SASKATOON — For music lovers around Saskatchewan, a weeklong event centred on the performing arts may be just the thing for you next month.
Beginning Oct. 1, SaskMusic’s events tied in with Culture Days are bringing a series of free, all-ages music workshops to multiple locations around the province. The workshops are intended to give an overview and introduction of different aspects of being a music artist with tips, tricks and best practices for developing one’s musical career.
Made possible in part through the support of Creative Saskatchewan, the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings (FACTOR), the Government of Canada, and Canada’s private radio broadcasters, this year’s events include a total of 17 different workshops with nine different artists in Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Weyburn and Yorkton.
Whether it’s events such as the Fundamentals of Songwriting workshop with performer Lorena Kelly on Oct. 1 in Yorkton, or Fundamentals of Singing with Sonia Reid on Oct. 4 in Prince Albert, or perhaps the Fundamentals of Beatmaking with Nige B on Oct. 5 in Saskatoon, there seems to be something for every kind of music lover at any of the offered workshops in these locations around the province.
Miguel Fenrich, a communications manager for SaskMusic, says Culture Days is a chance to share the gifts of many notable artists with communities around the province.
“Culture Days is a chance for SaskMusic to celebrate the creativity that’s in the music community and just share the importance of music, really, with the community at large,” said Miguel. “And so with these Culture Day programs, we get to directly bring it to communities across Saskatchewan, including in maybe some underserved areas of the province. So for this year, for the first time, we’re running 17 free all-ages workshops in five cities. So that includes Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, Weyburn, and Yorkton between Oct. 1 and 9.”
Fenrich says it’s the connections that are created with such events that stand out for him as a major positive, and having the chance to reach more people in additional communities with such events allows the performing arts sector in the province to continue to grow.
“The best thing about Culture Days is just that opportunity to connect with the community,” he said. “It can be sometimes hard in arts non-profits to get outside of the Saskatoon or Regina areas, so for us to get the opportunity to have them go to Weyburn, Yorkton and Prince Albert to really get to engage with the public is really amazing. Because of the support that Culture Days offers through their marketing of these events, we get the opportunity to meet with the public more, which is really, really exciting.”
Fenrich believes the workshops that are lined up for Culture Days provide a substantial offering to the public and that there will likely be something for everyone of every musical taste. The events may serve as the launching point for a new musician who is just beginning their career and looking for ways to make the biggest impact.
“We’re going to be really working to foster new connections and then support Saskatchewan’s arts ecology,” said Miguel. “We’re going to hear from some really, really great artists such as Lindsay Knight, otherwise known as ‘Eekwol,’ Alyssa Woolhether, Nige B, Walter Jeworski. So many folks are going to be out there on the ground and sharing so much of that talent that they have. And music’s for everyone, right? These workshops give people the first tools that they need. Whether they’re curious about recording or writing a song or making their first beat, we hope to really spark a love of music and help people discover it. Music is just great, and we can’t speak highly enough about it.”
A full schedule highlighting the offerings that are available can be found online here.
