Alberta’s next Artist in Residence
Award-winning singer and songwriter Joal Kamps will be Alberta’s next Artist in Residence.
Kamps is a Calgary-based career musician, songwriter and performing artist, a solo instrumentalist (guitar) and co-member of folk/roots duo Flint & Feather. Over the next year, he will take on the role of arts ambassador and promote the value of arts and artists in the province.
“The Artist in Residence plays a vital role for the arts in our province. Art is work. This month during Alberta Culture Days, I saw first-hand how art enriches our lives, promotes creativity and innovation, and contributes to the economy. Joal will encourage conversations in communities across Alberta to raise the value of artists and the arts in society,” says Leela Sharon Aheer, Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women.
“My work is narrative at heart – drawing upon Alberta’s history, folklore, and experiences with many diverse populations who call Alberta home,” said Kamps. “I’m equally passionate about the arts and how they act as a conduit for communication and community building. As an artist who has received support from key mentors in my life, I’m thrilled to give back to the province that has given so much to me.”
