Upcoming Events & Calls for Artists/Poets

Find events and opportunities for artists including calls for public art. Find events and opportunities related to our Poet Laureate programs.

Upcoming Events:

Poetry in the Harbour

Wednesday, March 11 | 7pm | FREE
Piper's Lagoon Lobby, Vancouver Island Conference Centre (Entrance is at 80 Commercial St)
Join Poet Laureate, Neil Surkan, and special guests for an evening of poetry at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. March's event features poet, Junie Desil, as well as guest poets Délani Valin and Pamela Medland.

Junie Désil is of Haitian ancestry, born of immigrant parents on the traditional territories of the Kanien’kehá:ka on the island known as Tiohtià:ke (Montréal), and raised in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg). Junie has performed at various literary events and festivals. Her work has appeared in Room Magazine, PRISM International, The Capilano Review and CV2.

A UBC alumnus, a participant in Simon Fraser University’s Writer’s Studio, and current Uvic MFA student, Junie’s debut book of poetry eat salt | gaze at the ocean (Talon Books, 2020) was short-listed for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Her second collection allostatic load (Talon Books) came out April, 2025.

Junie mentors poets at SFU's Writers' Studio and also teaches in SFU's Leadership Essentials Certificate program.

Public Art Tour: Lighting a Path

Friday, March 13 | 6pm | FREE
Join us Friday, March 13^th at 6pm in Sway-a-Lana (Maffeo Sutton Park) for a free public tour of Lighting a Path, a special art installation honouring the Land featuring artwork by: the late Dr. William Good; the late W. Joel Good; Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun; kwasilwit, Chenoa Point; Noel Brown; Ryan Hughes; and yutustana:t, Gena Seward-Wilson. This tour will include an opportunity to hear directly from several of the exhibiting artists. We will meet in Spirit Square (next to the washrooms). More info.

Read, Reflect, Learn

Wednesdays, April 1, May 6, and June 3 | 6-7pm | FREE
North Nanaimo Library Board Room (6250 Hammond Bay Rd.)
A poetry workshop about Savouring, Wondering, and Daring facilitated by Poet Laureate, Neil Surkan.

Behind the Scenes at the OV Arts Centre

Tuesday, March 24 | 2 - 6pm | Drop-In
Wednesday, April 29 | 2 - 6pm | Drop-In
Wednesday, May 27 | 2 - 6pm | Drop-In
Thursday, June 25 | 2 - 6pm | Drop-In
25 Victoria Rd.
The Nanaimo Performing Arts Guild invites the community to explore the Old Victoria Arts Centre during a series of Meet and Greet Open House events. These informal drop-in sessions offer guided tours of the city-owned, multi-purpose facility and an opportunity to learn how the O.V. can support a wide range of uses - from workshops and rehearsals to performances and community gatherings. Guild members will also share information about planned upgrades and future renovations being considered by the City of Nanaimo. Community members interested in the future of arts and culture in Nanaimo’s downtown core are encouraged to attend!

Current Calls for Artists/Poets:

Luminous Paths 2027 - Call to Artists

Deadline for Submissions: 11:59pm Pacific Time, June 14, 2026
The City of Nanaimo is seeking proposals for temporary public art as part of the 2027 Luminous Paths festival - a winter celebration of light, art, land, and community. Temporary public art projects will be selected in the summer of 2026, with the festival taking place in February of 2027. More info.

Questions?

Please reach out to the Culture & Events team using the info below.

Contact Us

Culture & Events
250-755-4483
cultureandevents@nanaimo.ca

Last updated: March 5, 2026

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