HEAD OFFICE: MONTREAL, OCTOBER 1975
VOL.56, No. 10
The Community
Festival
Idea
LIKE EVERYOTHERGOOD IDEA,the proposalto organize
a communityfestivalof the arts may seem slightly
ridiculous,but many communitiesare provingthat
itis possible,
pleasurable
andprofitable.
Peopleare not satisfied
in thesedaysto pass time
idly.They want to have theirmindsand imaginations
stimulated,and the communityfestivalfills these
needs.In a land whereall men and womenshare the
material
goodthingsin life,it is equally
important
to
theirsatisfaction
in livingthatthey havethe opportunity to share in what is beautifuland to have a
partin creating
it.
The questionis : what can your community
do in the
wayof building
a festival
thatwillprovideentertainmentfor citizens,
including
thosewho participate
in
it, and visitors.
The festivalcan be a show-case
for
localmusicians,
vocalists
and dancers.
It can present
programmesthat show what people are doing culturally.
It canbringbackas entertainers
localpeople
who have made successful
artisticcareerselsewhere.
Someone will ask the question: how highbrow,
middle-brow,or lowbrow should a festival be. A
communityfestivalshould not be addressedto any
givenpartof the population.
It shouldcaterto a wide
range of peopleof all ages, highbrowand lowbrow,
andtheirvariedinterests.
The planningof a festivalrequireswide support.
No group,howeverenthusiasticand qualified,can
make a festivalsuccessful
if the peoplein the community are apathetic.A festival must embrace a
spirit,a feelingof involvement.
It willrekindlethe
flameof community
spirit.
A festivalattractsvisitorswho injectmoneyinto
the economy,resulting
in benefitto the serviceand
hospitality
industries,
andfor thismaterial
reasonit
deservesthe supportof localbusinesspeopleand the
municipaladministration.But there is something
beyond money-makinginvolved.The festivalshould
strengtheninterestin more than mundanethings.It
shouldhelpus to improvethe qualityof our lives.
tracethe festivalsof the world throughall their
variationswould be to trace the entire historyof
human religionand human civilization.
It is noteworthy that the Greeks,to whom we owe so much of
our culture,beganbuildingtheirtownsby layingthe
foundations
of a theatre.
Today, Canada has many heavy-weightfestivals:
at Niagara-on-the-Lake,
Charlottetown,
Lennoxville,
Orford,Quebec,and at Stratfordwhere the Shakespearean
Festival
hadits23rdseasonthisyear.Festival
Canada,a month-longexhibitionof talent,ranges
throughopera,ballet,folk singers,
drama,orchestra,
moviesand poetry.
Communityfestivalsare not in that league,but
some add noticeably
to the gaietyof both spectators
and participants,
and to the culturalrichesof the
country.
They may commemorate
an historical
event,such as
theanniversary
of the founding
of a villageor a city.
They may be builtaroundthe birth-placeor home or
centre of activityof a famous person--aStephen
Leacock,economistand writer;a Robert Service,
poet; a Mrs. Louise McKinney, first woman to be
electedto a legislativeassembly;a LauraSecord,
heroine of the war of 1812; or a Simon Newcomb,
world-renownedin mathematicsand astronomy.
A festivalmay stem from the ancestraloriginsof
citizens.For more than eighty years people from
thousands of miles away have been drawn to the
Icelandic Festival at Gimli, a Manitoba town of
2,000 population. Altona, with about the same
population,
has drama and otherattractions
marking
the arrivalin 1874of Mennonite
settlers.
A festivalmay be centredupon a specialtyof the
district
or its ethnicculture.
For example,
the Gaelic
Mod at St. Ann’s,Cape Breton,has as its centrethe
only Gaeliccollegein NorthAmerica.
Coping with difficulty
What is a festival?
A festival
is a timefor happiness
and rejoicing.
To
Many difficulties
will becomeimmediately
apparent
when your planningbegins.You must subscribeto
the validityof Murphy’s
Law:"If anything
can go
wrong,
it will."
Therearevarious
sub-divisions
listed
in theOntario
Provincial
JudgesQuarterly
in April
1973:"Nothing
is everas simpleas it seems;If you
havea foolproof
methodof tryingto pleaseeverybody,somebody
is notgoingtolikeit;If youexplain
something
so clearlythatno onecan misunderstand
it,plenty
will."
