By Barb Brouwer
Contributor
Dusting off the challenges of 2023, a small group of Salmon Arm Folk Music Society (SAFMS) board members and ROOTSandBLUES staff shared the good, the bad and the ugly at their Jan. 31 annual general meeting.
Youth and Indigenous coordinator Kenthen Thomas opened the AGM with a prayer, thanking those in attendance for honouring the territory and ancestors with whom the land is now shared.
While it was a hard thing to do, board chair Kim Magill-Hofmann said cancelling the ROOTSandBLUES Festival last August because of the Bush Creek East Wildfire was the right thing to do.
害羞草研究所淎s usual, a lot of work went into preparing the festival from our staff and 600 volunteers, so it was with very heavy hearts when the decision was made to cancel the festival late Friday night,害羞草研究所� noted Magill-Hofmann in her report to the 20 people in attendace. 害羞草研究所淚 appreciate the moral support we received from our patrons and the community, and the board would like to thank the staff for their unwavering leadership and commitment to the festival and the community.害羞草研究所�
BDO Dunwoody chartered accountant Angie Spencer went over the society害羞草研究所檚 books, noting that although it was a tough year financially, the society still had a surplus of $110,699 in the general fund at the end of 2023.
SAFMS treasurer Rob Marshall said that 2023 began with high expectations 害羞草研究所� camping was sold out and tickets sales were significantly higher that in 2022.
害羞草研究所淓ven though we had envisioned a big profit from the festival, the end result was pretty good with all things considered,害羞草研究所� he said of the $110,000-plus profit.
When the refund policy notices were sent to ticket holders, they were given options which included donating all or a portion of the ticket purchase price. A total of 12.5 per cent donated their entire purchase price and another 12.5 per cent donated a portion of their ticket purchase price.
害羞草研究所淭wo performing artists returned their deposits, including Sarah McLachlan,害羞草研究所� Marshall said. 害羞草研究所淭otal donations ended up at $174,365.害羞草研究所�
The 2024 SAFMS budget was approved by the board on Nov. 8 and although this year害羞草研究所檚 festival has been moved from the traditional August date to July 26 to 28, it is, so far, shaping up to be a good year for the festival.
害羞草研究所淵ear to date, ticket and camping sales have shown strong results in December and January, which is encouraging as we were apprehensive about the public response to SAFMS changing the dates of the festival,害羞草研究所� Marshall added.
In his report to the board, executive director David Gonella also paid tribute to the community, patrons, sponsors, suppliers and all levels of government for their support following the cancellation of the festival.
害羞草研究所業 would like to thank the board of directors for their understanding and support through one of the biggest challenges our organization has faced in our history,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪taff experienced the full support of the board, and working together we were able to navigate a very difficult time together and came out of this crisis more adept to be ready for the next challenge.害羞草研究所�
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On a happier note, a PacifiCan grant in 2023 allowed the society to purchase an equipment van, additional lighting and sound equipment and a new mobile stage, which has already been loaned out to other organizations for their events.
Looking ahead, Gonella announced that thanks to a BC Arts Infrastructure grant and the support from Okanagan College Foundation Trades program partnership, the society will be breaking ground in March on an office extension and the construction of a new storage building.
害羞草研究所淏oth projects will help with capacity building and planning for the eventual loss of the city owned quonset storage building next to Buckerfields,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪taff will be pursuing sponsorship and grants to help fully fund the building projects.害羞草研究所�
Artistic director Kevin Tobin also emphasized the positive, pointing out successful aspects of the past year, including an estimated 1,100 attendees who supported four sold-out concerts sponsored by the society. Also of note is the society害羞草研究所檚 ongoing collaboration with School District 83, sponsorship of a free SD83 concert, sponsoring an artist and audio equipment for the Salty Dog Street Fest, the Salmon Arm Pride Project by providing the new stage and sponsoring Blu and Kelly Hopkins during Winterfest.
害羞草研究所淎nd if that was not a robust return to programming and community engagement, the organization secured funding and, with the support of community partners, our Youth and Indigenous Coordinator Kenthen Thomas planned and coordinated our first annual Pellsqepts Spring Winds Festival, which showcased Indigenous artists and culture,害羞草研究所� Tobin said. 害羞草研究所淢ore than 1,200 attendees of all ages enjoyed a full day of programming featuring food vendors, local artisans, and artists such as Bernice Jensen and Pow Wow Crew, George Leach, The Melawmen Collective and DerRic Starlight.害羞草研究所�
The event was such a resounding success that the second annual Spring Winds Festival will take place on Saturday, March 23 at the Splatsin Centre in Enderby.
Tobin described many of the improvements and changes staff had made for the 2023 festival, including design changes to the site, adding a new video screen to the barn stage, addition of a Whimsy Squad to create unusual, amusing, visual and playful experiences to spark imagination, participation and connection among festival patrons and the reappearance of the Indigenous Plulkw Stage.
Tobin gave kudos to staff whom he said continue to work diligently to make the event and all programs an experience organizers can be proud of and ones that attendees will enjoy.
害羞草研究所淎nd a very special thank you to the incredible dedicated and passionate volunteers who work tirelessly to plan and produce a world-class event.害羞草研究所�
For more information and to purchase tickets, go online to rootsandblues.ca.
