26th Annual Whistler Children's Art Festival

The 26th annual Whistler Children’s Art Festival returns on July 11 and 12, 2009, with national entertainment and art workshops as Whistler celebrates its designation as a 2009 Cultural Capital of Canada. Creekside will be full with art workshops, music, acrobatics, theatre, dance and fun in every corner encouraging kids to embrace their imagination and the many cultures of Canada! Children’s entertainers will play on the main stage set against the beautiful backdrop of Whistler Mountain, with free activities and fantastical characters throughout the Creekside valley and Franz’s Trail. The festival aims to introduce young people to the arts in an interactive, supportive and fun family environment where their imaginations can grow. The art workshops range in programming for toddlers to pre-teens, in order to stimulate an interest in the arts or continue the growth of creative talent in young people.

To celebrate Whistler as a Cultural Capital of Canada, artists and performers from across the country will perform and instruct in Creekside to expose festival-goers to the broad spectrum of cultures that create the “Canadian” identity. While the Whistler Children’s Art Festival continues its tradition of dedication to arts education, the art workshop programming will expand to include instruction and entertainment by professional artists expressing the cultures of French-speaking Canada, the Maritimes, the North, First Nations, Prairies and Western Canada. Additional workshops will include art, crafts and performing arts exploring a variety of cultural backgrounds evident in Canada (First Nations, Asian, Latin American, European, etc.). As well, specific workshops will focus on exploring Whistler’s local cultural identity including First Nations and the natural environment.

“The Children’s Festival is an event that we always look forward to. Families from all over the Lower Mainland make the short drive to Whistler for the festival. The kids love it; the parents love it; and all our workshops leaders, artists and volunteers have a fantastic time working with the enthusiastic kids,” said Doti Niedermayer, Executive Director of the Whistler Arts Council. “Most of the Lower Mainland festivals are in May or June, so our July date always works well, especially with summer hotel rates and extensive activities available in addition to the festival in Whistler.”

Key Lead-up Dates:

Friday, June 5 – Entertainment and workshops schedule online at <http://www.whistlerartscouncil.com/>www.whistlerartscouncil.com
Friday, June 19 – Whistler Children’s Art Festival program guide available throughout Sea-to-Sky and Lower Mainland
Friday, July 3 – Workshop pre-registration available online at <http://www.whistlerartscouncil.com/>www.whistlerartscouncil.com or 604-935-8232

Where:

Whistler Village & Creekside

When:

July 11-12

For more information:                                              
Ali Richmond,
Manager, Communications & Marketing
Whistler Arts Council                                                               
604.935.8236
marketing@whistlerartscouncil.com
www.whistlerartscouncil.com