It is no secret that Lethbridge has an amazing arts scene  full of  super creative people.

So the second edition of SOAR takes flight in the first weekend of June to not only let  young artists aged 18-35 show what they can do during three cabaret nights at Casa, June 2 and 4, but also share some of their expertise during a series of symposiums simultaneously happening that week.

“We started SOAR in conjunction with the Lt. Governor’s Awards and part of hosting the event was to create an ongoing project that was sustainable, so we began SOAR for young emerging artists,” said Allied Arts Council projects co-ordinator Muffy McKay.

Local visual artists also have an event happening with M.A.P.S ( Making Art in Peculiar Spaces) which begins at the Casa Gallery on Friday. Patrons will take a tour of the downtown where original works in identical wooden boxes will be installed.
“ Last year we had the exhibition Loose Leaves, which exhibited work on paper,” McKay said.

“ This year we created plexiglass boxes for young artists to showcase their works,” she added, noting Casa curator Darcy Logan put out a call for artists to participate in M.A.P.S.

The SOAR cabarets  feature an array of entertainment including music, dance, drama, comedy and magic.The first SOAR cabaret on Wednesday, June 1 features Griffin Cork, Justin Many Fingers and Newman Mentalism.

 Cabaret 2, June 2 features Sundari, Tanya Plonka, The Bear, Kristin Krein and The Waif.
 Cabaret 3, June 4 features Improv with David Gabert, dance from Claire Lint and magician Ben Price
Admission to each cabaret night is $10 with performances beginning at 7 p.m.

While the cabarets are only open to young artists age 18-35, she noted the symposiums are open to everybody.
“This year the SOAR event is of a more ephemeral nature,” McKay continued.

The second part of SOAR is  two days of symposiums, June 4 and 5.
“ It will be two days of hands on panels and discussions,” McKay said.
 The panels explore a variety of aspects of the arts from the practical skills to performance skills.
Some of the highlights include Calgary’s Green Fools  putting on a workshop of introduction to circus techniques at Casa on Sunday June 5 at 2 p.m. Troy Twigg will be hosting a seminar on indigenous contemporary dance, June 4 at 11:30 a.m. And the Drama Nutz will be hosting a session on improv, June 5 at 11 a.m.

There will also be seminars on stop motion animation. Local artists Troy Nickle and Karen Philpott will be  talking about creating art in public spaces.  First Nations artists Maria Fawn Livingston, Vanessa Eagle Bear and Troy Twigg will be talking about  contemporary aboriginal art. Local songwriters Dave McCann and John Wort Hannam will be talking about songwriting.
 Lethbridge is home to several excellent music festivals so Curtis Goodman ( Love and Records)  Eric Sharp (Electric Eye) and Tomas Jonsson will be speaking about how to put on a music festival during a panel hosted by Jana MacKenzie.

Talented film makers also call Lethbridge home so Gianna Isabella and  Blake Evernden will be talking about film making.
 There will also be  seminars on tax tips, grant writing, how to pitch an idea, social media marketing, how to crowd-fund and working in the arts. A $25 admission gains you entrance into as many seminars as you want.

“I’m really excited about the whole event but especially the sessions. It will be an experience,” McKay said.
 There will also be an after-party at Attainable Records, June 4 at 10 p.m. The $10 cover includes a membership to Attainable.
 More information about SOAR is available at  www.soarfestival.ca or through the Allied Arts Council.

A version of this story appears in the May 25, 2016 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times

— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor