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Bruno Canadien, an Alberta artist from Deh Gáh Got’îê Dene First Nation in Northwest Territories, painted one of 14 murals in downtown Red Deer for the Meet the Street project. (rdnewsNOW/Jordan Davidson)
celebrating the arts

Meet the Street festival a centrepiece of Alberta Culture Days

Sep 4, 2021 | 11:09 AM

Red Deer’s first ever Meet the Street Arts & Culture Festival is happening in Red Deer’s downtown this weekend.

Two alleyways have been transformed with 14 permanent murals, as well as music and multi-coloured lights. The murals can be found in Alley 49.5 and Alley 50.5, which run parallel to, and are just north and south of Ross Street.

Through Sunday, there is live entertainment, a street art fair, the Bizarre Bazaar artisan market and other community pop-up activities.

“A lot of my work lately is based on Dene floral designs, which is traditionally done in beadwork, embroidery, and porcupine quillwork,” shares Black Diamond-based artist Bruno Canadien, who is from the Deh Gáh Got’îê Dene First Nation in Northwest Territories.

“This is stuff my family has done and continues to do. I was also trained at the Alberta University of the Arts, and I’m hoping to continue some of that family tradition by participating in this project.”

Sarah Tittemore, Community Services GM at The City of Red Deer noted to rdnewsNOW that the project is meant to make things beautiful, curb negative behaviour and draw people to the downtown.

The project is partially funded through a grant given by the province to the Red Deer Arts Council. The City also contributed $200,000 for the initiative, which included 13 Canadian artists. Paint was donated by Benjamin Moore.

Meet the Street is part of Alberta Culture Days, which runs all month. It also happens in conjunction with the Month of the Artist.

“We cannot deny how important the opportunity of celebrating the rich diversity of culture and harvest activities are to our region,” says Austin Weaver, executive director at Lacombe Regional Tourism Association.

Lacombe Culture and Harvest Festival is a celebration of arts, heritage, diversity, and community spirit that identifies the City of Lacombe and Lacombe County, as a region where everyone can experience something unique and different.”

In a release, the province notes that Month of the Artist, “along with the appointment of Alberta’s third Artist in Residence as an arts ambassador, is part of the government’s commitment to recognize artists’ contributions to the province.”

“Culture defines who we are, how we live and what we think about ourselves. With such diversity in the cultural fabric of our province, Alberta Culture Days is an ideal opportunity for Albertans to learn about each other and ourselves,” says Ron Orr, Minister of Culture and Status of Women.

“This year it is also about connecting with our community again in meaningful and positive ways as our province moves forward in our economic, social and emotional recovery.”

More on what’s happening around the province for Alberta Culture Days is at alberta.ca.

RELATED: Mural series livening up downtown Red Deer ahead of Meet the Street festival