Therewillbe critics.
Bohemia
is a stateof mind
inhabited
by peoplewho,whetheror not theyare
creative
or particularly
intellectual,
liketostandon
theside-lines
andscoffat thosewhodothings.
Somewillsaythatthereareno facilities
for a
festival.
A concert
hallisa nicethingtohave,buta
schoolauditorium
or a marquee
willserve,andwhat
bettersetting
cantherebe fora Bachrecital
than
a church
?
TheNovaScotiaFestival
of theArtsstarted
in a
tent communityon the groundsof the ruralhigh
schoolat Tatamagouche.
Itspurpose
was"toprovide
a showcase
of thethingswe can do andenableNova
Scotians
to seewhatotherNovaScotians
havedone
withtraining."
Thereweredancegroupsandsinging
groupsperforming
on open-air
stages,recitals
and
singsongs
in churchandschoolhalls,playsin the
schoolauditorium,
andmarquees
filledwithart and
museumpieces.
Thisexampleemphasizes
the factthatit is not
necessary
to produce
an extravaganza
withelaborate
trimmings.
Greatwealthof stagesceneryand props
is notnecessary.
Shakespeare
didnotdo badlyin his
timewithoutany.A pottedplantmightrepresent
a
forestanda basinof watertheAtlantic
Ocean.The
chorusintroducing
actthreeof HenryV, callsupon
theaudience
to useitsimagination:
"Playwithyour
fancies
andekeoutourperformance
withyourmind."
Launching
a festival
Thelaunching
ofa festival
isnotdifficult.
Collect
a
groupof peopleyouexpectwillbecomeenthusiastic
supporters
andworkers.
Setup a committee
to find
outthecommunity’s
resources
in thewayof historic
events
andsites.
Makea listof beauty
andrecreation
spots:evendevotedaddictsof operaand symphony
require
physical
diversion.
Tabulate
thecommunity’s
resources
in theperforming
arts.Framea programme,
offering
either
variety
or a well-developed
specialty.
Selecta dynamicleader,someonewhois accustomed
to getting
things
done.Makesurethatyourorganizing
boardhasrepresentatives
of allartsdisciplines.
The committees
on whichthesepeoplesit should
haveroomforresidents
andorganizations
whoreflect
all COlnmunity
interests
and who get involvedin
thedecision-making
and the planning.
Youngpeople
shouldbe involved
fromtheverybeginning,
notjust
to takepartinperformances
buttoinvent,
toexplore,
to venture
intoartsoldand new.Theywillproduce
manylivelysuggestions.
Talkoverproposals
withexisting
artsandcrafts
organizations,
and withcultural
groupsandethnic
groups,and withclubsand associations
of every
kind.Manyquestions
willarise,and no one has a
monopoly
on the rightanswers.
Listen
tothestories
ofa localhistorian
oranenthusiastic
museumbuffso as to gatherideasto makethe
festival
moremeaningful
locally,
butdonotgetsidetrackedfromthebigobjective..,
do notlookfora
needle
whenit is really
thehaystack
youwant.
Building
a programme
Once the frameworkof the festivalhas been
constructed,
groupsgo to workon theirspecified
tasks,everygroupestablishing
itsgoalsanddeadlines.
Everygroupshoulddetermine
whatis involved
in
the doingof a job,whattimeand energywillbe
needed,
andassigndutiesto thosemostcompetent
to
carrythemout.Theorganizer
mustseetheenterprise
as a wholeandkeepa finger
on itspulse.
Sparking
a festival
requires
exercise
of yourimagination
to picture
andpresent
thesortof events
that
willgivethegreatest
satisfaction.
Imagination
isan
inventor.
It entertains
possibilities.
Youcanbe creative:havingideasis nota monopoly
of a few.And
as Anneremarked
in herGreenGablesdays:"It’sdelightful
whenyourimaginations
cometrue."
Thinkalwaysaboutthe audienceyou expectto
attendthefestival.
SomepeoplelikeKingLearand
otherspreferPeterPan.Oneaudience
willapplaud
heartily
a juggler
wholeapsthrough
a ringof knives,
whileanotheraudience
willgivean ovationto the
singer
ofa lullaby.
