It was a big year for the arts in Greater Victoria.
While artists grappled over AI scraping their images, others embraced AI’s creative potential, resulting in ongoing uncertainty and debate. Meanwhile, the arts continued to thrive, demonstrating its importance to Victorians. The TD Art Gallery Paint-In had its biggest art stroll yet, with 80 volunteers and 160 artists all part of the July festivities which spanned 10 blocks of Moss Street. The much-anticipated Beyond Van Gogh exhibit finally ran in Victoria in June after eight months of delays. It was also announced that Vancouver’s Winter Arts Festival is coming to Victoria for the first time.
A good handful of arts organizations celebrated major anniversaries, which was an opportunity to reflect on the lasting impacts made in the community; Victoria Event Centre celebrated 20 years in Victoria’s downtown, Kaleidoscope Theatre for Young People turned 50 and in its 40th year, JazzFest brought headliners Snarky Puppy, Molly Johnson, Sona Jobarteh, Chris Botti, and BADBADNOTGOOD to the stage.
Perhaps due to a rebound from pandemic lockdowns, Victorians had some incredibly impressive festival lineups to dance at. Phillips Backyard Tilt! was Phillips largest production to date with live music from DJ Pee Wee, Bahamas, Lord Huron. Rifflandia in September saw big names take the stage with Iggy Pop, former Spice Girl Melanie C, Diplo, Salt-N-Pepa, Paris Hilton, and Stephen Marley (the son of reggae legend Bob Marley) all drawing crowds, while Vancouver Island MusicFest landed international superstar Sarah McLachlan. Sunfest Country Music Festival at Lake Cowichan set attendance highs with more than 13,000 on the Friday alone, and fans were hollering when Gwen Stefani joined husband and festival headliner Blake Shelton on stage.
Leadership changed hands
Timothy Vernon, the founding artistic director of Pacific Opera, stepped down after 43 years with the company with new artistic director Brenna Corner welcomed as his replacement. After recognizing that in Canada’s professional opera companies, only 15 per cent of the titled music director and conductor roles were occupied by women, Pacific Opera Victoria took a stance in changing culture by co-leading Women in Musical Leadership, a program that champions and fosters female Canadian classical musical talent.
Sooke alternative-rock band Shale had a banner year with the release of a dynamic new single, playing big stages such as Laketown Shakedown, and receiving public recognition such as being named The Zone’s Band of the Month. Victoria band Miina, a new roots, rock and soul musical project from the members of celebrated five-piece band Carmanah, launched its anticipated soul rock EP on Aug. 14. Victoria’s Lafayette String Quartet, which formed in 1986, performed for the last time in August. Victoria’s diverse talent shone nationally with The Irish Rovers nominated for Song of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA) and Victoria-based metal band Spiritbox nominated for a Grammy.
In the world of theatre
Other Guise Theatre Company acquired its own space in downtown Victoria in the former Tomley’s Market grocery store on Johnson Street with sights set on creating a dynamic, environmentally-conscious space for artists. Despite critical acclaim for many of its productions, Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre announced on Dec. 5 that with “heavy hearts” it would be leaving the Roxy Theatre as of Dec. 31, as it liquidates assets to satisfy debts. The company still plans on producing theatre and is looking for a new location.
Other changes in venues included non-profit SUPPLY Victoria Creative Reuse Centre seeking to raise $14,000 through a fundraiser to cover its relocation costs. On March 4, the Victoria Curling Club lounge was packed for an open house in support of a potential new venue in the club’s lounge.
The Island continued to be a hot spot for filming. Notably, the Island-filmed documentary, Island of the Sea Wolves tied with the Drew Barrymore Show for sixth most-nominated TV program at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Wet Coast Burlesque returned after a few years of hiatus, and the Riot Grrrls launched their first wrestling production, joining forces with the West Coast League of Legendary Wrestlers to bring back the league after a three-year production hiatus.
While it’s impossible to include everything, these were just some of the biggest headlines of 2023. Did we miss anything major? Write to us at sam.duerksen@blackpress.ca!
