Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant

08/30/2026

COME HUNGRY and THIRSTY. LEAVE HAPPY.
Great art deserves great food and drinks — and GRAF has you covered!

From tasty bites to festival favourites, there’ll be plenty to enjoy while you explore the gardens, catch a performance and soak up the GRAF vibe.

🎭 Art. 🎶 Music. 🍔 Food. 🍹 Drinks. One incredible night and day at Glenhyrst.

📅 Friday September 18 | 5 PM-9 PM and Saturday, September 19 | 11 AM–6 PM
📍 Glenhyrst Art Gallery - Brantford, ON

Bring your appetite. Bring your friends. We’ll see you at GRAF!

Friday night Garden Bar vendors: Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, and Sassy Britches Brewing Co. Ltd

Friday and Saturday Food Vendors: Smoke and Moonshine, Nine North, Charcuterie Etc. , Dolce Mondo Gelato and Altitude Coffee Roasters

Learn more at www.grandriverartsfestival.ca

08/29/2026

THE EVENING PRELUDE IS CALLING…

Before the Grand River Arts Festival opens its gates for the big day, join us for a very special evening under the stars at Glenhyrst Art Gallery & Gardens.

- Live music featuring award-winning Canadian musician Danny Michel
- Live theatre and performances
- Great food, drinks & good company

The beautiful 100 year old trees as your backdrop and an intimate, grown-up night celebrating the arts, music, theatre and everything that makes this festival so special.

📅 Friday, September 18
🕔 5:00 PM
🔞 19+ event
📍 Glenhyrst Art Gallery - Brantford, ON

It’s more than an evening—it’s a vibe. Don’t miss it.

🎟️ Tickets available at www.grandriverartsfestival.ca

08/27/2026

10-MINUTE PLAY COMPETITION @ GRAF 2026 | BLOCK 3

The best thing about the 10-Minute Play Competition lies in its unpredictability. Where else can you move from razor-sharp comedy to atmospheric horror, from a single voice on stage to a sprawling narrative — all within a single block? This festival has always been a space where artists take risks, push form, and experiment without apology.

Block 3 delivers on that promise: 6 productions spanning a full spectrum of styles, tones, and theatrical approaches. Come with no expectations. Leave surprised.

🎭 BLOCK 3
📍 Glenhyrst Art Gallery
📅 September 19
⏰ 4 PM

Six plays. Ten minutes each. One final block of unforgettable theatre at Ontario's most exciting stage.

Get tickets at: grandriverartsfestival.ca

Full lineup and synopses: grandriverartsfestival.ca/10minplaycomp

08/27/2026

So excited for Matthew Ryan Smith, our Curator and Head of Collections for this amazing opportunity. Congrats Matthew!

Meet the current Rodger and Joann McLennan Canadian War Art Research Fellow 👋

Dr. Matthew Ryan Smith is the Curator & Head of Collections at Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant (Ontario), and the Literary Editor of First American Art Magazine Magazine.

🔎 His project will explore the underrepresentation of war-related art by Indigenous artists and of Indigenous service members in Canada. Then, by working with collections and archival material in collaboration with Indigenous curators, archivists, librarians, artists and knowledge keepers he will work to fill those gaps. His goal is to honour the art, memories and sacrifices of Indigenous service members.

ℹ️ To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/4hYFy1j

📸 Courtesy of Paul Lambert

08/26/2026

10-MINUTE PLAY COMPETITION @ GRAF 2026 | BLOCK 2

What sets the 10-Minute Play Competition apart is its commitment to original work. Nearly every production in this year's lineup is making its debut — fresh, untested, and arriving on our stage for its very first audience. Some of these plays will go on to tour nationally and internationally, collecting awards and acclaim along the way. Past productions from this festival have done exactly that.

But it starts here. Block 2 features 5 original productions making their debut. You could be witnessing the beginning of the next big Canadian play.

🎭 BLOCK 2
📍 Glenhyrst Art Gallery
📅 September 19
⏰ 2 PM

Short plays. Big stories. Lots of surprises at Ontario's most exciting stage!

Get tickets at: grandriverartsfestival.ca

Full lineup and synopses: grandriverartsfestival.ca/10minplaycomp

08/26/2026

We are actively looking for folks to assist with set up for the Grand River Arts Festival as well as Parking volunteers. If you are able to assist on Sept 18 and/or Sept 19, please complete the form: https://glenhyrst.ca/graf/volunteer her! Come and join the fun!

08/26/2026

Explore your creative side with classes for all ages and skill levels at Glenhyrst!
Visit https://glenhyrst.ca/classes to learn more and join in!

08/25/2026

10-MINUTE PLAY COMPETITION @ GRAF 2026 | BLOCK 1

From across Ontario, the best of the province’s short form theatre is here.

Every year, the Grand River Arts Festival brings together some of the most compelling short form theatre being staged in Ontario today. From seasoned collectives to emerging solo theatre creators, the work you'll see across this weekend represents the breadth and vitality of performance happening in communities across the province — not just in one city, not in one style, but in a stunning range of voices and visions.

We’re kicking things off with Block 1, featuring plays that promise plenty of laughs, surprises and memorable moments.

🎭 BLOCK 1
📍 Glenhyrst Art Gallery
📅 September 19
⏰ NOON

Come discover Ontario's most exciting stage for shot form theatre — and see what can happen in just 10 minutes!

Get tickets at: grandriverartsfestival.ca

Full lineup and synopses: grandriverartsfestival.ca/10minplaycomp

Stay tuned as we introduce the plays and artists featured in Blocks 2 and 3.

08/25/2026

A beautiful day in the neighbourhood! A huge thank you to city of Brantford horticulture staff for another beautiful floral display this summer in Glenhyrst Gardens! The butterflies are loving it too!

Come by and say hi or check out https://glenhyrst.ca to plan your next visit with art classes, exhibitions, music, the Grand River Arts Festival and more coming up at Glenhyrst! Admission to gallery exhibitions is always free!

Outdoor sculpture pictured: Meg's Pause by Dave Hind

08/23/2026

Fall classes and workshops for children, teens, and adults are filling up. Join in the fun and get creative at Glenhyrst this year. All skill levels welcome!
Visit https://glenhyrst.ca/classes to book your space today!

Pictured is one of our Paint Club! workshops with Aliki and Kim in Glenhyrst's coach house studio. We have 3 new Paint Club workshops coming up for adults this autumn, complete with step by step instructions and all materials provided for a fun and carefree social paint night. Hope you can join in!