To attract
peopleyoumusthavesomething
special
tooffer,
something
thattheydo notseeor hearevery
day.Youraudience
is freeto attendor to stayaway,
to sit throughtheprogramme
or walkout.Youmust
keeptheminterested.
W’e all havethe urgeat timesto do something
original.
If youwishto producean eventthathas
features
differing
fromothersimilar
events,
youneed
to putyourimagination
to work.Theactof creation
doesnotmakesomething
outof nothing;
it uncovers,
selects,
shuffles,
combines
andsynthesizes
already
existing
facts
andideas.
Theability
to originate
is a verygreatquality
to
have.A little
originality
willaddcolour
andattractiveness
to yourproduction.
Youwillgivepeoplenot
onlywhattheywant,butsomething
betterthanthey
thoughttheywanted.
Involve
local
talent
Framethefestival
soasto givesignificant
places
to
localmusicians,
classical
andpopular,
to balletand
dancegroups,
to theatre
clubs,
andto ethnic
groups.
Encourage
localeventsand workshops.
A community
festivalanywherein Canadais not
concernedwith masterpieces
only,but also with
playsand musicalcompositions
thatgivecompetent
localpeople
a chance
to perform.
Everycmnmunity
hasmusicians,
singers,
actors,
andartists
whosepresentations
willgiveflavour
to a
festival.
People
cango fromchurch
to church,
enjoying
organandchoralrecitals.
Manytownshavemadrigal
singers,
folk,classic,
andchantsingers.
Theatrical
groupspresent
a varietyof drarna,musical
comedy,
operaand modernplays.
Not everyoneis interested
in performing
before
audiences.
Marly
prefer
to usetheirtalents
in building
stagesets,handlingpublicity,
makingcostumes,
directing,
or producing.
Theskillsof carpenters,
technicians,
handymen and womenare an intrinsically
necessary
partofthefestival.
Givethe Department
of NationalDefencea showcaseforits forces.
Everycommunity
wherethereis
evena smallmilitia
detachment
hastheopportunity
to mounta display
thatwillinterest
spectators.
A
sunsetceremony
is a colourful
item,consisting
in
lowering
thenational
flag,the ancient
ceremony
of
beating
retreat,
andtattoo.
Communities
thatare in touchwithIndiansand
Eskimos
haveat handa treasury
of arttestifying
to
the creativeness
of Canada’s
nativepeople,and a
repertoire
of sacredandtribaldances
andsongs.
All
of the ethnicgroupsmakingup Canada’s
population
canaddtheirdistinctive
cultural
contributions.
Communicateyour enthusiasmto the many communityspecial
groups:
churchandschoolorchestras,
choirsand dramaclubs;andballetandotherdance
groups,
including
thoseof children.
BoyScouts,
Girl
Guidesand theirjuniorbranches,Wolf Cubsand
Brownies,
havepicturesque
drillsand ceremonies.
Universities
canprovide
advisory
service
andtalented
students.
Hobbyassociations
willsetup demonstrationbooths.Civic-minded
groupssuchas Kiwanis,
Daughters
of the Empire,Kinsmen,Rotary,Lions,
Homeand SchoolAssociations,
the National
Council
of Women,and the manymusicand dramaticorganizations
-- allthesecanbeinvited
toparticipate
in
yourfestival
by assisting
in administration
or by
organizing
programmes.
If desired,
youmaylookoutside
thecommunity
for
some parts of your programme.Provincialarts
councilsor boardscan providetouringdramatic
productions
and orchestras;
arrangements
may be
madewiththeNational
FilmBoardto showCanadianmadefilmproductions
thathavewon international
awards;the aid may be invitedof the Canadian
Craftsmen’s
Association,
a professional
association
concerned
withthe development
of finecraftsand
quality
design;
a National
Touring
Officewasopened
in Ottawaa coupleof yearsago to ensuregreater
accessto theperforming
artsby thewidestsegment
ofthepublic.
Highlight
variety
A festival
maybe devoted
to onethemeor onetype
of musicor onetypeof entertainment,
or itmayplace
sideby sidejazz,chamber
music,popgroups,
poetry,
Gilbertand Sullivanopera,experimental
theatre
workshops,
ethnicfolkdancegroups,an orchestra,
films,
exhibitions
of paintings,
sculpture,
ceramics
and
woodcarving.The varietyis limitedonly by the
interests
of thepeoplein thecommunity.
