Victoria’s community marketplace is getting ready to celebrate the essence of Canada with the second annual Spirit of Canada Contest. Until July 13, singer/songwriters, poets and spoken word performers can submit their original entries relating to Canadian culture, politics, landscape and humour to The Well (821 Fort) for consideration. Entry fee is $15.
“We’re also celebrating Victoria’s sesquicentennial, so we’d accept anything related to that as well,” says owner Hopeton Anderson.
The contest begins Wed., July 18, with all entrants performing for a panel of judges, including Victoria poet laureate Janet Rogers, former poet laureate Linda Rogers and councillor Pam Madoff. Guest judge for the first round will be Bill Bissett (who is launching a new poetry night at The Well the following evening).
The judges will select a number of competitors to move on to the semi-finals, which will be held July 25. The finals will be August 6. Each event will run from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cover is $7.
There will be prizes for best poetry (publication with Ekstasis Editions), best singer/songwriter (cash prize) and audience favourite. Winners will also be featured on on-air interviews on local radio.
The Well features retail, commercial and performance space in its two-floor building on Fort Street. The open floor plan boasts an Indian-Caribbean fusion cafe (menu changes daily), a juice bar, a lounge/reading area and a retail section with environmentally councious products, new and used books, clothing and groceries. The walls are covered by the works of local artists and the space is often filled with poetry, live music and performance art of all kinds (www.thewholemartenterprises.com) Upstairs, you’ll find a costume maker and modern art gallery, The Loft (With a pretty amazing 1984-inspired bathroom — seetheloftgallery.blogspot.ca). M