The Citadel Theatre, for years the heart of Edmonton’s artistic community, will be the focal point of Alberta Culture Days celebrations in September.

The Citadel was named a ‘feature celebration site’ when details of the fifth-annual celebration of all things arty were announced Tuesday by Culture Minister Heather Klimchuk. The event had been called Alberta Arts Days since its inception, but it was changed to culture this year.

The concept of a feature site is new this year as well, and as Citadel artistic director Bob Baker explained, the theatre site will host a multitude of free, family-friendly cultural options.

Visual and arts groups, improv theatre in conjunction with Rapid Fire Theatre Company, comedy from the ATB Edmonton Comedy Festival, children’s story time, Cantonese opera performances and native drummers will all be part of the three-day celebration Sept. 28-30. Evenings will include live music.

Edmonton cultural groups that received funding for Alberta Culture Days are: St. John’s Institute, the Winspear Centre, the University of Alberta, the Art Gallery of Alberta, Boyle Street Community League, Creative Clubhouse, Edmonton Folk Arts Council, Film & Video Arts Society, Alberta college Conservatory of Music, the National Black Coalition of Canada, and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.

Last year, 93 communities hosted 1,046 events.