Guelph, ON – April 30, 2019 – On Saturday, almost 4,000 Guelph residents and out-of-town visitors came out to tour the thirteen sites offered at Doors Open Guelph and Trails Open 2019.
Among the many highlights of the day were:
- Lineups for tours of the extensively restored heritage buildings that are now Spring Mill Distillery
- Dramatic and scandalous stories told where they happened with Guelph theatre artist Jay Wilson at Gow Bridge
- Downtown public art, gallery and artist studio walking tours with artist collective Ahmri + Abby highlighted Guelph’s arts community and the resources of PIN and The Guelph Community Foundation
- A peak inside Aberdeen House, a heritage home renovated to become one of Guelph’s most energy efficient homes, presented in partnership with eMERGE Guelph
- Family fun at Diyode Community Workshop and The Victory School
- Walks with Guelph Hiking Trail Club from the Marcolongo Heritage Farm to Hall’s Pond, the most important natural area within city limits
- Introductions to some of Guelph’s important heritage buildings, including Lornewood Mansion, The Sovereign, Provincial Offenses Court, and Heritage Hall
- A popular bicycle tour of several sites, organized and guided by Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation
- An amazing partnership with Guelph Museums with Doors Open After Dark on April 26 at the Civic Museum, which featured interactive art and history installations, and launched the 2019 Doors Open Ontario season of events.
Doors Open Coordinator Susan Ratcliffe said: “This year’s Doors Open Guelph was a wonderful experience for visitors, sites, and volunteers. We were delighted to have the opportunity to engage artists and new partners in telling Guelph’s stories and sharing its special places. We thank the site owners and all the volunteers for their commitment to our city’s rich heritage. And we thank Guelph’s residents and visitors for their ongoing interest in our city’s resources and stories.”
Doors Open Guelph is one of Guelph Arts Council’s longest-running programs. Its success is due to the enthusiasm and hard work of volunteers who serve as Steering Committee members, site captains, tour guides, sweeps, greeters, counters, and researchers. This year over 200 volunteers pulled together to open the doors of Guelph’s remarkable places.
Guelph Arts Council thanks its event partners, including City of Guelph, Guelph Museums, Ontario Heritage Trust, Destination Guelph Strategic Co-investment Project, and Downtown Guelph Business Association, Doors Open media sponsor Guelph Mercury Tribune, site sponsors Grinham Architects and Williams & McDaniel Property Management, all participating sites, and its Steering Committee and event volunteers.
About Guelph Arts Council:
For over forty years, Guelph Arts Council has been dedicated to supporting, stimulating and promoting arts and culture in Guelph. Guelph Arts Council is funded in part by The Guelph Community Foundation and City of Guelph. We also acknowledge the support of the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.
