Artist Kudos

Artists love the Kaleido Festival. Here’s what some of our involved artists have to say;

“Every year the Kaliedo festival just gets better and better. It is so great to be a part of it. What could be better? A weekend of diverse arts and culture in Edmonton’s most vibrant arts community.”

Maria Pace-Wynters

“As an artist, I feel especially privileged to have participated in the Kaleido Festival. 
On top of all the positive community and social benefits, Kaleido has carved for itself the position of being the most artistically bold and diverse performing arts festival in the city. 
The curation of artists and acts is visionary and daring.   
Not only is it fun to be a performer at this festival, but it is inspiring and stimulating to see the other artists, from the musicians, to the visual artists, to the off-beat theatrical performances, like the one in a car.

 Kaleido is seeking out and programming creative treasures, and doing a great job of it! 
Please support Kaleido so Kaleido can continue to show us the fabulous diversity we have in Alberta.

”

Annie Dugan, Firefly Theatre

“As a new resident of the Ave, Kaleido was a mysterious and exciting opportunity to meet my neighbours, take in some culture at my doorstep and share my own work. I inaugurated Kaleido… After Dark, an edgy performance art event in the creepy basement of the Old Cycle Building. It was great to find a Family Festival open to this kind of work; we endeavored to explore what was happening in the basement of this ‘family’ and the result was a varied evening of confrontational and experimental storytelling. A grand success in my view!”

Garett Spelliscy

“I am writing to express my support and enthusiasm for the Kaleido Family Arts Festival.

Bird Soul Productions has been a part of the festival for the past 2 years and has found the experience very satisfying. It has been very well organized and has been very supportive of all our requests and extra attention that our work requires. The artistic work chosen for the festival is of a high caliber and well thought out for venue, artistic merit and contributing to the whole festival experience. We found that the festival’s remuneration to us was on par with other festivals. It was a fantastic experience for us and we would absolutely support further funding and continuation of the festival.

Personally, I enjoy the varied aspect of Kaleido, how it incorporates all the different spaces and environments of the neighborhood. E.g. using the light poles for creation of visual ‘art on the spot’, the wall we danced on, the arts studios for workshops and showings. I am also impressed with how the businesses and organizations based in the area participate. It is truly wonderful to see a festival be successful at inclusiveness- without loosing its rich creativity! I find the energy on the street, at the performances and at the exhibitions very refreshing and open.

Festivals such as this are paramount to contributing to communities, to their development and to their identity. They provide focal points for artists, businesses and community members to celebrate where they live and who they are while offering up entertainment and art right at their doorstep. Strong, growing communities are based on communication, education and pride of where they live. Kaleido provides avenues for this healthy growth, strengthening the community and its members every year. It does this by providing high calibre artistic work and incorporating the actual spaces, streets, walls, windows, etc. of the locale fully.”

Trina Rasmuson
Director
Bird Soul Productions