Mountain View Arts Festival (MVAS) officials are gearing up for another exciting weekend in Didsbury, from Sept. 14 to 15, and are currently asking artists of all media - in both Mountain View County and across Central Alberta - to contact them to showcase their work.
Kathleen Windsor, president of the MVAS, told the Gazette that though she can't release a list of performers or artists at this point, the lineup is already looking good, and the society is still accepting applications from artists of every kind.
“Anybody that does artwork of some sort - and we're bringing in lots of people - there will be lots of people looking at their work, and they'll be able to sell their products,” said Windsor.
“So if anybody's looking for art too they can come down,” she said, noting that interested parties can learn more and contact the society by visiting their website at (www.mountainviewartssociety.ca).
The society is also hoping to showcase student artists and is asking parents and art teachers to save some of their kids' work to display at the festival, she said.
“It's an event where people can come and spend an hour - or five hours - with their kids and grandkids. It's Didsbury sharing our community and all the cool things we have right here, and that's what this is all about,” she said.
“Besides promoting and encouraging artistic activities and helping the artists that are in our area, we want to showcase our community and all the amazing things we've got.”
The festival locations will be at the same places as last year, namely the Didsbury Museum, the Didsbury Municipal Library, the train station, as well as Rosebud Valley, she noted.
Admission and parking are free, and the Didsbury Lions Club will be running the shuttle bus service to and from the various locations, and town officials will be giving tours for riders, she said.
The Artisan Village, which will be set up in the valley, will provide a place for artists to showcase and sell their work, will host the Calgary Stampede stage where musicians and others can perform, and the valley will once again be home to the Sons of Fenrir, a Viking re-enactment group, she said.
The Sons of Fenrir are bringing both artisan and battle groups and will entertain and amuse attendees with a weekend of blacksmithing, crafting, and realistic battles.
She noted the Vikings are back not only because of popular demand, but also because of the large Scandinavian influence in the area, which is going to be featured at the museum during the festival.
“We've got Scandinavians from Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland who settled this area, and so this is going to fit right in with what's happening at the museum, which is a lot more showcasing of the Scandinavian influence,” she said.
One new event organizers are going to try is called Recycle Town, which will be an area set up where kids and adults alike can create crafts out of recycled items, with the goal of building a miniature town.
“So that's a pretty creative masterpiece, is the wonderful recycle town,” she noted.
She added they will also accept non-profit organizations with a focus on the arts, culture, or heritage.
The quilt exhibit at the train station is expanding from last year and will also house the Didsbury Senior Support Services bistro for the weekend, she said.
“There's so much to see. Kids just love the museum, and the library has really picked up the pace this year and has added in so many different things that they just couldn't swing last year.”
Miss Rodeo Canada Gillian Shields, who hails from Didsbury, will be the festival ambassador and spend her time visiting with people.
“We're very pleased to have her, and she's pleased to be home,” said Windsor.
