Long-time Blyth Festival supporter Cindy Fisher, along with local artists as committee members, has developed a special fund-raiser to assist the Blyth Festival theatre organization, as it weathers the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has created. 

Regional artists have committed to submit their original one-of-a-kind artworks including oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolours, photography, jewellery and a variety of other media.  The original art submitted fits the 10” by 10” size, on canvas, or as a matted photograph in addition to other types of creative artworks that fit this size.  The art will be on display online, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on November 10, 2020 and the auction will feature more than 100 colourful creative works.  The online art auction event will be opened on the blythfestival.com website, with the final bidding activities coming to a close on December 10.  Complete bidding instructions will be on this website for eager buyers.  Artists have been invited to submit more than one original art work and many artists have already committed to offering a number of works. 

Gil Garratt, Artistic Director for the Blyth Festival, has talked about the crucial nature of supporting the theatre and artistic community during these very challenging times:  “The outpouring of support from our community has been phenomenal. Desperate as this moment in the life of performing arts in Canada has been, seeing artists and patrons and volunteers and lovers of the arts rally around us is truly inspiring...and will make all the difference in not only our survival, but our ability to build back better and thrive.”

 The fund-raising art auction committee members include local and area artists who work in a variety of media:  in addition to Cindy Fisher, Blyth Art Gallery members Carl Stevenson and potter Rob Tetu, William Creighton, Michele Miller, Judy Barker and Laurel Armstrong.  Jennifer Lamb, Director of Audience Development and Services is providing co-ordination with the Blyth Festival.  Elizabeth Van Den Broeck, artist and owner of Elizabeth’s Art Gallery, Goderich, is co-ordinating the distribution of the specially ordered 10” x 10” x 1.5” canvas and presentation materials. 

The funds raised will support the focus of the Blyth Festival organization as the staff work to create the 2021 season and special events.  The pandemic has forced the cancellation of the season, as well as the furlough of administrative, production and artistic staff.  Costs to build towards 2021 continue and the hope is that the online art auction will assist with costs for getting the new season up and running.

For artists interested in participating, art submission deadline is October 10, 2020.  Submission forms are available at Elizabeth’s Art Gallery and on the website: elizabethsartgallery.ca. Artists can confirm their participation by sending an email to: BF10x10@gmail.com.  The submission form provides complete information as well as additional contacts for artists.