Activating the community manifesto speaking station outside the Minoru Chapel. Photo: Krystle Coughlin

Activating the community manifesto speaking station outside the Minoru Chapel. Photo: Krystle Coughlin

Minoru Manifesto
2019

Minoru Manifesto invited participants of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of artistic experience to explore what they carry and what they claim through a series of interactive events playing with the overlap between the manifest—the list of goods carried in cargo—and the manifesto—a public declaration of belief. Working in and around the historic Minoru Chapel and with groups at City Centre Community Centre participants investigated and shared the ideas, objects, places, and people that make Richmond special to them.

The accumulation of individual perspectives, gathered memories, and historical research culminated in a weekend of community performances from over 100 Richmond residents ages 5-88, and the exhibition of the 30 foot long Richmond Manifests. Performances were presented by groups with a history of public performance (Golden Happy Seniors Players, Morri-Lynn's Tap Dancers, Anthony Morris & Tina Tam), groups that created programs especially for the event (City Centre Poetry Appreciation Group, City Centre Ballroom Dance), and the original Minoru Manifesto performance.

Project dates: April - September 2019

Project blog: minorumanifesto.blogspot.com

Press:
Richmond News - Richmond artist-in-residence needs public’s help to create ‘Minoru Manifesto’
Richmond News - Culture Days Roundup

Public events:

Minoru Manifesto was a 2019 Artists Engaging Community Program and made possible by the City of Richmond Public Art Program and City Centre Community Centre.