By Pam Smyth
It began as a vision of Attila Glatz, a Hidden Valley cottager, who with co-founder Susan Alberghini persuaded local arts supporters that a festival would give both visitors and residents a way to connect, meet and develop cultural exchanges and celebrations.
Glatz asked for volunteers from the community to bring their ideas and muscle. Some of the questions asked included: ‘What is the financial risk?” and “Would audiences pay more than $5 to see a show?”
The first season in 1992 featured singer Maureen Forrester, the National School of Ballet, and Kerry Stratton conducting the Festival Symphony Orchestra, and the answer to those questions was a resounding ‘yes.’ The audiences would pay and the patrons would cover the financial deficit.
More than financial risk, it was the determination of both local patrons and volunteers to give their immeasurable talents and willingness to learn, and friendly hospitality that established the festival’s reputation for delivering excellence in the arts. Artists and audiences alike comment on how well they are taken care of and how they look forward to coming back to this festival.
However, accused of being “classical and cultural elitists,” the festival soon realized that contemporary artists of folk, rock, jazz, blues, country and world music would be welcomed by our audiences’ diverse taste.
This past season demonstrated that diversity is healthy, both artistically and financially, with performers such as Hawksley Workman and Bruce Cockburn, Stina Nyquist’s play The Lost Chord, Music at Noon with Marion Haggart, Last Night at the Proms with conductor Kerry Stratton and the fringe Poetry Café.
Artistic diversity and inclusion are not unique to this festival. In Ireland, a nation of saints and scholars and a festival every month of the year, there are not only Irish poets, plays and Celtic music, but also an incredible variety of international music, dance and theatre is staged. It is exciting and encouraging to see that our festival is in step with the Irish scene.
Olive Braiden of the Irish Arts Council said at Clifden Arts Week (Ireland): “I am here to thank the volunteers who make this festival work. They bring program ideas, children’s participation, they take risks, they are the eyes and ears of the community that keep festivals current, accessible and support the development of cultural expression.”
One could not agree more. Volunteers are the muscle and passion who deliver our arts festival. You can be a part of the production scene by calling Karin Terziano at the Algonquin Theatre, 789-1751 ext. 2244 or festival general manager Rob Saunders at 789-1935.
