Art Gallery offers free admission on select days
The appreciation of art can be priceless as the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria offers its first Feel Free initiative of the year this Saturday.
Under the initiative, admission to the gallery is free on the first Saturday of every month and every Thursday evening.
The initiative, made possible by financial support by the TD Bank Group, is meant to break down barriers to art appreciation due to financial constraints.
On the selected days, visitors can visit the gallery to take in artwork and view its current exhibits, including Unexpected, In the Flesh, Tender Touch and Kali Spitzer.
The offer is open to residents and visitors alike.
Under the Feel Free program, admission will be free between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the first Saturday of every month and between 5 and 9 p.m. every Thursday at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, 1040 Moss St.
For more information, go to aggv.ca.
Experience a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve
Experience a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve (Svyatyi Vechir in Ukrainian) rich in symbolism as the Ukrainian Studies Society holds a bi-annual fundraising event at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, Jan. 5.
You will be immersed in the most colourful part of a Ukrainian Christmas Eve, with customs and traditions brought to Canada by previous generations of Ukrainian immigrants.
This is the first time the society has hosted its traditional supper since the COVID pandemic.
Enjoy an evening rich in symbolism, including a child announcing the sighting of the first star, lighting of a candle before an icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, setting an extra plate for ancestors and unexpected guests and serving 12 meatless dishes in honour of the animals in the stable.
The meal will include the ritual kutya (a ceremonial grain dish with sweet gravy), borscht, two types or perogy, cabbage rolls, baked salmon and assorted desserts. There will also be a cash bar.
The evening will conclude with another time-honoured custom — the arrival of carollers to bring greetings in song to the household.
Proceeds from the event will go toward education and cultural initiatives for the local Ukrainian community, including students currently enrolled at Pearson College.
Seating is limited to 145 guests. Advance tickets are $50 adults, $25 students and $10 for children 12 and under. Doors open at 5, supper at 6 and the evening concludes at around 8 p.m. Jan. 6. at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, 3277 Douglas St.
For more information, go to uccsvi.ca or Ukrainian Cultural Centre at 250-475-2585.
Immerse yourself in Salish seaweed
You have until Sunday to experience Seaweed: Mysteries of the Amber Forest, an exhibit that allows you to immerse yourself in the captivating world of seaweed, at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney.
Dive in and discover a vibrant, hidden world teeming with seaweed crucial to life both above and below the waves.
The exhibit features art and imagery by Josie Iselin, Jackie Hildering (a.k.a. The Marine Detective), artist Sarah Jim Studio and researcher Patrick Martone.
The aquarium includes 35 habitats, featuring more than 160 marine species and 3,500 animals, including a giant Pacific octopus and wolf eels.
The centre is operated by the the New Marine Centre Society, a not-for-profit organization. It relies on community support through admission fees, partnerships and donations, including Shaw Communications, its title sponsor.
The exhibit is part of regular admission to the aquarium. Fall/winter visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (except Wednesday). The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is at 9811 Seaport Pl., Sidney.
For more information, go to salishseacentre.org.
