Organizations partner to spark excitement about 8th Vancouver event
Michelle Strutzenberger
The Vancouver inclusion art show has had rave reviews in the past, but the organizing committee isn’t about to get comfortable in that knowledge.
Under posAbilities’ direction, a street team is being formed to help spark more excitement about its eighth annual art event, slated for Oct. 25.
PosAbilities is inviting its own community — staff, families and self-advocates — as well as partner organizations to join a voluntary team and make the most of their networks to spread the word and interest.
Artist Darlene Jeff displays some of the work she will feature at the Oct. 25 inclusion art show.
Street team members will be hanging posters in their various geographic areas, handing out promo cards, tapping their social media accounts and more.
PosAbilities is offering a small incentive to get involved: a free ticket to a pub night Oct. 18, which includes a meal and drink. The pub night is a meet-and-greet with many of the artists.
Anyone on the street team that spends more than two hours getting the word out about the art show will be eligible for the free ticket.
Art show committee communications liaison Frank Davalos says organizers are seeing the street team as another way to strengthen ties with the broader community that’s involved with the art show, including organizations like Community Living Society.
“We’re always open to having more people join,” he adds.
The inclusion art show features hundreds of artists and creations for sale. A wide variety of media is included in the show: paintings, glassworks, pottery, photography, illustrations, jewelery and textiles.
Dee Blackmore of Community Living Society has been involved in the art show for about six years. She brings about 40 artists she works with through a pottery and art program to be part of the show.
She says the event is the biggest venue the artists she works with take part in all year.
“It’s a huge opportunity for all artists with any kind of disability,” Dee tells posAbilities Today, noting the artists sell well and they get more exposure to the general public than anywhere else.
Dee says she believes the art show plays an important part in helping create a more inclusive community, as it shines a light on the many gifts of the featured artists.
“PosAbilities does an excellent job of putting on this show and promoting it through the media; that’s what I really appreciate,” Dee adds.
“It’s a huge amount of work they do every year, and they just open their arms to everybody; they’re so inclusive of everybody.”
Art show committee chair Sara Hoshooley says organizers are looking forward to featuring First Nations art and culture as the theme of this year’s show. It will be hosted by Global TV’s Arran Henn.
To learn more about the Oct. 25 show and Oct. 18 pub night, click here.
To learn more about joining the street team, contact Frank at fdavalos(at)posabilities.ca
Feel free to comment below, or e-mail michelle(at)axiomnews.ca.
