Join researchers Marg Deans and Steve Pinkett to learn about the unique cobblestone buildings of Paris—who built them, why and when they were constructed, where to find them and, especially, how they were made.

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Paris Museum, 51 William Street, Paris
Admission: $15

Reserve your seat online or call the Paris Museum at 519-442-9295.

Learn more and register

Westland Gallery is inviting artists from London and beyond to apply for The Square Show 2026.

Inspired by the gallery’s popular Square Foot Show, this year’s exhibition introduces a few new changes. Artists should carefully review the complete submission guidelines before applying.

Exhibition dates: December 2–30, 2026
Application deadline: November 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

View the guidelines and apply

Professional and amateur artists of all ages are invited to submit work to ART COMP 2027, an international art competition and exhibition at 100 Kellogg Lane in London, Ontario.

One hundred artworks will be selected for a 100-day public exhibition. A total of $200,000 CAD in prizes will be awarded:

• Panel’s Choice Grand Prize: $100,000

• People’s Choice First Prize: $50,000

• People’s Choice Second Prize: $30,000

• People’s Choice Third Prize: $20,000

The competition has an open theme and considers artwork in a wide range of media for indoor and outdoor installation, with no size restrictions. Artists may submit up to three original works. Submitted artwork may be up to three years old and must not have previously won an award.

Submission deadline: February 7, 2027

Submission fees:

• One artwork: $30 CAD

• Two artworks: $40 CAD

• Three artworks: $50 CAD

Applicable taxes and processing fees are additional. Selected artists are responsible for delivering or shipping their work to and from 100 Kellogg Lane.

Artists should review the complete rules, eligibility requirements and submission instructions before applying.

View the ART COMP 2027 details and submit your work

Nominations are open for the County of Brant’s 2026 Volunteer Recognition Awards.

The awards recognize individuals and nonprofit organizations whose volunteer contributions have made a meaningful difference in the community. Categories include Emerging Leader, Community Leader and Community Impact.

Arts, culture and heritage across the County depend heavily on volunteers—from the people organizing festivals, exhibitions and performances to those preserving local history and creating opportunities for community participation.

Consider nominating a cultural volunteer or organization whose work deserves greater recognition.

The nomination deadline is November 12, 2026.

Review the award categories and submit a nomination

Brantford Public Library’s new Shellard Lane branch officially opened on October 13, 2026—the city’s first new library branch in 51 years.

The 13,500-square-foot branch includes approximately 30,000 books, spaces for storytelling and community programming, and creative technology such as a 3D printer. It is part of a shared community development that also includes a school, childcare centre, recreation centre and park.

Beyond expanding access to books and library services, the new branch could provide opportunities for local-author events, artist talks, creative workshops and other arts and cultural programming in West Brant.

Read more about the opening in the Brant Beacon

A significant new community and cultural space is being planned for downtown Brantford.

The City of Brantford and Wilfrid Laurier University have reached an agreement that will allow the City to lease the former Odeon Building at 50 Market Street beginning November 1, 2026. The approximately 21,000-square-foot building will be used to support community and cultural activities.

City staff will develop a business plan outlining possible uses for the building for consideration by Brantford City Council.

This development could create important new opportunities for local artists, cultural organizations and community programming. Grand Culture will be watching for opportunities for community consultation and further information about how the space will be used.

Read the full announcement from Wilfrid Laurier University

This mentorship opportunity is designed to provide a local artist with practical, hands-on experience and professional development in the field of temporary public art. Working directly with BirdO, the mentee will gain valuable insight into the artistic, technical, and collaborative processes involved in developing and installing a large-scale public mural.

Welcome to the October edition of the Grand Culture newsletter, your monthly update on arts, culture, and heritage in Brant Region, highlighting events, and opportunities from our creative community.

Click the link to see the full Newsletter. Not a subscriber? Subscribe by clicking here!

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Let’s grow this creative community together.

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In Brantford and Brant County, the upcoming municipal election on October 26 is an opportunity to consider the future of our communities. As part of this, the arts, culture, and heritage sector remains a topic of interest for many residents, as well as the creatives and professionals working in these fields.

To help you make an informed decision, Grand Culture invited all registered candidates running for mayor and council in the City of Brantford and County of Brant to participate in an Arts, Culture & Heritage Municipal Candidate Survey. All candidates were asked the same three (3) questions:

1. Can you provide examples of how you personally collaborated with initiatives in arts, culture, and heritage and how you will continue to champion this sector?

2. What in your platform directly supports the arts, culture, and heritage sector?

3. Recognizing the long-standing and well-identified need for accessible and dedicated facilities for arts, culture, and heritage, how will you work toward supporting existing facilities and encouraging the creation of new spaces, while ensuring these areas receive meaningful support and funding alongside the ongoing investment in recreational and sports facilities?

This project is part of our ongoing mandate to realize a thriving cultural sector in Brant Region. The goal is to provide a resource that makes it easier for voters to compare the different ideas and approaches that candidates have included in their platform.

Click here to visit the Arts, Culture & Heritage Municipal Candidate Survey mini site to view candidate responses →

Note: Publication of these responses does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate by Grand Culture.