Join Lower Mainland Curators for our first meeting of 2026 on Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 2:30 – 4:00pm.  This free virtual session is primarily intended for folks involved in the GLAM sector. Email [email protected] to RSVP.

• Learn from three presentations that explore the importance of food as cultural heritage!
• Presentations followed by a Q&A session

About the Presentations

Curating FOODWAYS and Hong Wo同和
Zoë Chan, FOODWAYS (Curator) and Mawenzhu Abbi Shi, Hong Wo同和  (Curator)
Richmond Art Gallery

Zoë Chan and Mawenzhu Abbi Shi will discuss the development of the exhibitions FOODWAYS presented at Richmond Art Gallery in tandem with the pop-up exhibition Hong Wo同和 at the City of Richmond Archives in 2024. These exhibitions reflected on how food and its diverse associated rituals, traditions, and social interactions shape individual and collective experiences of identity, labour, place, and community. Bringing the two projects into conversation, the presentation will explore their curatorial approaches while working with contemporary artworks and archival materials.

Itadakimasu (いただきます)
Beyond food, fun, and festivals at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Sherri Shinobu Kajiwara (Director|Curator)
Nikkei National Museum

Itadakimasu is said before eating in Japan. While it literally means “I humbly receive,” it’s really about gratitude—toward the food itself and toward all the people who played a role in bringing the meal to the table, from farmers to cooks.

Kajiwara speaks to the value of food as a bridge to Nikkei history and Japanese culture. The upcoming exhibition at the NNM from March – Sept 2026 is curated by the Powell Street Festival former director Emiko Morita on 50 years of the festival at which Japanese street and Nikkei heritage foods feature prominently, but let’s dive into food heritage at the NNM beyond food, fun, and festivals.

Creating Space in the Kitchen
Jane Lemke, delecTABLE: Burnaby Food Journeys (Curator)
Burnaby Village Museum

Jane Lemke (BVM Curator) presents on the feature exhibit delecTABLE: Burnaby Food Journeys, on now at Burnaby Village Museum and how the exhibit uses food to promote cross-cultural understanding.

About Lower Mainland Curators Group

The Lower Mainland Curators Group (LMCG) is for anyone with an interest in curatorial work, ideas, or themes in British Columbia.

The group is coordinated by a team of volunteer organizing members from museums around Metro Vancouver to discuss topics or themes related to curatorial work. It is for anyone with an interest in our sector including students, museum workers, and those in professions facing similar issues.

We present quarterly virtual and in-person sessions to discuss newly launched projects, share challenges and successes, and discuss lessons learned.

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