Barbara Hannigan with pianist Bertrand Chamayou on November 28, and more. Head to their website to learn more.

Hot Docs will resume its programming at Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on December 4, starting with the popular Doc Soup series, featuring new documentary premieres and post-screening Q&As with directors. Doc Soup Subscriptions and Streaming Passes are now available. The Cinema is still in a limited reopening phase, accommodating select third-party rentals and partner events. November highlights include The Rocky Horror Picture Show with Excited Mental State, Toronto’s own Shadow Cast, who perform their satirical version during the screenings. Hot Docs will continue its residency of Stop Making Sense, Jonathan Demme’s iconic Talking Heads concert film, in partnership with A24. Stay tuned for further announcements about the full programming slate at the Cinema, and visit the Hot Docs website for updates.

The Gardiner Museum is open during its ground floor transformation, a full-scale reimagining of the Museum’s ground floor that includes the construction of a new makerspace, a Community Learning Centre, and an Indigenous gallery space. While the ground floor is closed, discover the Gardiner’s world-renowned collection of porcelain on the Museum’s second floor, as well as two new special exhibitions. Collecting Memories: 40 Years of Ceramics and Community showcases beloved objects from the Museum’s collection, displayed across three floors of the Gardiner’s glass stairwell and woven throughout the second-floor collection galleries. In the third-floor Exhibition Hall, Test Kitchen: A Museum Project is part exhibition, part workshop, and part ideas generator. It invites visitors behind-the-scenes, making museum work more transparent and inviting them to collaborate through hands-on activities. Learn more at their website.

On November 1, there will be a lecture by Rector Prof. Toomas Asser who will be visiting VEMU from the University of Tartu, Estonia. This will be followed by a reception and will be in Estonian. On November 26, join VEMU for a documentary film screening of “Estonia is in the Eye of the Beholder” followed by a talk by the film’s author, Estonian historian and TV personality Maarja Merivoo-Parro. This evening is part of an event series dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Mass Flight from Estonia in 1944. VEMU’s popular “Keelekohvik” Estonian Language Café, will continue November 6 and 20 at 7pm. Finally, VEMU’s new exhibit “1944 The Great Escape” is also on view from September 19-January 31 at Tartu College. More information can be found at their website.

Visit JFT’s Yōkai Netsuke exhibition to view miniature sculpted figures of Japanese monsters, spirits, and all manner of mysterious occurrences. To further experience this mysterious universe of Yōkai, register for JFT’s book club on the same topic on November 21. Join either in-person or virtually and enjoy the simple pleasure of reading in silence and engage in optional discussion with other book lovers curious about Japanese culture! No prior knowledge or preparation is required. Journey along the Japanese coast with the virtual screening of One Summer Story, a coming-of-age film filled with anime, family, friendship, and seaside adventures with Minami, as she discovers the mystery about her biological father. Stream for free, Canada-wide, from November 8-10. Are you a researcher or organization interested in Japan Foundation’s grants? Various grants and programs are available for the fiscal year 2025. For information on this and other programming, visit their website.

Give yourself the gift of learning, reflection and creativity at the Miles Nadal JCC this November. Visit their gallery from November 1–27 to view Exodus, a painting series by Peter Barelkowski on the always-relevant topic of displacement and migration. “They Wrote the Songs: Jewish Pop Superstars of the 1970s” with musicologist Jordan Klapman continues November 4–18 and “The Design Geniuses Who Fled Nazi Germany”, a three-part series with Peter Harris begins November 4. Inspired by the work of French surrealist and avant-garde artists Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, photographer Barb Simkova will lead a Trans Awareness Week self-portraiture workshop on November 17, “Self Portrait Mastery”, presented by LGBTQ at the J. Theatre critic Lynn Slotkin’s “Setting the Scene, The Roots of Toronto Theatre” four-part series begins November 25. Visit their website for accessible and inclusive programming for all ages.

Get more for less this November. Free with general admission, Quilts: Made in Canada, is in its final weeks. This ROM-original exhibition features over twenty rarely displayed Canadian-made quilts dating from the 1850s to the present day and showcases a range of designs from utility quilts constructed from recycled materials for warmth and comfort to stunning examples created to mark life changing events. Then, Hike the ROM with a new complimentary trail guide that takes you through a selection of dinosaurs, mammals, and birds in our permanent galleries. Get your steps in by walking our trails without worrying about the inclement weather. On November 19, ROM’s popular ID Clinics returns. Identify your mysterious found treasures all while engaging with ROM staff and volunteers. Bring your rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils and ROM experts will help you identify them. Clinics are free with RSVP. Learn more at their website.

On Thursday, November 21, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto presents An Evening with Melania Mazzucco, one of Italy’s most acclaimed, award-winning writers. This literary event will take place at 6:30pm at 496 Huron Street. Moreover, the pop-up exhibition The Recovery Plan: Alle porte coi sassi that opened on October 23, continues until November 20, at 496 Huron Street. Presented in collaboration with the University of Toronto, Black History Month Florence (BHMF), and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura Washington, the exhibition explores Black histories in Italy throughout the 20th century. Featuring works by artists Kelly Costigliolo, Jermay Michael Gabriel, and Christian Offman, it reflects on cultural memory and marginalization. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday, from 10am-4pm, with free admission.  For info on these and other events, please visit their website.

Ring in the Yuletide season this November 22, 23 and 24 with a jubilant burst of music by Bach. Last performed by Tafelmusik in 2015, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio bears the hallmark of the composer’s genius. The story of Jesus’ birth unfolds in energetic choruses, harmonized chorales, and poetic arias, with the tenor Evangelist providing a narrative arc. Bach’s orchestral colors, punctuated by jubilant trumpets and timpani, shine throughout.

Making their Tafelmusik debuts, superb vocal soloists Hélène Brunet (soprano), Cecilia Duarte (mezzo-soprano), and Jesse Blumberg (baritone) bring extra depth to the story. Renowned tenor Charles Daniels lends his “technically brilliant, impassioned, and lyrically supple” voice (BBC Music Magazine) to the Evangelist role. Sung in German, this oratorio is a compilation of six cantatas originally performed in Leipzig over the Twelve Days of Christmas. Under Ivars Taurins’ direction, the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir captures the joy and tenderness of the nativity story in Jeanne Lamon Hall. Tickets available at their website.