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Estevan Arts Council still hopes to have activity this season

All Estevan Arts Council concerts, including the Koncerts for Kids series, have been cancelled for the 2020-21 season.

All Estevan Arts Council concerts, including the Koncerts for Kids series, have been cancelled for the 2020-21 season.  

The announcement was made late in the summer, following the decision made by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC), a governing body for arts councils across the province that helps local organizations bring in the concerts to their communities.   

“They decided to cancel the whole year because we just don’t know if we ever get (to bring) the concerts back. And why should we keep these artists waiting for the last minute to see if they can come? So the decision was made by the OSAC that they would cancel. And now with OSAC we are trying to find other concerts that we can (arrange),” said Wilma Mantei, the president of the Estevan Arts Council.  

The Estevan Arts Council supported OSAC's decision since they also felt that they couldn't leave the artists waiting. Mantei pointed out that with current regulations they only would be able to organize a small-scale concert, and they might look into it closer to Christmas. The new format wouldn't work for all artists, but Mantei said that there are a few performers, mostly local, who are willing to have a concert even if it's just a small audience. 

“We have nothing in the lineup yet. We are looking at a few local Saskatchewan performers that might want to come and that’s what OSAC will help us with,” said Mantei. “But we still have to find the venue.” 

The Missoula Children’s Theatre that would have been in Estevan around this time of the year through Koncerts for Kids was cancelled along with the annual adjudicated art show. There aren't going to be any workshops this year either. Mantei said that the pottery club has started getting together again, but due to COVID-related regulations, they have to plan every meeting so there is a limited amount of people in the room. 

“We haven’t done any other classes yet,” said Mantei.  

She added that the sewing club was forced to wrap up their year earlier in spring due to the pandemic and they were eager to finish the pieces they started working on over half a year ago. However, with no access to the Estevan Comprehensive School's sewing room, where they used to work, that doesn't seem like something that might happen soon. 

But despite all the challenges this year brought, Mantei said that they still hope to have at least some activity this season.  

“We will get back into things soon here, but as for starting classes, I don't think so." 

The Energy City Film Circuit, a division of the arts council that brings Canadian and international independent films to the community, is off the schedule as well. Mantei wasn’t sure when they could start, because they get the films from the Toronto International Film Festival organization. 

The 2019-20 concert season was cut short due to the pandemic. Mantei said they offered to reimburse all subscribers for the two concerts that were cancelled, but most people chose to just donate the money to the arts council. 

The Estevan Arts Council’s annual general meeting will take place on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Estevan Leisure Centre’s art room. It is open for the public to attend either in person or through Zoom.