91大黄鸭

The 2021 Pride Project Festival in Salmon Arm is feeling the love.

鈥淟ast year I kind of felt like I was breaking icebergs, forging the path. This year you can tell that people were ready for it, the community support has been enormous, the festival has sort of evolved based on people鈥檚 ideas,鈥� said an enthusiastic Kate Fagervik, artistic director of the Salmon Arm Pride Project Arts + Awareness Festival.

鈥淪o when I was art-directing last year I tried to be a good listener and then program things based on people鈥檚 desires. Like tonight we have a shopping hour at Hudson Thrift, because trans people told me they want to save space to come in, try different types of clothing on and be creative,鈥� she said Monday, Oct. 18.

鈥淚 spoke with Hudson Thrift, so they鈥檝e created this event with us and Essie鈥檚 Place 鈥� that鈥檚 sort of how the whole festival has gone. By listening, and responding, and then seeing how creative we can be in Salmon Arm.鈥�

The festival runs through Saturday, Oct. 24, with events daily.

Throughout the week, the Breaking the Binary exhibition continues at the arts centre to Dec. 11, and the Pride Palace 鈥� across Hudson from the art gallery, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A play reading called The Explanation is at Shuswap Theatre Wednesday, Oct. 20, with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. followed by an evening performance at 7 with a talk-back afterwards.

The Pride Palace is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., where there鈥檚 a variety of crafts and creations.

鈥淓verything in here is made by queer people in the Shuswap or their allies. We are staffed by queer staff. At least 25 per cent of the proceeds go back to the project 鈥� some vendors are giving back 100 per cent so it鈥檚 very generous. Everyone鈥檚 been so generous,鈥� Fagervik said.

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On Friday a digital film festival runs at the Salmar Classic from 4 to 5:30, followed by the Rocky Horror Picture Show, 鈥渟o 鈥榣et鈥檚 do the time warp again鈥� on Friday night at 7:30,鈥� smiles Fagervik.

鈥淪aturday, there are so many different events I would definitely check the online schedule to see everything, but it ends with the Pride Pumpkin Party and Drag Show at Harpur Farms. That鈥檚 sold out, but there are a few more tickets going online on Friday. So if you want a ticket, check the Harpur Farm website Friday night.鈥�

For more details on events, go to the Salmon Arm Pride Project website and look for the .

Fagervik emphasized that support from the community has been huge.

鈥淚n terms of buy-in, the window displays are a great way to see that visually in town. So when you walk around, it鈥檚 bedazzled with rainbows.鈥�

She said when the Breaking the Binary exhibition opened on Oct. 16, a lot of people from 91大黄鸭 attended.

鈥淭hey were gob-smacked by the pride in town. People who have never been here think this is normal for us, and people who have been here for a long time know this is not normal for us. We鈥檙e making a mark.鈥�

Fagervik said the goal of the Pride Project is to spread awareness, education and visibility for 2SLGBTQ people in the community.

鈥淲e do that using art. So whether it鈥檚 dance or music or theatre or visual art or crafts, we鈥檙e using all the mediums to spread awareness. Thank you to everyone who has participated; we鈥檙e thrilled by the response and happy to be here.鈥