Lethbridge arts groups embracing Arts Days 2016

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Get ready to get your art on as the “artumnal” season begins  Sept. 24- Oct. 2 with ArtsDays takes over Casa and much of downtown.Muffy McKay puts a poster up outide the Allied Arts Council. Photo by Richard Amery


There will be  numerous artistic endeavours happening during that time beginning with Word On the Street outside the Lethbridge Public Library, Saturday, Sept. 24.
 The next 10 days will be filled with music, art, drama and a whole lot of fun.


“ArtsDays usually starts with  Word on the Street, but they moved it to Saturday, so the event is longer,” said Allied Arts Council project co-ordinator Muffy McKay.
“We‘re doing activities beginning on Tuesday. But a lot of groups have booked activities during ArtsDays, so we’re happy to promote them,” added Allied Arts Council communications coordinator Kelaine Devine.
“We need to support each other,” she continued.


“An idea that came from the SOAR festival is we’re having an arts workers meet up at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Sept. 27, which gives a chance for people who work in the arts to come and meet and have a drink together. It’s right after work. And the Owl’s Drink and Draw is right after that which is great because I always want to go, but  when I get home, it‘s difficult to leave my house again,” Devine said, noting a lot of other community groups and arts organizations have planned events  to happen alongside ArtsDays.


 The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra opens their season on Monday, Sept. 26 with Finlandia at the Southminster United Church.


 The big event of the week is the annual Art Walk, happening Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 around the downtown. But before that, the Geomatic Attic brings Big Dave McLean and Tim Williams to sing the Blues at the Geomatic Attic, Sept. 25.
Two dramatic productions continue throughout the week — New West Theatre’s presentation of Cowboy: A Cowboy Story at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Sept. 27-Oct. 1 and University of Lethbridge’s Theatre Xtra has their first presentation of the season at the Dr. Penny Foster building downtown — Alexa Elser’s “Let Me Eat Cake” runs Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

 In addition to  the always popular Art Walk, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 there will also be a walking tour  of old locations of Lethbridge theatres at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1.
 There will also be a gallery stroll, Oct. 1 beginning at 7 p.m. with stops to visit several new exhibitions. It begins at 7 p.m. at Blueprint with the Drunken Sailor’ Merry Crew — Off the Deep End  exhibition, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller’s Opera For a Small Room at the SAAG, Barry Lorne’s exhibition at the Trianon and ends at Plum at 10 p.m.

 
“There are a lot of those. Belinda Crowson from the Galt Museum will be leading that,” McKay said.
 ArtsDays is also piggybacking on today’s Pokemon go craze with a Pokemon Go Public Art Scavenger Hunt, Oct. 1 from 1-5 p.m.


“ It’s going to be a big family affair,” Devine said.
 Events are happening throughout the week all over downtown, but most of the bigger events are happening at Casa including the artisans market, Oct. 2. That is the same day as the Family Affair On the Square, which features the Lethbridge Society of Independent Dance Artists Class from noon to 2 p.m. the Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, from 2-4 p.m. in the  Casa dance studio, family art classes including artists trading cards, community painting, chalk painting and the one pound clay challenge and live music from Karen Romanchuk, Hibikaya, supported by Southern Alberta Taiko Association performing at 2 p.m. and Mary-Ann McTrowe.


 The Lethbridge Music and Speech Arts festival meeting and showcase concert happens at Casa, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m.


 There is an arts themed movie festival at Casa, Sept. 30 featuring documentaries about artists from around the world.  Tickets for that are $20. Each film will be paired with fine wine.
There is also a film at the Lethbridge Public Library, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. where “ The First Monday in May” will be screened.


 Across the street from Casa, Oktoberfest takes over Galt Gardens,  Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 featuring live music and German beer.
 Arts Days is the beginning of the Artumnal season so we want people to explore it all and  celebrate the arts in Lethbridge,” Devine said.

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
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