What's the Big IDEA?

On any given day, there are dozens of ideas to explore at Harbourfront Centre, across a broad range of artistic disciplines and cultural programmes. Our curators have an eye for original trends and connections in contemporary culture – and they want you to see what they see.

Often, we observe a recurring idea emerging across various disciplines and events. We call this "The Big IDEA" and present it for you to consider as part of your Harbourfront Centre experience. It's our way of highlighting just one of the many ideas you'll find here year-round.

Witness

This season, Harbourfront Centre presents programming that asks: Do you look or do you see?

From September 17-20, 2010, the Vibrant Colombia Diaspora Festival celebrates a new culture at the same time as witnessing a culture left behind. At the International Festival of Authors, a roundtable discussion will take place on October 21st aptly titled, Writers as Witness. In November, as part of World Stage, war photographers will examine the struggles of documenting conflict in Vancouver's Boca del Lupo's PHOTOG: an imaginary look at the uncompromising life of Thomas Smith. As part of the Fall 2010 Exhibitions in York Quay Centre, eight artists confront the great outdoors and create paintings, photos, videos and sculptures of the landscape they experienced in the exhibition En plein air. The showing of Victoria Vitasek's The Past, the Present, the Future is photographic proof of extraordinary moments. In November, the Day of the Dead Festival celebrates the witnessing of tradition, history, memory and the spiritual world.

Life is more than a spectator sport. It's a tango, a boxing match, a camera lens, an invitation to cross the thresholds. Being a witness to your world is not about observing; it's about vision.