The Winnipeg Design Festival has returned with the theme “Re-flect & Re-envision”
Join us throughout September for diverse happenings that celebrate design. The Winnipeg Design Festival is an annual free public event that aims to share, discuss, promote, and celebrate design culture in Manitoba. 2023 Festival curators Adinna Vergara and Aynur Omar have assembled a compelling roster of events: “We believe that actively reflecting and re-envisioning through inclusive design dialogues are constructive ways to reimagine the city’s urban core and values. Our intention is to create the context of re-envisioning the city’s built environment so that learning opportunities, celebrations, public engagement, and discourse can fuel the festival amidst designers and the general public.”
The Winnipeg Design Festival endeavours to connect professionals, designers, artists, and industry with the broader community in order to foster design-based dialogue. It also builds interdisciplinary relationships and partnerships with likeminded organizations that promote the value of design and the city. Events are the primary mode of engagement and include lectures, forums, interactive installations, tours, and exhibits.
Arch Tours | SEP 7, 14, 21, 28 @ 12pm Architects and designers leading lunch hour tours of recently completed projects downtown.
Projects in Parks Bike Tour | SEP 7, 6pm
Bike tour of recently-completed award-winning projects in parks from Assiniboine Park to St. Vital Park with presentations from the designers and the Winnipeg Arts Council.
Benchmark Unveiling | SEP 9, 3pm | 8th to McCawley Trail, Victoria Beach
Winner of this year’s Benchmark, Thom Fougere’s Four Nesting Loops will be unveiled on the 8th to McCawley Trail in Victoria Beach, Manitoba, as a tribute to Storefront’s late founder, David Penner. Fougere will discuss his design.
Values for a Liveable City: Priorities | SEP 14, 7-9pm | Tom Hendry Warehouse Theatre
Public forum including Mayor Scott Gillingham, Hazel Borys, Niigaan Sinclair, Johanna Hurme, and Richard Milgrom. A conversation on our city’s priorities will be followed by an open-floor question period.
Park(ing) Day: G(re)y to Play | SEP 15, 5-9pm | Osborne + Exchange
This global tactical urbanism event will land in Winnipeg once again this year. Designers submit proposals to occupy parking spaces with anything but a car, calling attention to our use of urban space.
ReVEAL Lecture Series | September 12, 16, 17, 20
A series of informal talks on subjects related to design practice. Including a countermapping workshop, presentations by Architects at Play and Narratives Inc., and a presentation on South Winnipeg Trails.
Rendez-views | September 22, 7pm @ The Forks Market
A screening of this year’s ArchiShorts from the Winnipeg Architecture and Design Film Festival, as well as the premiere of StorefrontMB’s first episode of the Design Matters series.
Re-Expose Photo Competition
Competition encouraging entrants to re-think the way they see Winnipeg with three prompts: Witness, Catalyst, and Juxtaposition. Entries will be displayed at an exhibition during the festival, and in Old Market Square on Nuit Blanche.
ReVIBE: Nuit Blanche | September 23 | Old Market Square
Celebration in Old Market Square featuring spatial installations, a fashion show, DJs, and an exhibition of the photo competition entrants.
David Penner Book Launch | September 28, 7pm @ McNally Robinson
The launch of Storefront’s latest publication that documents the work and legacy of Architect David Penner. The event will feature a panel discussion with contributors to the book.