A cultural hotspot hits the calendar next week.
The annual Spring Arts Bazaar comes to life at the Studio 2880 campus, showing the city what all goes on in the heart of local artists and craftspeople.
The Community Arts Council operates the many activities within the walls of Studio 2880.
The CAC is an umbrella organization that chiefly promotes the city's artists, fosters the city's appreciation of the arts in all its forms, opens channels between the makers of original art and the consumers of it, and generally helps the city have a great time with its rich artistic personality. The Spring Arts Bazaar is one of the CAC's biggest fundraisers and community-builders.
There are many facets to the bazaar. Live musicians are playing, on-site art is being created right before your eyes, artists and artisans are selling their wares, CAC member groups are displaying their grassroots endeavours, the meandering audience (especially kids!) get to try their hand at fine arts demos, and the centrepiece is the chili cookoff - a tournament pitting different community groups against each other for chili recipe supremacy.
The chili is also a gathering point in aid of the Prince George Potters Guild. The potters sell bowls and meal-mugs that equate to your ticket into the cookoff. Once you have your pottery, you get to sample the chili and vote for your favourite flavours.
"This year will not only be the city of Prince George's 100th birthday, but it will also be the 40th annual Chili Cook Off," said Lisa Redpath, the CAC's project co-ordinator.
"There will be 100 specialty mugs you can purchase to celebrate Prince George's 100th Anniversary, coffee and cake."
Redpath called this year's edition of the Spring Arts Bazaar "a grand celebration" of the city and its deep and diverse arts personality.
Artist-In-Residence required
It's time for a new Community Arts Council Artist-In-Residence to move in.
For the past year, watercolour specialist Cliff Mann has been the creator with the keys to the free studio space at the CAC's facility at Studio 2880.
The year before that, it was oil painter Corey Hardeman.
Both enjoyed significant professional acclaim and career growth during their time as the artist-in-residence, and the next one is being sought now. A call for applications is underway.
"We are making the process very easy," said CAC executive director Wendy Young. "All you have to do is answer these questions:"
1. Why you think you would be a good fit for the PGCAC Artist-in-Residence program (in 500 words or less)?
2. What would you do as the 2015-2016 artist in residence?
3. Provide an artist's bio
4. Provide a curriculum vitae including installations, exhibits or other relevant art creations.
5. Submit your package to: executive director of the Prince George Arts Council as soon as possible.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Young at: 250-562-4526.
