By Treena Mielke
It may have been the weather and it may have been simply not being aware, but the size of the crowd who attended Alberta Arts Days in Rimbey simply did not measure up to the calibre of talent and the behind the scenes work that went on for the event.
Jean Keetch, Rimbey librarian, was pleased with the quality of the performers.
“They were incredible, all of them. When I listened to the Jordans on Friday night it was simply breathtaking. Their music was of the calibre that you would pay $100 just to go and listen to. And, the next night, the Peacocks, a Celtic folk trio, who performed at the Beatty House gave the same kind of performance. I didn’t want the two hours to end.”
Keetch said art and craft displays at the Beatty House and the community centre were all very good and the vendors were pleased with the exposure.
Center-Stage Theatre Company, a professional group from Calgary who performed Munsch-a-palooza and Munsch-a-mia were “hilarious,” Keetch said, noting only 62 people attended the event.
The weather could be blamed for the poor attendance at Pas Ka-Poo Park, although Keetch said reports of entertainment by Bryn Thiessen, the cowboy poet were positive.
“The weather didn’t co-operate and people said on some of the evaluations that we got back that the events weren’t well advertised, but we did the best we could. We had a story in the paper, a full page ad and spots on the radio.”
Holding a similar event next year is a possibility, but Keetch said money is a concern. She said all events were free to the public, but there was a cost attached to bringing in professional entertainers.
“This year we got a $5,000 grant from Alberta Culture and Community Spirit. We will have to try and find funding from somewhere if we do it again.”