Vote for Alberta Arts Days!

Posted: Tuesday, May 17th 2011

The Red Deer Arts Council needs your help! They are competing for a $25 000 grant to go towards Alberta Arts Days. The Keg is hosting a contest, in which the winner will receive $25 000 to go to their project. The Red Deer Arts Council is a finalist for the award, and are now searching for support to vote online for the “3 Days of Alberta Arts Days” project.  Everyone can vote daily, on The Keg Thanks A Million website


During Alberta Arts Days, the Red Deer Arts Council hopes to raise awareness of the benefits of the arts and local artisans across our community through schools, events and celebrations open to Red Deer and area residents. The Red Deer Arts Council is working with partner groups, Red Deer College, Central Alberta Theatre (CAT), City of Red Deer, Red Deer Retired Teachers Association, Downtown Business Association, Red Deer Public and Catholic Schools, The HUB (Persons with Developmental Disabilities), Against the Wall Theatre, Primestock Theatre, multi-cultural organizations, local performers, literary artists and local visual artists to bring a series of events over three-days to our city that would help not only the partners, but every school student, family, artist and citizen in Red Deer to feel the benefit of having art, in many shapes and forms, in our city. We expect the awareness of the Arts to grow; and understand the quality of life, that the arts bring to a community, to expand among our citizens.

Our goal is to plan, implement and celebrate three days of events including two major events; The Red Deer College Arts Centre’s 25th Anniversary and CAT opens their new venue, City Centre Stage, and hosts the main event, a Multi-Cultural Arts Showcase with local artists of all disciplines including multicultural dance and music performers; local movies, from students in the RDC’s Motion Picture Arts Program; a local aboriginal film called Spirit Seekers; a visual arts exhibition and hands-on activities.
Some other events include:
*Host 1500 elementary school children to a dramatic production.
* RDC Alumni on Stage hosts Heartbroken Heroes CD Release Party; an afternoon workshop for high school students to learn about the roles in the development process of creating and producing an album of original works; evening concert fosters an opportunity for the community of central Alberta to network, support and celebrate original works of its own.
* Artist workshops with Middle and High School students.
*Arts on Main Stage at RDC Arts Centre, features Central Alberta visual and performing artists
*Winter Solstice Family Concert, by an Alberta musician, cultivates a musical appreciation in children by having them attend a concert, understand and enjoy it.
*History Alive: directed and acted by local actors portraying people from Red Deer’s past, participants will visit various public art and historical locations in the downtown core. Following the tour, a wrap celebration and BBQ will be hosted at Centennial Park.
A committee of the partners is planning the events; we are seeking sponsors and funders to support these events. The project will be completed on September 30th, October 1st and 2nd, and an evaluation meeting to follow.
The funds from the Keg’s Thanks a Million grant would enable us to ensure that all schools would have an opportunity to participate in the events, artist fees are paid, and that the free family events available to all Red Deer’s citizens are successfully marketed and hosted. This funding will allow all schools in Red Deer, rather than a limited number of schools the opportunity to be involved.

To vote, please visit The Keg Thanks A Million webpage.