The streets, parks and galleries of St. Albert will teem with artistic creativity as StArts Fest gets underway on Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
Much of the buzz surrounding this year’s three-day extravaganza is due to a larger-than-expected cash infusion from Alberta Culture and Tourism.
Fifty-six organizations across the province that have consistently displayed leadership in developing cultural activities were chosen as Alberta Culture Days 2016 celebration sites. Each site receives a grant anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.
St. Albert was chosen as a Feature Celebration Site, the only city in the province to have been selected twice.
Alberta Culture has allocated a $9,000 grant to St. Albert Cultivates the Arts Society, StArts Fest’s organizing body. This is in addition to a $10,000 grant from the City of St. Albert.
“Our original application was for $5,000. The province liked what they saw and asked us to up our game,” said StArts Fest chair Peter Moloney.
“Originally we were going to do things on a small scale. But hey, being a feature site gives us the opportunity to do more things.”
MLA Marie Renaud, who was present at the announcement, commented on St. Albert’s unique and vibrant culture. She added that the city’s high per capita ratio of artists contributes to many innovative artistic projects and the high quality of life.
“It’s a showcase for the arts, diversity and community spirit,” said Renaud who has a special connection to the arts.
The provincial representative for St. Albert is also a visual artist. In her spare time she draws pastel portraits and finds her commitment to the discipline “soothing. It’s a good stress reliever.”
The StArts grants, Moloney explains, are spread evenly across event costs, artist fees, insurance, supplies and various arts organizations contributing projects.
The organizing committee is making sure there are plenty of interactive activities, not only for the three-day festival, but also running throughout the entire month of Sept.
One project is the Keys for the City upright piano, now undergoing an extensive design makeover by visual artist Miles Constable at St. Albert Place. Once completed it will be available to the public for playing a spontaneous medley or two.
Some of the projects such as 6WP are removed from the traditional city core. Five sets of six word poems (6WP) will be showcased as hunt and peck installations along the beautiful Red Willow Trail.
The festival is top-heavy with numerous visual arts projects such as Verve, a vibrant and organic abstract exhibition done by Patricia Coulter and Donna Marchyshyn-Shymko.
There is a visual art unveiling in Riel Park, a quilters’ garden at the Little White School House and talks with British installation artist Tony Stallard at the Art Gallery of St. Albert.
Amplify Youth are creating a giant waterfall of coffee cups and St. Albert Place Visual Arts Council once again highlights the pottery studio, floral arts, the painter’s guild and paper arts.
One activity guaranteed to draw crowds of all ages is the ‘Spocking’ of a Canadian $5 bill. In this tribute to Leonard Nimoy’s Mr. Spock, participants change the face of Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier (face on $5 bill) with hand-drawn pointed ears, sharp eyebrows and a classic Spock hairstyle.
Emerging film buffs can find refuge at St. Albert Public Library where they will learn the techniques of shooting videos on a green screen instead of on location. Paul Steier presents this video production workshop.
Moloney closed by saying, “Organizing StArts Fest is one of those ways I get to know what is going on in the community whether it’s cultural or artistic. For me, when I started I was an artistic caveman. It continually blows me away at the depth in our community and the people we have.”
A complete list of events and activities is available at www.startsfest.ca.