In art,to composeis to arrangeunequalthings.
As Ruskin advised:"Have one large thing and
severalsmallerthings,or one principal
thingand
several
inferior
things,
andbindthemwelltogether."
Theremaybe a solidcentral
programme
andseveral
fringeprogrammes
involving
manyinterests
andmany
performers:
puppeteers,
studentfilmmakers,oneactplays,old-time
fiddling,
talks,discussions,
and
poetry
reading.
Festivals
encourage
cross-fertilization
of thearts.
Thefineartsarethosein whichthemindandimagination
arechiefly
concerned.
In itschapter
entitled
"TheFineandLively
Arts",
writtenby WalterB. Herbert,
formerly
Director
of
TheCanadaFoundation,
the issueof Canadamarking
Canada’sCentenarysaid:"Strictdefinitions
of
’thefinearts’and’thelively
arts’,or attempts
to
establish
distinctions
between
them,areimpossible
anduseless.
Oftenthefineartsarelively,
andequally
oftenthelively
artsarefine.So,letit beunderstood
thathereafter
we arereferring
to music,painting,
drama,
literature,
thedance,
sculpture,
architecture,
handcrafts,
cinema,opera,drawing,
engraving,
and
television
broadcasting
whenreference
is madeto the
cultural
pattern."
A festival
neednotbe a giddywhirl,
butitneedsto
beinteresting
to manysortsof people.
It should
slay
thespirit
of solemnity
thatclouds
muchof ourlives.
MaryRenaultasksin TheLastof the Wine"Without
laughter,whatman of sensecouldendureeither
politics
or war?"
Humouris medicine
formanya trouble,
and a dose
of laughter
is goodformostof ourills.It relieves
nervoustensionand actsas a shock-absorber
for
thebumpsof life.
Programme
suggestions
Here,inalphabetical
order,
aresomeof theelements
of a community
festival.
Craftexhibitions.
Thefestival
willhaveexhibitions
to showwhatpeopledo bestand liketo do in the
artsandcrafts.
Fineartsinclude
tapestry,
enamels,
workin precious
metals,
ceramics,
weaving,
pottery,
stained
glass,
andbatiks.
Ruskinremarkedin The Trueand the Beautiful:
"Anymaterial
objectwhichcangiveus pleasure
in
thesimplecontemplation
of its outwardqualities,
without
anydirect
anddefinite
exertion
oftheintellect,I callin someway,orin somedegree,
beautiful."
Exhibitions
thatmeetthiscriterion
willinclude,
besides
thosementioned,
paintings,
carving
in wood,
soapstone
and ivory,embroidery,
design,sewing,
esteem.Parents
glass,
andleather.
Thereis a wealth
ofsuchmaterials poetrystoodin highand universal
used
to
read
poetry
to
their
children,
andchildren
in everycommunity.
recited
poetry
to theirparents
andatschool
concerts.
Dance.A festival
couldhavetraditional,
modern
square,
ballroom,
country,
folkdancing
andballet.
There
is a spreading
interest
in thereading
ofpoetry
aloudin groups.
Thepoetis a manufacturer
of images,
Therearefewerballets
thansquaredances,
butboth
andauditors
at a poetry
reading
enjoyintense
pleasure.
arepartofart.Ballet
hasbeena matter
of interest
in
thiscountry
onlysincethe1930’s
buttodaythereare
In listening
topoetry
we aresupporting
a necessary
threeor fourtop-ranking
professional
companies. ingredient
of thegoodlife.If we shouldeverlose
Theyare backedup by manysmallgroups,amateur
completely
ourfeelingforverse,we shouldat that
and semi-professional,
and manytownshaveballet
momenthavecut ourselvesoff froma partof our
schools
or classes.
Publicappreciation
of balletis
origins,for we sang and chantedlongbeforewe
increasing
rapidly.
reasoned
and persuaded.
Drama.Communitytheatreis not a synonymfor
Workshops.
Finallyin thisarrayconsider
workthegathering
place
ofthecultural
elite.
