Latest Arts News

Mayors celebration of the Arts goes online for 2020

Thursday, 03 September 2020 12:25 Richard Amery

Covid- 19 has forced the Allied Arts Council to tweak their annual Mayor’s Celebration for Business and the Arts.

Gabe Thaine is among the performers at the Mayor's Celebration of the Arts, Sept. 10. Photo by Richard Amery
Instead of the traditional ticketed luncheon and awards celebration, there will be a free live performance, Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m., which will be broadcasted on Shaw Channel 9 as well as on Youtube.
“We’ve been forced to pivot,” said Allied Arts Council communications manager, Kelaine Devine.
“So we’re going to be having live performances by Troy Emery-Triggs, dancers Claire Lint and Catherine McLaughlin and local musician Gabe Thaine. This year we also have John Wort Hannam. They’ll be performing live from different spaces in Casa and they’ll be interspersed with the awards videos, She enthused.

“Troy is a dancer, performer and visual artist (He has created several of his own shows including ‘They Shoot Buffalo’ Don’t They?’. He’s from Fort Macleod who usually performs all over the world, but he hasn’t been able to because of Covid. So I’m really excited to see him. He works a lot with Treaty 7 and he performed at the Lt. Governor’s celebrations a few years ago,” she said.

Community relations manager and event organizer Dawn Leite is excited, because all of the performances will feature original music, as the Shaw broadcast requires original copyrighted works.
“We asked why would people tune in to this broadcast. Usually the program is an 20 minutes long, with people eating and then they have to leave because it is in the middle of their work day. So we decided to turn this event into a local artists showcase,” said Leite, who will be busy co-ordinating three different camera crews all over Casa, Sept. 10.

The dancers have also arranged for original music.

Local artists wanted for City of Lethbridge mural program

Friday, 14 August 2020 13:03 Richard Amery

Downtown Lethbridge already has a lot of lovely murals decorating buildings downtown, but the City of Lethbridge is looking for more.

The Slice features one of several beautiful murals downtown. Photo by Richard Amery
The City of Lethbridge is looking for building owners and local artists to collaborate on beautifying the city with a new public art call.
“ It’s an opportunity for artists and building owners to collaborate on beautifying the city,” said City of Lethbridge Community Arts and Culture , Recreation and Culture manager Jillian Bracken.

The city is willing to fund up to 10 works at $15,000 each.
The City of Lethbridge and Heart of the City Committee announced the program earlier this week. It is something that they have been working on for quite a few years, but got delayed by Covid 19.

“ It will be funded 100 per cent up to $15,000. It really is a great opportunity,” she continued.

Applicants must be either the owner of a building in Lethbridge or a Lethbridge/Lethbridge area artist. Bracken said the city is willing to help pair artists and owners for the project.

“ A mural is an artwork painted or applied directly on a wall. Murals help add vibrancy to our community by activating public spaces, promoting community expression, and deterring graffiti vandalism. EOIs can be submitted by either building owners seeking a mural on an exterior building wall, or by an artist who has received permission from a building owner to install a mural on an exterior building wall,” notes the art call online https://www.publicartlethbridge.ca/current-calls/
It is designed as a pilot project which will hopefully result in the development of a formal mural program.

Whoop Up Days art contest welcomes southern Alberta artists

Friday, 07 August 2020 12:01 Richard Amery

Whoop-Up days is connecting with Southern Alberta’s thriving art community with the Whoop Up Days art contest.
“It’s a way for us to connect to the local art community,” Exhibition Park Chief Operating Officer Mike Warkentin.

Mike Warkentin talking abut Whoop Up Days 2020. Photo by Richard Amery
“We want to showcase local talent, ” he continued.

Artists living in the Lethbridge and district region, anywhere south of Calgary are welcome to submit any original artwork in a poster or canvass 18x24 inches.

No copyrighted characters are permitted, though artists are welcome to incorporate the Exhibition Park and Whoop Up days logo. All posters become exclusive property of Exhibition Park and may be used for reproduction and promotional purposes.

Whoop Up Days 2020 events focus on food and families

Friday, 07 August 2020 11:41 Richard Amery

Whoop Up Days has been a great way for the Lethbridge community to wind up summer for the last 100 years.
Unfortunately due to Covid-19, all touring concerts have been cancelled, as well as touring midway events, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun at home with your families.

Mike Warkentin annoucnces socially distanced programming for whoop Up Days 2020. Photo by Richard Amery
This year, Exhibition Park is celebrating Whoop up Days 2020 with food, which dominates the family-centric events planned, Aug. 18-22.

“It’s exciting to talk about some good news for once, said Exhibition Park Chief Operating Officer Mike Warkentin, noting half of the proceeds of this years events will be donated the Farm Credit (FCC) Drive Away Program which supports nine Southern Alberta Food banks including Interfaith Food Bank, Lethbridge Food Back, and foo banks in Bow Island, Pincher Creek, Taber, Coaldale, Picture Butte, Claresholm and Standoff.

“It’s been a challenging year since we announced the cancellation of Whoop-Up Days in April. But it‘s been just as challenging for families and community members,” Warkentin continued.

Umami Shop downtown reached out to Exhibition Park shortly after Whoop Up Days was officially cancelled in April.
They are sponsoring a locally sourced pancake breakfast, Tuesday, Aug.18.
Kits are available for pre orders online www.exhibitionpark.ca for $19.99.
MP Rachel Harder is also hosting a free drive through pancake breakfast, Aug. 18 from 7-10 a.m.. But you have to register at www.rachelharder.ca to take part.

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