On June 24th, 2017, the inaugural Wetaskiwin Arts and Music Festival took place at By-the-Lake Park, featuring over 30 local musicians spanning various genres and 50 artists across multiple mediums, all drawing an impressive attendance of over 1,000 individuals. Orchestrated by our newly established non-profit Society, this event unfolded seamlessly on a modest budget with invaluable support from local businesses and the City of Wetaskiwin.
Since our debut at By-the-Lake Park, the festival has experienced significant growth. In 2019, we relocated to the Wetaskiwin Ag Grounds, offering expanded on-site parking for the approximately 1,500 attendees and additional space for vendors. Unfortunately, the 2020 edition succumbed to the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we resiliently returned to the Ag Grounds in 2021 and 2022.
Post the 2022 Festival, our Board of Directors made the strategic decision to move the event to Jubilee Park in downtown Wetaskiwin for the 2024 edition, scheduled for Saturday, July 13th. While the Ag Grounds facilitated ample parking, its lack of walkability prompted the shift to Jubilee Park, renowned for its fixed bandshell and picturesque walking paths, ensuring enhanced accessibility for downtown residents.
This ambitious venture necessitates a substantial budget, prompting our outreach to you. Our commitment to maintaining affordable participation fees for local artists and free admission for the public, along with honouring musicians with stipends, has been pivotal to our success. Additionally, the inclusion of a complimentary Kids' Arts booth, allowing children to create art projects, reflects our dedication to community engagement. Therefore, we are actively seeking cash donations to cover expenses such as advertising, portable facilities, printing, musician honorariums, Kids' Arts, and other associated costs.
While we appreciate contributions of any amount, we suggest a donation of $500.00 or more. However, we encourage you to give according to your means. Sponsors will receive public recognition through the inclusion of their names and/or corporate logos on a prominent 'Wall of Honor' banner displayed at the Festival, accompanied by website links on our online platform.
We extend our sincere gratitude in advance for your generous support, which will undoubtedly contribute to the success of the sixth annual Wetaskiwin Arts and Music Festival at Jubilee Park in July 2024.