Doors Open Kingston
Doors Open Returns to Kingston!
Saturday September 26th 2020, 10-4pm.
Explore, Discover, Encounter – the hidden spaces, places and stories of Kingston
The Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites (KAM) is pleased to announce the return of Doors Open in 2020. KAM is honoured to coordinate this Ontario Heritage Trust program on behalf of the City of Kingston. Every year, the Ontario Heritage Trust works with communities across the province to open the doors, gates, and courtyards of their unique and most fascinating cultural sites so that residents and visitors can explore the stories inside. As part of this provincial initiative, Doors Open Kingston seeks to make accessible places, spaces and narratives that are otherwise inaccessible, hidden or unknown.
“KAM is extremely pleased and excited to work with the City of Kingston to bring about the return of Doors Open to our community. Kingston has such a vibrant and diverse cultural heritage scene that it is hard to imagine Doors Open without Kingston, or Kingston without Doors Open,” explains Jamie McKenzie-Naish, Managing Director of KAM.
“In Kingston there are so many sites that spark wonder and curiosity. Initiatives like Doors Open invite all of us to explore our city and to learn more about the spaces and sites that are the backdrops to our lives every day,” says Jennifer Campbell, manager, cultural heritage with the City of Kingston.
Doors Open Kingston 2020 was originally set to take place on Saturday May 30th, but will now take place on Saturday September 26th. KAM is now seeking expressions of interest from cultural heritage organizations who are able to offer organized, small-group, timed-tours. To support potential participants, KAM will be coordinating all sites to ensure adherence to all health and safety participation and cleaning guidelines. This will include the facilitation of online registration through Eventbrite and the provision of PPE (disposable masks and hand sanitizer)for participating site staff and tour participants.
“Due to the exceptional circumstances of COVID-19, Doors Open 2020 was postponed. Now that the province has moved the KFL&A region into Phase 2, Stage 3 of its Framework for Reopening, we are looking ahead to September and re-organizing Doors Open 2020 as a broader celebration of community cultural heritage spaces, as well as an opportunity for community members to re-engage and explore these spaces in a safe and appropriate manner,” comments Jamie McKenzie-Naish.
