Host to one of the first Christmas arts and crafts sales on the Coast, the Sunshine Coast Arts Council has decided that it's time to make some changes. The result is a four-day fair.
Deck the Halls, a juried Christmas arts and crafts fair, runs from Thursday, Nov. 28 to Sunday, Dec. 1.
The location is also different. The event is being held at "home" inside the Arts Centre's post and beam, Doris Crowston Gallery at the corner of Medusa and Trail in Sechelt. It's referred to as a "fair" rather than a "sale" for a reason. The hope is to create a Christmas feast for the senses with a variety of performers, a gallery dressed for the season and Christmas goodies available. Local artists and artisans will tempt shoppers with an array of unique and one-of-a kind items.
The gallery is open through Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For further information, phone the Sunshine Coast Arts Council at 604-885-5412.
Walkabout
Bodhi Drope, curator of the current Gibsons Public Art Gallery 10th anniversary show, will lead a curatorial walkabout this Saturday, Nov. 30, from 2 to 3 p.m. at the gallery on Marine Drive in Gibsons. All are welcome.
Harbour Gallery
The Harbour Gallery is holding its annual Christmas sale on four Saturdays, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 and 21. This year's theme is Peace on Earth.
Some of the proceeds will go to the Ada Priest Memorial Bursary which is given toa qualifying Pender Harbour Secondary School art student.Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Gallery is located across from the School of Music in Madeira Park.Contact June at 604-883-2807 or Nefri at 604-885-4366 for more details.
Concerts
Musician Lowry Olafson performs for a fundraiser for the Coast's Hospice Society at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, at 8 p.m. this Saturday. Tickets are $20 at Gaia's Fair Trade, MELOmania and Fresh from the Coast.
The Coast String Fiddlers Christmas Ceidlidh rings out at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1, at Roberts Creek Hall. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, to be found at Talewind Books in Sechelt, and Gaia's Fair Trade in Gibsons.
The annual Winter Harp concert scheduled at the Raven's Cry Theatre for this Saturday, Nov. 30 is sold out already.
Hysteria
This hilarious slapstick comedy, Hysteria, won the hearts of its 2011 Toronto International Film Festival audience.
In 1880s England, Mortimer Granville (Hugh Dancy) - a brilliant young doctor whose progressive ideas alienate him from the medical establishment - finds himself working with Robert Dalrymple (Jonathan Pryce) London's foremost specialist in female health issues, including "hysteria," a malaise so liberally diagnosed that at least half the city's women are considered sufferers. To ease these patients' stress, the doctor has developed a form of intimate massage, the success of which draws in another collaborator (Rupert Everett), a gadget genius who helps to develop the vibrator.
Hysteria screens this Monday, Dec. 2 at the Heritage Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. Film Society members are $5, single event $9.
Music Society
On Wednesday, Dec. 4, at2:30 p.m. the Sunshine Coast Music Society holds its annual general meeting at Highland Centre, 657 Highland Rd. in Roberts Creek (off Hwy. 101 north of Lower Road). Current and new members are welcome. For more, contact Sue Milne at 604-886-1255 or email: [email protected].
Choir performance
A Most Wonderful Time of the Year is the theme for the Pender Harbour Choir directed by Joy McLeod with piano collaborator Paula Seward. They perform at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at St. John's United Church in Davis Bay and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Pender Harbour School of Music in Madeira Park.
Tickets are $15 adults at the Earth Fair Store in Madeira Park, Sechelt Visitor Centre, Laedeli in Gibsons and at the door. For more information, call Doreen Henry at 604-885-1945.
Valdy
The Heritage Playhouse is proud to present Valdy on Friday, Dec. 6,at 8 p.m.
Join the musician for an intimate evening of Christmas favourites andValdy originals. Valdy has been part of thefabric of Canadian pop and folk music for over 34 years.
Valdy has sold almost half a million copies of his 13 albums, has twoJuno Awards, a total of seven Juno nominations and four gold albums to hiscredit.
His recent CDs include Contenders, a collaboration with friendand fellow singer/songwriter, Gary Fjellgaard, and a solo release, Viva Valdy: Live atLast. Showtime is 8 p.m., doors open at 7:30. Tickets $20 in advance or $25 at the door available at Gaia's Fair Trade, Laedeli and Sechelt Visitor Centre.
Music grants
Sunshine Coast Com-munityServices and Coast Cultural Alliance are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for this year's Music for Youth endowment grant.
Applicants may request funding assistance for opportunities such as music lessons, musical instruments and/or electronic production (e.g. studio time or studio mentoring). The value of the 2013 grant is $500. The grant is open to Sunshine Coast youth ages 13 to 19 requiring financial assistance. Those who applied last year may apply again. Deadline is Friday, Dec.13, at 4 p.m. Applications can be found on the front page (under CCA News)of www.suncoastarts.com. The financial and emotionalboost this award has made to the recipients of the lastthree years' grantshas been significant.
Fowler Tribute
On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Creek Big Band offers a musical tribute to the late Les Fowler at the Gibsons Legion Branch 109. The show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 members, $10 for guests, at the door.
Tuesday deadline
Send me notice of your arts events, one week ahead, for this column by Tuesday at 5 p.m. for Friday's paper to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692. Keep it brief, please.