Itincorporatesshops.Teen-agers
and youngadultsseekworkshops
the talentsof manypersons,
and dramasare being
wheretheycanworkoutideaswithgroupparticipapresented
successfully
by community
groups.
tion.A workshop
is a seminar,
discussion
group,or
thelike,whichemphasizes
theexchange
of ideasand
A production
doesnot haveto be big.Thereare
and application
of techniques,
beauty
andsatisfaction
inlittle
efforts.
Young
people’s the demonstration
skills,
etc.
dramaperformances
serveto stimulate
interest
and
develop
theskillsof students
in theartof theatre.
You may have workshopson legend,costume,
Theyencouragenew talent,offera show-case
for
cookery,customs,drama,opera,film,jewellery
playwrights,
andprovide
entertainment.
making,andanyotherhobbyor pursuit
citizens
are
interested
in.
A festival
playshouldhavequality.
Thereis no
greatvirtue
ina playin whichtheactors
keeptumbling
Whatis needed
up anddownflights
of steps,
or whenthelighting
is
so artistically
donethatyoucannot
seewhatis going
Whatreally
matters
to a mature
person
is notmerely
on. As to violence,
an unbreakable
canonof stagewhathe seeswithhiseyesbutwhathe seesin things
craftin the greatdaysof Greektragedywas that
withhismind-- notjusteyesight
butinsight.
He has
violence
couldnotbe committed
on thestage.
Murders passedfromthe immaturity
of beingattracted,
as
hadto be committed
offstage.Instead
of seeingthe
youngchildren
are,to anything
thatglitters.
He seeks
action,
theaudience
wastoldaboutit.
subjects
andobjects
thathaveaesthetic
appeal.
Folk-songs.
A groupof folk-songs
or ballads
makes
Standards
of aesthetic
tastediffer
fromageto age,
an acceptable
breakin a programme
devotedto other
fromplaceto place,andfrompersonto person.
When
formsof music.Thereare balladsandballadpoems
we say of a personthathe has goodtastewe mean
thataretragic,
amusing,
romantic;
ballads
of thesea,
thathehasthefacility
toreceive
thegreatest
possible
of RobinHood,andof eventsin history.
pleasure
fromthings
whichhe perceives
to be good-SelectedCanadianfolk-songs
werecollected
by
good in themselvesor good becauseof inspired
craftsmanship.
MariusBarbeauwiththe collaboration
of Arthur
Lismerand ArthurBourinot,and published
by the
Special
interest
groups,
suchas thosein musicor
National
Museumof Canada,in 1947.
drama,findtheiractivities
pleasing
andengrossing.
Theyneedto keepin mindthisimperative:
whenthey
Music.Thereis widespreadyearningfor more
comebeforethepublicit is thepublicthatmustbe
serious
musical
presentations
in addition
to crowdpleased
andsatisfied.
Goodtastewillreject
anything
pleasing
popular
entertainment.
that
is
shoddy,
grotesque
or
inartistic.
What
is
offered
Thereis greatpowerin music.It patsour heads
at
a
festifal
must
be
first-rate
in
the
judgment
of
whenwe are in sorrowor pain,and it is ableto
the
audience.
magnifyour happinessand joy. When the inexTo be attractive,
a festival
neednothavetoomuch
pressible
hadto be expressed,
Shakespeare
laiddown
of thecarnival
spirit.
It maybe a placeof unhurried
hispenandcalled
formusic.
charm,
withtimeto linger
listening
to g6odmusicand
Musiceducation
fromtheprimarygradesthrough
enjoy
thecivilities
oflife.
to thetopreaches
of post-graduate
studyis available
To stagea community
festival
requires
year-round
in Canada. The Federationof CanadianMusic
planning,
thehelpof business
people,
educationists
Festivals
encourages
the studyand performance
of
andlocalorganizations,
andtheservices
ofa dynamic
musicat theamateurlevel.Its graduates
include
director.
RobertGouletand GordonLightfoot,
bothof whom
gottheirstartsinging
withCanadian
musicfestivals.
Thefestival
mustpayattention
to the fitness
of
thingsandshowrespect
forthebeliefs
andcustoms
of
Poetry.Only threeor fourin a thousandread
the community.
poetrytoday,thougha coupleof generations
back
ALSO AVAILABLE1N FRENCH AND IN BRAILLE
4
THE ROYAL BANK OF CANADA 1975/PRINTED IN CANADA