The celebration of the arts in Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener, Stratford and Waterloo is only ten days away!
The Ministry of Culture and the Ontario Arts Council today announced the details of the three-day spOtlight: festival, now available at www.spotlightfestival.ca
FACTS
- The festival kicks-off Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m. in Kitchener’s Victoria Park and takes place June 6 to 8 in Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener, Stratford, and Waterloo
- More than 100 free activities and events for people of all ages
Among the activities spOtlight: invites you to discover and celebrate…
- Cambridge’s Instrument Petting Zoo: Take a walk through the instrument zoo, experiment on your own or have a qualified music teacher explain proper techniques. Come make music with Beyond the Clef! Presented by Annetta Whetham of Beyond the Clef Music School. Check www.spotlightfestival.ca for venue and times. All ages!
- Guelph’s Found Objects: Join Jesse Stewart, NUMUS Artistic Director, for a discussion and performance about using found objects in his work as a percussionist, composer, instrument builder, and visual artist. Try various found-object percussion instruments. Presented by NUMUS, Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, 358 Gordon St., Saturday, June 7, from 7 to 8 p.m.
- Kitchener’s Storytelling & Drumming Workshop: Join Aaron Bell, Ojibway Storyteller, and the Blue Stone Cloud Drum group for a dynamic workshop in Aboriginal storytelling and drumming. Presented by Ojibway Storyteller and Blue Stone Cloud Drum, check www.spotlightfestival.ca for venue and times. All ages!
- Stratford’s Collage and Colour: Celebrated artist Tony Urquhart works on a series of collage and colour prints, and explores several recently created oil paintings and an opening-box sculpture. Presented by Tony Urquhart, 182 Church Street, Sunday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The studio is in the garden through the white doors on the right side of the house.
- Waterloo’s Hot Glass: The technology behind glass beads and marbles is ancient, and beadmaking is one of the oldest human arts. Artist Mark Lewis will demonstrate the art and provide interesting insight into the process. Take home a marble or bead of your own! Presented by the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, 25 Caroline Street North, Sunday, June 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. All ages!
…and much more. Go to www.spotlightfestival.ca for details.
QUOTES
"The arts add tremendous richness to communities across this province," said Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture. "In recognition of this contribution, the Ontario Government has proclaimed the first weekend in June as ‘Celebrate our Artists Weekend’. I encourage you to discover the arts in your community and participate in spOtlight: festival"
“We are delighted to partner with the Ministry to produce an event which is dedicated to the creators in our midst and to the creative spirit in us all”, said Martha Durdin, Chair of the Ontario Arts Council. “Thank you to the people of Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener, Stratford, and Waterloo for hosting us this year.”
LEARN MORE
Obtain a copy of the 20-page spOtlight: official festival Guide at local downtown businesses and arts and cultural organizations, in Kitchener-Waterloo’s The Record and The Guelph Mercury on Saturday May 31st and in The Cambridge Times and Stratford Gazette on Friday May 30th.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
Hamal Docter, Communications Coordinator, Ontario Arts Council
416-969-7434 / 1-800-387-0058, ext. 7434; hdocter@arts.on.ca
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our thanks to sponsors: 107.5 DAVE FM, 91.5 The Beat, The Record, The Guelph Mercury, Starlight, Brick Brewing Company, The Walper Terrace Hotel, ECHO Weekly, Stratford City Gazette, Kitchener Downtown Business Association, Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area, SNAP Kitchener/Waterloo, SNAP Cambridge, and SNAP Guelph.
spOtlight: is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Culture and produced by the Ontario Arts Council.