The Art Farm festival of Weyburn has been nominated for a Saskatchewan Arts Award in the leadership-organization category.
Art Farm was held for its fifth and final time at the van der Breggen farm south of Weyburn in June, and organizers are excited to be nominated for an award at the provincial level for a second time. Art Farm was nominated in 2015 as one of three finalists for the Saskatchewan Tourism Event of the Year award.
“We’ve been short-listed, so we’re thrilled. We’re just so excited,” said Heather van der Breggen.
She and daughter Rickee-Lee Webster first started the festival in 2012 by holding a Christmas sale at Heather’s home on the farm along with seven other artists, and 250 people showed up.
Thrilled by the level of interest, the artists formed a board to take the event to the next level, hosting 20 artists with a crowd of 700 in 2013, growing to 40 artists in 2016, and the attendance grew to 2,700 people.
“This group really pulled together and worked hard, and I feel — not for myself, but for the group — we did a bang-up job. We have a super good team, so it’s a really nice thank-you from a level other than local,” she said.
In its five-year run, Art Farm showcased artists from the Weyburn area and from around the province by providing a venue for the public to purchase their work, with painters, potters, sculptors, photographers and performing artists coming together to share their talents.
The outdoor festival included live music on the main stage, and interactive children’s activities and artists.
Van der Breggen noted that the board committed to a five-year run, and they have not decided what the next step will be, whether to organize a new event at her farm or at another venue.
“We’ve had other locations offered to us, but it wasn’t because we didn’t want to do it here at my farm any more. It was that we wanted to keep things fresh, instead of doing something that’s rubber-stamped until nobody comes any more. We committed to five years when we began,” she said.
“Most of us are artists, and are people who like to be inspired. We want to keep doing things that keep inspiring us,” she added, noting the Art Farm board has not disbanded, as they have not yet decided what event they might organize in the future.
“This last one was just amazing for us. We had an after-party that was so awesome for us, and we were able to relax and enjoy it,” said van der Breggen, noting that many people came forward or phoned them afterward to tell them what an amazing event it was.
“The award nomination is recognizing the people behind the scenes, which is really awesome. It makes the people behind the scenes feel appreciated,” she said, noting most of the board will be attending the gala for the award presentation.
Recipients will be announced at the awards event on Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Remai Modern in Saskatoon. It will be the first external event held at the gallery. The Saskatchewan Arts Awards brings artists, arts organizations, patrons of the arts and members of the business community together to celebrate the enormous contributions the arts community makes to the province’s quality of life and economy.
The evening’s host will be Saskatoon award-winning writer and comedian Dawn Dumont. Entertainment will include performances by slam poets Brent Chappell and Shanda Stefanson, Native American flute player Jason Chamakese, bass player Felipe Gomez, Little Opera on the Prairie and more. There will also be a display of Jack Sures’ artwork from the Saskatchewan Arts Board’s Permanent Collection.
Tickets for the awards are $80 each, $30 for self-declared artists, and may be purchased online at picatic.com/2017SaskArtsAwards.
