The Isle of the Arts Festival has wrapped up for 2023 and all attention is on the next big event for the Gabriola Arts Council – the Cultivate Festival. Taking place at multiple venues on Gabriola Island between July 1-9th, we have a great variety of Performing Arts and arts presentations for you to choose from. All performances will be ticketed separately with some free, so you can choose your adventure. The brochure will launch later in May and so will ticket sales, but we thought you’d like to know what is coming up…
July 1st we will launch the opening of Cultivate at the Museum with Footprints of the Wolf and a Gabriola Drum Circle in conjunction with the Museum’s celebration of Canada Day, reimagined. In the afternoon you will find Baroque Fairytales, a classical trio, at the Gabriola Arts & Heritage Centre and later that evening a fabulous Latin band, Rumba Calzada at the Commons. Sunday is a free day at the Commons for families and youth with Move! Groove! Play!. Where Deejay TMG and Isltrax from the Gabriola Sundaze crew spin tunes and Playbriola is there to help kids create cardboard adventure playgrounds from noon until 6pm. The Gabriola Lions will be there with their BBQ. In the evening there is a free concert by the Space Disco Band from Nanaimo, a group to watch as they are going places.
Monday starts off with Snuneymuxw History and Storytelling at the Phoenix followed that night by the Tina Jones Quintet. “52 Stories” by Dave Morris Tuesday afternoon and Vancouver Tap Society with a dynamic presentation in the evening. Wednesday afternoon there is a presentation by Sheila Norgate and the evening brings us a New Orleans Quartet led by Duncan Symonds. July 6th opens the afternoon with the Gabriola Players and an evening concert with Paul Gellman. Friday is all about Twilight Radio Theatre with an afternoon and evening show and all new programming. Saturday is an afternoon for families with the Royal Cajun Band at the Community Hall and a jazzy evening with Organized Crime. Sunday is a big day at the Commons with the Lions Pancake Breakfast, a free morning of Summer Camp Stories and a tribute to Bob Wyche with Sea Chanty songs featuring various guests including Bob Bossin and the Lazy Jacks. Our finale, to wrap up the festival on Sunday July 9th, getting everyone ready for summer, is none other than Frazey Ford. Right here on Gabriola! Can you believe it? So exciting.
Pretty impressive and diverse lineup with a little bit of something for everyone. We will also be hosting one all day workshop called The Flame by Deborah Williams, storyteller, actor, director, and playwright. This inclusive and supportive workshop is focused on learning and growth. The workshop is both challenging and loads of fun. Suitable for beginners and experienced storytellers.
We will also be hosting a themed art show at the Gabriola Arts and Heritage Centre inside with a “built on site” group of installations around the property throughout the festival, and a lively Night Market with AGI Co-op at the Commons on July 5th. We also hope to host an evening “hang out” with late night food + music, at the Skol Pub every night of the festival with food available until 10pm. All the details with times and ticket prices to follow in the brochure, website and posters later in May and the beginning of June. Our local restaurants are also participating with Cultivate specials and Ground Up will be open 6-10pm July 9th with late night snacks and THE famous grilled cheese sandwich!
It is not a new way to present a festival, as the Dancing Man Festival was very similar, but it is new to Cultivate. Tickets range from $15-40 with most in the $20-25 range and humans 15 and under are free. There will be Inclusivity Funding for those who cannot afford tickets, up to the amount of funding we have for that program. We always accept Inclusivity donations, such a great way to support. Watch for more news and feel free to ask questions. Start planning and get your tickets early because this is going to be too much fun.
