Drawing from artist Shary Boyle’s commissioned work, White Elephant (2021), CAFKA has programmed a series of book clubs, reading groups, and public lectures that seek to interrogate racism and white supremacy, drive community dialogue on issues of social justice, and facilitate working strategies to actively dismantle these ongoing systems of oppression. Selections made by CAFKA’s Program Committee foreground these issues from various perspectives, including art and culture, racism and multiculturalism in Canada, and Indigenous histories and land tenure specific to the Haldimand Tract.

CAFKA has scheduled virtual book club sessions and reading groups (on Zoom) for the months of June, July, and August to correspond with the duration of the biennial and provide participants with reasonable time to read each selection (see schedule below). Participants must pre-register through Eventbrite. Community guidelines will be circulated in advance and a zero tolerance policy will be in effect. Participants are required to purchase or borrow the selected book and read it in advance of the session. Please note that book clubs and reading groups are currently limited to 20-25 participants in order to facilitate meaningful discussion.

Authors Aruna D’Souza and Kathy Hogarth are confirmed speakers as part of the Big Ideas in Art and Culture Lecture Series on June 24 and July 15, respectively. Visit the Programs & Events page for a schedule of talks, lectures and registration links.