Art
North Shore art institutions adjust to life without an audience – North Shore News
Art institutions on the North Shore are bracing for what could be a longer than usual intermission during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
On one of the end of the North Shore, Deep Cove Stage Society has cancelled its April and June shows while on the other end, in West Vancouver, Kay Meek Arts Centre has suspended all its productions to at least the end of May.
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And every other arts centre in between on the North Shore has found itself in a similar bind.
“We’re still hopeful for October,” said Chris Stanley, director at large for Deep Cove Stage Society, about its presumptive fall production of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Lenore Swenerton, director of donor relations and audience development at Kay Meek, noted that up to a quarter of the arts facility’s revenue has traditionally come from its spring productions, which have in large measure been moved to September – although they’ve so far not been able to reschedule everything.
“We’re hoping that people will just transfer the ticket revenue over, but we’re still losing that cash flow now,” said Swenerton. “If people aren’t coming, they’re not engaged. And if they’re not engaged, then they’re not donating to us. … Even a small donation would make a huge difference to us.”
In accordance with COVID-19 event restrictions, all Kay Meek events for the next six weeks are to be cancelled or postponed. Full details here: https://t.co/fsvpA5GwKm
— Kay Meek Arts Centre (@KayMeekCentre)
March 17, 2020
Nancy Cottingham Powell, executive director at North Van Arts, echoed Swenerton’s plea to effectively keep ticket revenue invested in the places on the North Shore that let artists, musicians and the creatively-inclined showcase their work.
“Don’t ask for a refund, if you can,” said Powell, pointing out that places like Kay Meek, Presentation House Theatre, Centennial Theatre, and numerous other North Shore venues both big and small depend on ticket sales to keep the lights on and the magic happening. “If you can financially pull it off, let them keep those ticket revenues.”
North Van Arts found itself in the eccentric situation of launching its vast North Shore Culture Compass last month, right before most public spaces and arts venues were forced to close due to social distancing requirements introduced by the province to combat the pandemic, said to Powell.
However, the Culture Compass – an interactive mapping tool which features more than 450 listings of local points of cultural and historic significance – has since become an online hotspot for people looking to engage with local culture from the safety of their homes, according to Powell, adding that the tool features many entertaining and captivating bits of local colour, history, and artistic exploration.
“We’ve transferred our messaging from ‘Go navigate North Shore culture’ to ‘Use this tool to discover North Shore culture,’” said Powell. “Apparently there was a goat craze in Lower Lonsdale in the early 1990s and everybody had pet goats. That was a real thing. Those are the fun things people can discover poking around.”
In addition to closing Lower Lonsdale’s CityScape Community Art Space to the public, North Van Arts has also cancelled what would have been its 21st annual Art in the Garden festival scheduled for the end of May as well as much of its ongoing arts education programming.
“We were super lucky we got the Art Crawl in, which was the first week of March,” noted Powell.
I will be presenting a four-week “Introduction to Acrylics” online class via Zoom for @northvanarts May 5 – 26, 6:30PM-8:30PM
They are offering different payment options ranging from free to full cost.
More info & registration at https://t.co/B3oWsLd2E9 pic.twitter.com/y2Duw5TkKg
— Jeff Wilson (@jeffwilsonart)
April 8, 2020
As the arts organization weathers the uncertainty of the pandemic, they’ve endeavoured to offer some online arts education opportunities where they can, she said, including a weekly pay-what-you-can online video session of songs, stories and family art activities hosted by North Van Arts’ own Joyelle Brandt.
“We’re also setting up online galleries,” said Powell. “Right away we identified that people were going to go stir crazy at home.”
Polygon Gallery has also been forced to shut its 25,000-square-foot facility at the edge of the North Vancouver waterfront for the time being.
As art institutions across the country are being forced to go dark for an indeterminate period of time right now, Polygon director Reid Shier said many organizations will be compelled to make some tough decisions.
With Polygon staff currently working remotely, Shier said his team are working hard to bring the public what arts and photographic programming they can, such as curating a weekly exhibition on Instagram and turning its monthly Kids First Saturdays into a weekly online affair which encourages youth to keep creating at home. There is also a Polygon Podcast, which focuses on artists and creators and their prominence in these times of uncertainty, in the works, according to Shier.
A post shared by The Polygon Gallery (@polygongallery) on Apr 8, 2020 at 12:44pm PDT
“Everybody’s kind of looking towards the fall as a date when at least we’ll have a better sense of what the future holds,” said Shier. “The way that artists are addressing these situations and challenges are vital for us.”
BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University has also cancelled or postponed the remainder of its upcoming slate of shows and events, with staff now looking towards the new season which starts this fall.
Fiona Black, director of programming at the centre, noted that, much like Kay Meek, they’re trying to reschedule as many events that have been cancelled as possible, such as the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio who had been originally booked to play their brand of up-tempo funky jazz last month.
“We’ve managed to reschedule them for Nov. 27, 2020. We don’t have to wait another year for them,” said Black.
Swenerton also noted that, at an upcoming date, classical pianist Ian Parker has agreed to do an online concert at Kay Meek which will then be broadcast online live to audiences.
And it’s artistic and creative moments like this, and their importance to society at large, that have really come into focus while the pandemic has raged on, according to Black.
“This is a privilege that we kind of took for granted for a lot of our life – the ability to go out and attend shows. This has been a huge privilege to have lost,” said Black. “The need for it will be that much greater when we’re able to come together again.”
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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