CORNWALL/SOUTH GLENGARRY – A classical music and arts festival won’t be happening this year but will, instead, be regrouping for Canada’s 150th birthday.
Trilli’Arts was unsuccessful in getting $72,000 from the City of Cornwall through the grants to outside agencies program for its August festival this year.
Understandably, with the unsuccessful city grant application making up 65 per cent of the festival’s budget, the three day event is cancelled this year.
“It’s an expensive endeavor to put on a festival of that (caliber) and bring in really renowned artists and such but the area is hungry for this type of art, they want this type of music,” Executive Producer Danielle Vaillancourt told Cornwall Newswatch.
The group is, instead, getting prepared for a celebration in 2017 to celebrate the country’s 150th birthday.
Vaillancourt said there are plans for a big celebration at the St. Raphael’s Ruins Aug. 18-20, 2017, which will include a reunion of the Riverdale String Ensemble and mainly local artists.
“We are trying to keep it very local…we are using mainly local artists and a lot of Canadian pieces, so it’s going to be three disciplines. It’s going to be music, dance and visual arts,” Vaillancourt told CNW.
She said they are going to be applying for grants for the 2017 event, including the Confederation grant through The Canada Council for the Arts, which is due in October.
Grant applications are also planned through the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the City of Cornwall for some recognition of the event.
Trilli’Arts plans to make a presentation to city council in October.
Vaillancourt, who is also part of Your Arts Council, is involved in Saturday’s (July 30) busking festival called YACabuskalooza from 1-5 p.m. in Lamoureux Park.
Vaillancourt is anticipating a “big shift” in Cornwall over the next few years and more people embrace the arts.