By rdnewsNOW Staff

September

New street festival coming to Red Deer

Jun 24, 2021 | 3:58 PM

The City of Red Deer has announced details for the inaugural Meet the Street Arts & Culture Festival taking place September 3 – 5, 2021.

Officials say the event will serve as the launch of the downtown arts and culture experience, with dedicated spaces ideal for celebrating music, as well as visual and performance art. It is also an invitation for locals and visitors to explore and connect within Red Deer, particularly the downtown area, year-round.

Two downtown alleys parallel and adjacent to Ross Street will play host to Meet the Street, which aims to be a welcoming space for all in the community to enjoy. The space was created with a focus on fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion and expression with the weekend event serving as Red Deer’s official Alberta Culture Days launch.

The organizing committee includes representatives from The City of Red Deer, business owners and local agencies, including Red Deer Arts Council and Downtown Business Association.

“We are proud to revitalize and enhance spaces in our downtown to bring our community members together,” says Bobby-Jo Stannard, Community Development Superintendent with the City of Red Deer. “This festival is a celebration of what makes our city unique as well as supporting Canadian artists and local artisans.”

charges pending

Red Deer RCMP arrest two individuals following ramming of police vehicle

12h ago

Riverside Drive & southbound 67 Street

Red Deer temporary road closure of street ramp on Saturday

12h ago

breach

Town of Ponoka gives cybersecurity update: investigation ongoing

12h ago

Throughout the summer, the alleys will be covered by a total of 15 original murals to enhance the vibrancy of the spaces. The murals, created by Canadian artists, are anticipated to contribute to the creation of community landmarks that foster civic pride, and help create an inspiring backdrop for a variety of events.

Following what is said to be an overwhelmingly successful response to a call for mural artists, a jury selected 14 Canadian artists to create the 2021 murals:

• Anya Mielniczek
• Bareket Kezwer
• Bruno Canadien
• Caitlin McDonagh
• Carmen Winter
• Cassie Suche
• Colin Farnan
• Jaimie Cooney
• Jessica Semenoff
• Nasarimba (Mikhail Miller and Rachel Ziriada)
• Ryan Willert
• Sarah Slaughter
• Troy Lovegates
• Tyler Lemermeyer

The murals are hoped to provide a passive activity that is available year-round and can be enjoyed during COVID-19 restrictions.

In spring 2021, City officials acknowledge that both alleyways underwent physical improvements and visual enhancements in preparation for the art installations. New lighting and audio speakers are expected to encourage foot traffic and white lights will be illuminated every night from sunset to sunrise to assist in creating a sense of security for pedestrians.

Meet the Street Arts & Culture Festival will unveil the beautiful murals to the public and feature creative vendors, artisans, performers, artists and cultural and community groups.

During the festival, locals and visitors alike will also be able to attend an open house at the Intermediate School and Gary W. Harris Celebration Plaza to discover the new art studios and community spaces, and enjoy original art in the Viewpoint Gallery while learning about all that Arts and Culture programming has to offer.