From trying to make pottery or belly dancing to seeing some of the top performers around Central Alberta, Alberta Arts Days has free festivities for all ages from Sept. 18 to 20.
The Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery has organized the Alberta Arts Days Chase.
Based on the Amazing Race, the free activity isn’t about how quickly teams go from one event to another, but how many different participating arts events they take part in during the three-day period.
Karin Richardson-MacKenzie, special projects co-ordinator, said at least 20 venues are offering 30 arts activities around Red Deer.
People can learn to juggle at the Red Deer Public Library, create a “sneaker” at alleyscape studio, try throwing on a ceramic wheel in the new visual art studios at Red Deer College or learn about belly dancing at Belly Elegance.
The Alexander Way Arts Festival, located at 52nd Avenue (between 47th and 48th Streets) and in Centennial Park, takes place from noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 19 and is a chase location.
More information is available at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery’s space at the Parkland Mall, at 67th Street and Gaetz Avenue, or by going online to www.reddeermuseum.com.
Awards given out for the team that has gone to the most events and for the team that has created the best video.
Red Deer Public Schools middle school students will take part in Super Start-Up Day, along with École La Prairie, on Sept. 19. More than 20 clinicians and beginner band students will go to Glendale Middle School for a day of learning.
Arts lovers will also have a free day of festivities at the Fine Arts and Multi Media Centre at the Community Learning Campus in Olds on Sept. 19. The campus was chosen as one of five flagship celebrations and received $45,000 from the provincial government to host the event.
“We have kind of a three-ring circus of arts activities going on,” said Kerry Moynihan, executive director at the Community Learning Campus.
In the arts room in the centre on Sept. 19, activities include: woodworking with Bill Windsor, making art trading cards with Artsparks and pattern making with Olds College apparel technology students and instructors.
During the day from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sept. 19 there will be a new performer on the TransCanada Theatre stage every 12 minutes, including everything from Christian pop music to bluegrass, piano, folk, heavy metal, dancers and fiddlers.
Art displays will showcase the work of the Olds Art Club, Wellspring Visual ArtNetwork Association and Olds High School students. A full schedule is available at www.communitylearningcampus.ca
The evening festivities include performances by Lacombe country singer Gord Bamford, the Polyjesters, originally of Didsbury, and Red Deer’s Jenn Beaupre, a pianist and vocalist. Tickets are available at the Bell e-Learning Centre in Olds or by calling 403-556-4762.
Moynihan said being one of the five flagship celebrations is a real feather in the CLC’s cap.
“We’re quite honoured. It helps us establish our theatre and gets us on the map amongst performers. It’s a really important marketing tool, but also it’s a good thing for Central Alberta, in a rural setting, to have such a fine theatre.”
A listing of other festivities going on in Central Alberta as part of Alberta Arts Days is available online at www.culture.alberta.ca/artsdays/
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com