Deep Cove Folk has launched a contest asking artists to write songs about the Saanich Peninsula.
The contest’s judges will be looking for songs that are clearly situated in local communities. The tunes could mention names of local people, events or people.
“There aren’t a lot of really good songs about the Saanich Peninsula,” Deep Cove Folk co-director Tim Rogers said. “We’re hoping we can plug that hole.”
The project will have categories for Indigenous people, high school students and an open category.
“We certainly want to represent as many different points of view as we can,” Rogers said. “The product we are hoping to see will be a compendium of songs about the Saanich Peninsula. Sort of like a musical history.”
The artist who writes the song that the judges believe is the best overall will win $1,000, and two runner-up prizes of $500 will also be given out.
“One of the major goals is to get more people appreciating, thinking about and understanding the importance of music to the community,” Rogers said. “We’re trying to increase the general interest in local music.’
Rogers says some of the tunes may be performed by local choirs. Winners will also be offered opportunities to perform their songs, and the artist chosen in the high school category will get to take part in a mentoring session with an accomplished songwriter.
The judges haven’t been chosen yet, but Rogers says they will be musical experts.
“We’re thinking of trying to get people that are fairly well-known,” Rogers added. “I’m currently negotiating with a number of people to be the judges.”
Submissions must include a short essay about the song which includes the inspiration for writing it and how it fits into life on the Saanich Peninsula. Musicians can even submit songs they’ve already written.
Rogers says the ArtSea Community Arts Council has provided around $4,800 for the project.
“That’s going to help is with the prize money and allow us to put up posters,” Rogers added. “They’ve been very generous.”
Songs can be submitted at songproject.deepcovefolk.ca before the March 31 deadline.
ALSO READ: Victoria duo breaks barriers with Saanich show by street community artists