Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society Hitting a High Note

A-one, a-two, a-one-twothree-four… Anticipating continued easing of COVID-19 social distancing requirements, and a gradual return to normal for outdoor events, the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society has put together a full Music in the Park lineup for 2021. As of mid-June 16 acts had been booked for July and August, opening July 1 with Chemainus’s own Copper Canyon. That has members of the CVCAS Performance committee singing on a high note. “We’ll adhere to all COVID guidelines, of course,’ CVCAS Chair Bev Knight said. “But we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to bring live music to our community through the summer, and entertain full houses by the end of the season.” Last year a shortened Music in the Park lineup was presented, and fans had to social distance, with no more than 50 people permitted inside the bench seating area of the bandshell. “The Performance Committee did a tremendous job organizing the concerts, the musicians were fantastic setting up and performing with the restrictions in place, and our volunteers really made things run smoothly,” Knight said. “Considering the constraints we were all operating under, it was a tremendous achievement.” The CVCAS also organized recorded concerts, which can be streamed online via CVCAS. ca/music. Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley, and Wayne Montgomery & Gord Bigham were recorded at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. Anne Grimm & Bruce Vogt at Saint Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church. Special funding from the BC Arts Council and the provincial government made it possible for organizations like the CVCAS to produce the virtual concerts. “As well as allowing us to bring music to the community, the resilience funding allowed us to hire performers, who have been hard hit by the pandemic,” Knight said.

Lots of lessons have been learned during the pandemic. The biggest take-aways will be: arts organizations like the CVCAS can adapt to sudden and drastic changes; and the arts are an integral part of community, so the ‘show must go on’, especially through hard times.

July and August will see a full schedule of Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon concerts staged at Water Wheel Park. Details will be posted CVCAS. ca/Events as final arrangements are made. Tuesday concerts begin at 7 PM; Saturday concerts are presented on two sets, the first beginning at 2 PM, the second at 4 PM.

CraigSpenceWriter.ca