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Federal Minister tours Avondale Culture Hub By Heather Desveaux Before he met with cultural ministers from across the country in Halifax on Tuesday June 18, Canada’s Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism first took a drive down some country roads to make an early morning appearance in rural Hants County. Against the backdrop of a blue sky and the brown mud of the Avon River during low tide, Minister Pablo Rodriguez, an MP from Montreal first elected in 2004, met with about thirty members from Hants and Kings County’s cultural sector at the Avon River Heritage Museum and Arts Centre…
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Summer Event Spotlight: Gaspereau Art Market Always a highlight of a Valley summer, the 13th Gaspereau Art Market will take place on Saturday July 6, 1pm-4pm. Fourteen talented artists and craftspersons will be in attendance with their work for sale. Jenny and Megan Osburn will be providing refreshments, and a freewill offering will be collected for the Wolfville Childrens’ Centre. In recognition of this issue’s performing arts theme, we asked participating artists and craftspersons to tell us about what other arts they enjoy participating in or appreciating beyond the work they will have available at the market. Here are a…
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Square Dance Chance at Full Circle Festival By Kim Barlow Full Circle Festival is a sweet little music gathering in Newport on summer solstice weekend, when the Avon River Heritage Museum and surrounding area are filled up with sun-drenched nature-lovers, barefoot muddy children, friendly dogs, and blissed-out dancers. It is one of the first summer weekends when folks shed their workloads and winter worries and find each other in a field to share stories, kombucha, fresh air, and great music. Hannah and Arnie Naiman are a father and daughter musical team from Toronto, performing Appalachian old-time and original songs, and…
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Dana Mills Recognized as Writers’ Trust Rising Star Earlier this month, Valley author Dana Mills was in Toronto as a recipient of The Writers’ Trust of Canada’s Rising Star program, which provides talented emerging writers with a financial award, the mentorship of an established writer, and a two-week residency at The Banff Centre. He was chosen for the award by David Adams Richards. Dana’s short story collection, Someone Somewhere, is available from Gaspereau Press. Photos: Dana Mills (Credit Katherine Holland); The Art Gallery of Ontario 2019 Writers’ Trust Rising Stars panel discussion, June 5, 2019.