Museum and Station Arts Centre offering evening hours

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

The options for local residents looking for cultural opportunities in the evening have increased.

The Station Arts Centre and Annandale National Historic Site have teamed up to offer Culture After Hours. The pilot program will see both facilities open until 7 p.m. on the first and last Thursday of each month.

Station Arts Centre Executive Director Tabitha Verbuyst explained the concept is the extended hours will give those who work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. an opportunity to visit these local attractions.

“It allows people to be able to explore arts, culture and history beyond regular hours,” she said.

For example, Verbuyst said she has no opportunity to go to check out Annandale House exhibits after work because it closes at 4 p.m., and she is done work later than that. She approached Kate Bakos, Culture Heritage Manager/Curator at Annandale House, with the concept.

“We had both talked about wanting to extend hours,” Verbuyst said. “I approached her about doing it together and partnering.”

The new pilot program is also an opportunity for the two cultural entities in town to work together and showcase what is available.

Dependent on the reception of the change, it may be expanded beyond the current summer-only hours.