The arts-based community of Wells has unveiled its annual programming schedule, as designed by Island Mountain Arts. IMA is a full-spectrum cultural organization that runs year-round courses, classes, concerts and confabulations all pertaining to the arts array.
Located about 90 minutes southeast of Prince George on the doorstep of Barkerville, IMA's pinnacle event is the ArtsWells Festival which is scheduled for Aug. 2-5.
Apart from that, though, is a busy calendar of other activities. Their 43rd annual program guide was released to the public last week.
The item coming quickest on their official roster of events is the Self-Directed Five-Day Residency from Apr. 18-22.
"Spend five days delving into your creative practice in the wintery wonderland of Wells during the Easter-Long weekend," said IMA organizers.
On Apr. 27, come see the Wells-Barkerville Elementary School Exhibition & Live Auction.
On May 3, there is an exhibition reception and artist's talk with Danielle Savage and Alexandra Goodall. Their joint art show is up until June 9.
On June 5, legendary Prince George roots-country troubadour Gary Fjellgaard will perform a live concert at the Sunset Theatre.
Coming after that is a two-day watercolour workshop with Simone Buck starting June 15, then the popular Toni Onley Artists' Project from July 6-14 that has, in the past, "had a tremendous impact on the artistic development of those who have taken part in it. Participating artists spend nine days in Wells working in the IMA studios under the mentorship of senior artists."
On July 6 and 7, respectively, artists Diana Thorneycroft and Peter von Tiesenhausen will give solo talks.
Canadian literature star George Elliott Clarke will be in Wells from July 18-21 for a writing workshop focused on poetry.
The same weekend there will also be a introduction workshop to the gouache form of painting, as led by Kate Scoones.
Northern artist Sarah Zimmerman opens her exhibition with a talk and reception on July 19.
On July 30, there is a slate of songwriting workshops featuring leaders like Doug Cox, Dan Bern, Linda McRae, Al Simmons, Randy Woods and Tom Kubnek, plus a session centred on music creators aged 6-18 led by Corwin Fox, Kia Kadiri, Shawn Stephenson and Maiya Robbie.
After that comes the creative onslaught of the ArtsWells Festival (more than 100 performances on 10 stages, plus 20 workshops, a 1-minute play festival, and inexplicably energizing other built-in things to see and do).
Aug. 19 is when the International Harp & Cello School opens, with a special instructors' concert scheduled to be included.
The Wells Annual Community Ceilidh & Potluck takes place on Aug. 22 with all its Celtic-Breton stomp and style.
The summer closes out with an art exhibition opening and artist's talk with Quesnel's own painting star James Savage.
For full descriptions of these events, and the portals to book attendance and buy tickets, go to the Island Mountain Arts website.
