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Kootenay Pride attendees are encouraged to get in touch with their artistic side with the addition of the first Bent On Art: Kootenay Queer and Trans Festival.
The week-long festival will showcase art by queer and trans artists and craftspeople in the Kootenay region. It includes sliding-scale workshops for both LGBTQ+ artists and community members, two art exhibitions at Selkirk College’s Kootenay Studio Arts, a reception featuring local performers and a Sunday market in Hall Street Plaza on the afternoon of the Pride Parade along Baker Street.
The festival runs in conjunction with Kootenay Pride in Nelson from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2. The exhibition will then travel to the Fernie Museum where it will be on display from Sept. 27 to Oct. 14.
Samonte Cruz was inspired to start organizing within the LGBTQ+ arts community after they moved to Nelson in 2015 to attend Kootenay Studio Arts.
“When I moved to the Kootenays I was impressed to find such a supportive and thriving arts scene, but was surprised by the lack of opportunities for LGBTQ+ artists to promote their work, especially given the long history of Pride events in the region.”
If you are an LGBTQ+ identified person interested in being a vendor at the Sunday market, please email bentonartfest@gmail.com. For general information including an up-to-date schedule of events and links to applications for performing at the Bent On Art reception, or to become a festival volunteer, visit samontecruzstudios.com/bent-on-art. Follow us on Instagram at @bentonartfest or on Facebook at facebook.com/bentonartfest.