Maple Ridge, B.C., Sept. 2, 2026 – The City of Maple Ridge is inviting residents to experience a new celebration of local creativity, culture and community connection at its first-ever Community Canvas Art Fest, taking place Saturday, Sept.19, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The ACT Arts Centre.
The free, family-friendly event will bring residents, local artists and community organizations together to enjoy a full day of hands-on artmaking, collaborative public art, showcases, and a live dance performance to kick off The ACT Art Centre’s 2026-2027 performance season. Designed to make arts and culture accessible to people of all ages and experience levels, Community Canvas Art Fest encourages residents to connect with one another and discover the artists, organizations, and creative opportunities that contribute to Maple Ridge’s growing cultural community.
"Community Canvas is a wonderful example of how arts and culture bring people together,” said Mayor Ruimy. “This inaugural festival invites residents of all ages to connect, create, and celebrate the incredible artistic talent that exists throughout Maple Ridge.”
Daytime programming will unfold across three distinct creative experiences:
- Artist Try-Its - Visitors are invited to participate in a variety of free, hands-on artmaking stations led by Maple Ridge’s Artists in Residence Alex Neff and Colleen Brown, along with other local artists. These drop-in sessions encourage creative exploration and personal engagement with local arts practitioners.
- Public Art Engagements with Guildhouse Project - Designed as a community-centred activation, the Maple Ridge-based Guildhouse Project transforms ACT spaces into interactive public art experiences. Guests of all ages can contribute, create, and connect through a series of collaborative activities.
- Trei - Immersive Gallery Performance - At 2:00 p.m., audiences can step into the enchanting world of Trei (‘three’), a solo dance work by Vidya Kotamraju performed within The ACT Gallery. Presented inside Laurence Belzile's exhibition Créatrices d’images, the work creates a unique dialogue between visual art and live performance, offering an immersive artistic experience for visitors.
"Community Canvas is a celebration of creativity. By bringing together artists, performers, and residents in a free and welcoming event, we are creating opportunities for people to experience the arts and help launch an exciting new season at the ACT," said Russ Brummer, Manager of Arts, Culture & Events.
For more information on the new event, visit MapleRidge.ca/CommunityCanvas.
About The ACT Arts Centre
The Maple Ridge ACT (Arts, Culture, Theatre) Arts Centre is a hub of the Maple Ridge community for more than 20 years. Opened in 2003, the centre hosts a myriad of memorable events, from local school bands and dance recitals to major productions and concerts. The Maple Ridge ACT also highlights and cultivates local talent through the Art Exhibitions and Arts Programs.
For additional information, contact TheACT@MapleRidge.ca and follow @ArtsMapleRidge on Facebook and Instagram or visit MapleRidge.ca/ACT to get the latest updates.
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Media Contact:
Russ Brummer, Manager of Arts, Culture and Events
T 604 466 7498 C 604 368 3670