BY THOMAS FLYNN
Supporting the local art within our community has always been a priority for the Huntsville Festival of Arts. “There aren’t the same number of opportunities that an artist might find in a larger urban centre,” explains Justine Brown, Managing Director of the HfA. “Having a thriving arts community in Huntsville actually just means that our whole community is thriving. People want to come here. People want to stay here.”
In order to sustain a solid arts community, the artists of Huntsville need galleries and stages to show off their work. “I know exactly what it feels like when you just need a stage. You just need people to hear what you’ve been pouring your heart and soul into,” Kyung-A Lee-Allen, a classical pianist in this year’s summer lineup, says about the importance of having a stage for upcoming talent. The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has a strong reputation for creating a space for local young talent, running both The Huntsville Festival of Music and Music at Noon, programs that give local artists a space to perform. Lee-Allen goes on to say that even as an established musician, the HfA gives her a platform to experiment with new classical repertoire, and the captive audience to boot.
“Our local audience is the absolute best,” says Lee-Allen, remembering her first time performing at the Algonquin Theatre. She chose to do Shostakovich, a risky choice, but the local audience loved it. “It was a validating moment for me when I realized how open and special this community really was.”
“Most of these people have watched me grow up and that’s like a crazy feeling,” says Jack Gaughan, a local musician who grew up in Huntsville. “You know, these people have seen me play since I was like 12 or 13. It’s been like over 10 years and I haven’t seen support like this anywhere else in my career. “ The community here supports music and the arts like no other.” Jack goes on to express concern about a shift away from supporting the arts, saying, “People are still wondering why they should support the arts?” Why should they go to a show?” His answer is simple: “The arts of a community is the community, right? If you’re going to Italy, you’re going to go eat their food, and you’re going to go listen to their music. That’s how you experience their humanity.”
This year, the HfA is putting the humanity of Huntsville on display with Music at Noon, which features a variety of local musicians, MORE BARN!, a show by the local Tobin Spring band, Kyung-A Lee’s candlelight concert, the Huntsville ART CRAWL, and the Cottage Country Drag Festival featuring local performers from Muskoka Drag Royalty.
As happy as Kyung-A is to perform in the community, she is even more excited to give back to the community and support the next wave of local performers. “I wanted to help build the table, not just sit at it.”
Lee-Allen, as a part of the HfA scholarship committee, not only financially supports young artists but also empowers them to continue creating art. Since 1997, HfA has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to local youth to support their artistic development.
“You know, not just the scholarships but the motivation of people who are patrons of the arts encourage young people to pursue the arts,” says Gaughan, who just so happened to win the HfA scholarship in 2019. By seeing and purchasing local art, by attending a show by local performers, you make it possible for today’s talent to support tomorrow’s potential, continuing to strengthen Huntsville as a hub of arts and culture and to strengthen its sense of community.
This summer, take time to experience HfA’s diverse programming. Not only will you be supporting and strengthening your community, but you’ll also be enriching your own quality of life. For more information on local art in Huntsville, visit https://www.huntsvillefestival.ca/.
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