Calling all artists.
Submissions sought for new Niagara arts festival

Mike Zettel, Staff
Published on Nov 21, 2008
LINK

The organizers of a new Niagara arts festival taking place next spring know there's plenty of homegrown talent in the region, and they hope to help it take root.

Artists of all types, including performance, film and other visual forms, are being asked to make submissions to In the Soil: Niagara's Homegrown Arts Festival.

Festival co-founder Joe Lapinski, said organizers are looking for artists with a Niagara connection. That not only means people who live in or were born in region, but also those with works depicting Niagara.

"We just need it to be some sort of connection," he said.

Lapinski said the festival, which was announced with a call for submissions on Nov. 11, is already a year in the making and has its roots in performing arts festival called Niagara Weave, which was run for four years from 2000-2003 by Brock University.

"It was a good idea, and I'm not too sure why it stopped," he said.

In the Soil is still in the budding stage with only one night and venue picked so far, April 23 at Brock's Sean O'Sullivan Theatre. However, Lapinski said it's intended to be a week-long showcase of Niagara's talent running from April 17-24, with many of the works being shown at a variety of downtown venues.

The festival name is meant to depict the growing arts scene in the region, while also tying into Niagara's status as a prime agriculture area, Lapinski said.

"We wanted to pick a name that represents Niagara and growth because we all recognize there's a lot of growth -- arts growth and community growth -- happening right now," he said.

The festival is a partnership between Brock's Centre for the Arts, Suitcase in Point Theatre Company, Yummy Recordings, Pulse Niagara and the St. Catharines and Area Arts Council.

Applications for the festival are due by January 30, 2009 at 4 p.m., and auditions will take place in February.

A jury comprised of local professionals will announce its results in March.

For more information and to download an application form, visit www.inthesoil.on.ca.