The Summer Dream Literary Arts Festival began with an idea to bring together all of the on-going literary events that happen monthly around town and their hosts to showcase to the public what they do. The first year of the festival saw us located on the Georgia Street side of the Art Gallery with one stage, some tented chairs for the audience and lots of information tables. Since that year we have grown into so much more.
Now in our 7th year we would like to continue the tradition of how we began with the idea of honouring significant people within the literary community. We are planning an opening night gala to do just that. (This will be held Friday August 20th the night before the festival. The venue still to be decided) We will be opening the evening with a celebration of 40 years since Susan Musgrave’s first book ‘Songs of the Sea-Witch’ was published. We will be giving her a lifetime achievement award not only for her publication but for all that she has done for the writing community over the years.
Next in the evening we will be honouring the publishers of local literary publications that help to keep your words out there. In these times, with so many cutbacks, it is important to acknowledge that they keep going year in and year out to bring us new and established writers work.
Finally, and this is where you come in, Pandora’s would like to recognize certain individuals who have had an impact on the literary community over the years. We will be giving out four special achievement awards and would like you to tell us who you think deserves them. We have a committee in place to go over your input and sort through who you think should receive one of these awards. Finally as I am Executive Director I will be picking one individual that I think should be recognized in the community for their commitment and work.
But now it is your turn. Really think about whom it is you think needs to be recognized. It can be for the quality of their work, the support they have given emerging writers, their tireless endeavors to keep a reading or spoken word event going or their continued workshops that have made a difference in your life. We want to know who you think these people are.
Send us their name and three sentences about why you think it is they should receive special recognition. If you have a contact for this person that would help.
But don’t take to long to think about it. All submissions for consideration should be sent to
blnish_pandoras@yahoo.caby Wednesday February 17th.
I am sending this out to hosts and organizers from other groups so that we cover as wide a spectrum as possible.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Bonnie
Bonnie Nish
Executive Director
Pandora's Collective
www.pandorascollective.com
