For immediate release – November 24, 2022, Kenora Ontario
ARTSFEST 2022 video highlights creativity, accessibility, diversity and fun
Kenora, Ontario: Lake of the Woods Arts Community (LOWAC) released its ARTSFEST 2022 video at its Annual General Meeting (AGM), held at the Lake of the Woods Museum in Kenora, on Tuesday, November 22. The video is available on LOWAC’s YouTube and Facebook pages and on its website.
“The reaction was what we had hoped for,” said Leanne Fournier, president of LOWAC. Fournier credits film producer Matt Kennedy of UpRiver Media for capturing the spirit of the event, which took place July 22 and 23, 2022 on the grounds of The Muse – Lake of the Woods Museum and Douglas Family Art Centre.
“Above all else, we wanted an event that was free and accessible to everyone in the community – as a performer or exhibiting artist, or as a visitor,” explains event coordinator and ceramicist Aimee Baldwin. “We worked very hard to put together an event that was open and welcoming.”
The video includes enthusiastic words from event coordinators Baldwin and Everette Fournier, performers like Olivia Whiddon, Edward Franko, and Esmé Boone, and artists Marylou Goodwin, Irene McCuaig, Tersoo Tsevende, Keifer Floreal, Evelyn Finlayson and Tim Martin.
It also includes several shots from the first ever “Nish Deva Fashion Show”, which featured a collection of Indigenous fashions by Evelyne Finlayson and independent artists presenting their own regalia. The show included designers of all ages who walked through the festival site to the strains of music from the main stage. LOWAC offers its sincere appreciation to Evelyn and her team, which also included organizer Janine Seymour, for their part in bringing this stunning work to the festival.
Everett Fournier said, “The audience was mesmerized as were the performers who sang and played as the Nish Deva show unfolded throughout the festival site. It was a big moment for all of us.”
Highlights from the very successful KIDZONE are also included as well as performances and exhibits by a variety of artists. A full listing of performances and exhibiting artists is available at lowac.ca/artsfest.
“We couldn’t have done this without partners like The Muse, the City, Harbourtown Biz, and our funders, which included Ontario Trillium Foundation, Kenora and Lake of the Woods Community Foundation and the Kenora Hospitality Alliance, as well as our volunteers and enthusiastic members of the community,” said Fournier. “It sets the stage for another great festival in 2023!”
Members at the AGM were all enthusiastically in favour of LOWAC again presenting ARTSFEST mid-July 2023 on The Muse grounds. The final date and details are being confirmed.
Volunteers are needed
LOWAC will be looking for volunteers to help in early 2023! If you’d like to offer your help please fill out our survey or let us know by emailing lowacdirectors@gmail.com. We need an ARTSFEST committee chair and volunteers to help with:
- Artist Coordination
- Site Setup/Takedown
- Volunteer Scheduling
- Green Room
- KIDZONE
- Marketing/Communications
- Fundraising
More information:
Phone: 807-407-9045