It’s no secret that the pandemic has been especially hard on the performing arts. And so, with the promise of brighter days ahead, Penticton Art Gallery curator, Paul Crawford, was itching to restart the arts with the Ignite the Arts Festival.
“We wanted to be the first event that gets people out,” he says of the 2-week event held in April 2022, which featured music, art showings, indigenous cultural events and storytelling, sculpture contests and much more at locations across Penticton.
While tickets were sold for events during the second week, all events during the first week were entirely free. “We needed an event that would bring people to our city in some of the not-so-busy times but also give people a reason to stay and take part in the festival.”
To offset the cost of running the festival and providing free opportunities, the Community Foundation provided a grant for $7,500. “We have many donors who are very supportive of the arts community,” says Community Foundation’s Sarah Trudeau. Mark your calendar for next year’s event!