Community Arts Mixer a Resounding Success

Lists posted to the wall ask attendees to collaborate on a "wish list" for the arts in Antigonish // Catherine Poag

This past Thursday, January 23, 2020, Antigonish Culture Alive, All-of-Us Society for Art Presentation, and Antigonight Art After Dark festival came together to hold an arts mixer at the Tall and Small café, located in downtown Antigonish. This mixer gave people an opportunity to learn about the supportive community behind the artists in Antigonish. The three organizations came together to search for new perspectives, directions, and new volunteers to get the community involved with the great work that they do.

So, what do each of these organizations do?

Antigonish Culture Alive (ACA) is a non-profit organization who looks to get the public meeting with the artists, learning what they are doing and working on. They strive to get the publics involvement with art events in the community so that people can learn more about what these local artists do.

All-of-Us Society for Art Presentation, also know as ASAP Artist-Run Centre, is a non-profit agency that helps artists get their work out into the town, helps with fees for community exhibits, and gives local artists new opportunities for their art.

Antigonight Art After Dark Festival is an event put on by Antigonish Culture Alive since 2010. The festival gives artists a chance to display their work for the public, and for the public to attend workshops to learn about and take part in the art their local artists are working on.

At the arts mixer, attendees were asked to fill out comment cards to tell the Antigonish arts community what they hope to see, and what they might be help out with or would like to support. Attendees also collaborated on a wish list of things they want to see happen in the arts community, and contributed to brainstorms on how those wishes might be fulfilled.

Antigonish Culture Alive chair Sarah O'Toole writing down her wishes for the Antigonish arts scene // Catherine Poag

During the mixer, I had the opportunity to meet many artists involved with these three organizations, and I had the chance to sit down and talk to Regina Marzlin, an artist who has been living in Antigonish for 12 years. Marzlin explained to me the opportunities she has gotten because of these three organizations. “I am very grateful for these organizations helping with local artists,” she shared. Last year, Marzlin facilitated a workshop at Antigonight, giving her a chance to introduce the community textile art—something she had been working with for a long time. The organizations also help local artists apply for grants, through the newsletter run by Rachel Power. Marzlin had the opportunity to do an arts residency through ASAP, she has had the chance to show the public her art, and these organizations have presented her with professional opportunities that she may have had difficulty finding on her own.

Overall, the mixer had a great turn out, and many contributed their ideas to the wish list. Antigonish Culture Alive, ASAP, and Antigonight are always looking for community members to volunteer—it’s a great opportunity to get involved with your community, and get involved with the thriving arts scene in our community. Anyone interested in getting involved is encouraged to reach out to any of these organizations via their websites, or on social media.