It’s mid-July and hot, but there’s still lots of excitement in the arts and culture community.
The Rural and Northern Art Show opened in the Pavilion Gallery in Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg on Sunday, July 12.
There were about 30 pieces of art on display from the prizewinning entries at the five provincial juried shows. The artworks represented a variety of media.
The Rural and Northern Show is also judged and we are thrilled to report that the Northern Visual Arts (NorVA) Centre’s own Avery Ascher, from The Pas, placed second.
Unfortunately, Avery was not able to be there to receive the honour but we made lots of noise in
celebration.
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Plans in Flin Flon are well underway for the September celebration of Culture Days. As you may know, our town has embraced the concept of a national celebration of the arts ever since its official launch in 2010.
Culture Days was created “in response to the growing recognition that a vibrant arts and culture sector contributes directly to a healthy and stable society” (Culture Days website, 2015).
Culture Days is a volunteer initiative designed to involve as many citizens as possible in arts activities over a three-day time frame each September.
People are invited to view art and artists, and to actually make art or, in the case of the artists, to demonstrate their techniques and the beauty of their art form.
Because of the volunteerism, almost all of the activities during the Culture Days weekend are free but there is still a cost to purchase the materials needed for people to express their inner artist.
Crystal Kolt, the Flin Flon Arts Council’s cultural coordinator, assumes responsibility for most of the planning and organization that goes into Culture Days, and she rallies a mighty army of volunteers to assist.
This year, the theme is “Dance!” and in addition to the now-famous “Dancing Down Main Street,” there will be contemporary dance, Bollywood and maybe even ballet.
This is all in addition to 80-plus activities and events we have come to expect.
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One of the more successful fundraising activities that have been initiated in town of late is the “Wood ’n’ Wire” series of music evenings at Johnny’s Social Club.
There will be Wood n Wire events in August and perhaps one in September, prior to the Culture Days weekend, to provide funds for Culture Days.
On Saturday, August 8, the leading cast members from the spring production of Les Misérables, John Bettger (Jean Val Jean), Collette McKeen (Eponine) and Kevin Imrie (Javert) will perform in their favourite personal styles.
Rumour has it that they have invited friends to round out the show and of course the musicians we have come to expect, Mark Kolt (musical director, Flin Flon Community Choir) on keyboards and Craig Bancroft (Enjolras) on drums will be there.
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On Saturday, August 22, plans are in the works for an evening of Celtic music with Ron and Patty Scott from The Pas and Natalie Milligan from Flin Flon confirmed to date.
The September event is likely to be “Another Night on Broadway,” so you can count on some great performances then, too. The cost for the evenings will be $15, with all profits going towards Culture Days activities. It likely goes without saying but we will say it anyway – these events are ‘bring your own treats’.
While Johnny’s Social Club is becoming a popular venue for local performers, it’s also starting to attract visiting musicians.
Earlier this year Newfoundland traditional musician Matthew Byrne and Winnipeg blues legend Big Dave McLean both had sold out shows at Johnny’s.
Looking ahead, fans of bluegrass music and supercharged country will love the blend of harmonies and dynamic picking of Winnipeg’s Osmond-Davis Band, who will be stopping in Flin Flon for one show at Johnny’s on Thursday, August 13.
Flin Flon is not only blessed to have the range and depth of artistic / performing / cultural talent available to entertain its citizens, but also lucky to have them do so for free.
Last year 73 per cent of people who attended a Culture Days activity said it enriched their life; 89 per cent said Culture Days was a meaningful event in their community; and 91 per cent said arts and cultural events in their community made it a more enjoyable place to live.
So, what can we do to make sure we keep our arts and culture scene thriving? Someone should look into that...Hmmm...
