The Cool Culture of New Brunswick’s Capital
For generations, poets, artists, actors and artisans have chosen to call Fredericton home. This rich tradition of creativity continues on in the region still today in great performances, vibrant visuals arts and more working artisans per capita than anywhere in Canada.
And why is that? Well there is inspiration around every corner! The crown jewel of the cultural scene in Fredericton is the newly-expanded and world-renowned Beaverbrook Art Gallery, showcasing international treasures by greats like J.M.W. Turner, Salvador Dali and Cornelius Krieghoff. For a showcase of more local artists, head around the corner and visit Gallery 78, the oldest private art gallery in New Brunswick. Set in a stately 19th century Queen Anne Revival mansion, the gallery’s goal is to share an ever-changing display of Atlantic Canadian art. A little further down the street, visitors will be impressed with the excellent collection of contemporary Canadian fine art at the Gallery on Queen. With a focus on featuring diverse works from artists of all backgrounds and an affordable and accessible approach to collecting art, the gallery is a significant resource for both the novice art buyer and the seasoned collector alike.
Or maybe you prefer to focus on public art installations? Well, you are in luck! With almost 30 different pieces of public art like sculptures, paintings, and fountains that span both sides of the river, there is no lack of opportunity to enjoy the artistic skill on display for everyone to enjoy on a daily basis. The online Virtual Tour can help you plan your visit.
Home to the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, the only college in Canada that focuses entirely on fine crafts and design, it’s no wonder that Fredericton has more working artisans per capita then anywhere in Canada. To remember your time in the city, why not pick up a handcrafted souvenir from one of the more than 25 locally owned artisan galleries and shops in the city.
Fredericton has also earned the moniker of “Poet’s Corner of Canada”, due to the long tradition of literature in the area. Inspired by the region, such storied poets as Bliss Carman and his cousin Sir Charles G. D. Roberts, Francis Sherman, and later Alden Nowlan called the city home. Adding to the literary cachet of Fredericton was the fact that The Fiddlehead, Canada’s oldest literary magazine that is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020, continues to be published at the University of New Brunswick.
If you prefer the performing arts, you can enjoy local artists and touring companies on stage as part of the Fredericton Playhouse’s Spotlight Series. Or check out the unique theatre being written and performed at the Open Space Theatre in Fredericton’s Industrial Park, home to Theatre New Brunswick, the province’s leading professional Anglophone theatre company. And if you are looking for some Francophone culture, you need to go no further than Le Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne in uptown Fredericton.
Take your pick of the many cultural activities available in Fredericton. You’ll leave here with a new appreciation of the unique landscape of the cultural fabric of the region.
