Town of Banff

Banff Culture Weekend

April 30, 2008

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Lifestyles of the Cultured & Famous
Banff Culture Weekend

Banff, AB – Visit New York or L.A. and you will find the latest craze is celebrity home tours or afternoon gallery strolls. On August 9 and 10, visitors to Banff National Park are able to join the trend, as celebrity home tours and interactive gallery walks are open to the public.  Banff Culture Weekend combines two highly celebrated heritage events - Banff Culture Walk and Doors Open Banff - to share a rare look at the people who have helped build this mountain community to its international status.

The historical homes of Norman Luxton, Catherine Robb Whyte and Mary Schaffer-Warren are just a few of the celebrity homes that will be open to allow guests to step back into time for a glimpse of the cultural, social, environmental and spiritual evolution of Banff.

"Doors Open Banff focuses on the town's rich inventory of heritage homes and buildings that have shaped this community for over 100 years," says Claire Wilkinson, Heritage Planner for the Town of Banff.

During Banff Culture Walk, visiting Canadian artists Ken Campbell, Doug Frey, Terry McCue, Sylvia Naylor, Melinda Spooner, Robert Roy and Peter Wyse unite with paint brushes, sewing machine and tools to share the creative process with curious strollers. Locally-based artist Sarah Fuller will lead a Cyanotype process workshop, while the Art En Plein Air program at the Whyte Museum features artists interacting with visitors as they work to capture the beauty of the natural landscape. The Banff Culture Walk program also offers an opportunity for visitors to create their own piece of artwork.

"Since 1898, artists from around the world have traveled to the Canadian Rockies for inspiration from these mountain landscapes." says Grant Canning, Executive Director of Banff Heritage Tourism. "This event captures Banff's unique and long standing connection to the arts and culture while showcasing some of the tremendous talent that calls the Bow Valley home."

Banff Culture Weekend events run on Saturday and Sunday and most events are free to the public. For specific event times and a copy of the self-guided walking tour, visit www.banffculturewalk.com or www.banff.ca. For more information on heritage home tours visits www.doorsopenalberta.com.

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For Information:

Claire Wilkinson
Heritage Planner, Town of Banff
T: 403.762.1215
E-mail: claire.wilkinson@banff.ca

Grant Canning                               
Executive Director, Banff Heritage Tourism               
T: 403.762.7610                               
E-mail: grant@banffheritagetourism.com