Thanks to the Re-Imagine Downtown Activation Grant, another half-dozen events are benefiting from the second round of grant funding.
According to the City of Lethbridge, the grant aims to breathe new life into vacant and underused spaces in Lethbridge’s core. Six projects have been approved in the second intake period:
- Art Days Lethbridge (Allied Arts Council): a 10-day event starting Sept. 13, showcasing a wide-variety of artistic displays, practices and disciplines.
- Heritage Day (Southern Alberta Ethnic Association): an event featuring vendors, performers and musicians to celebrate the cultural heritage of our Lethbridge residents.
- Word on the Street (Lethbridge Public Library): this one-day, outdoor event includes author readings for kids, teens and adults, workshops and panels, live music and activities and an exhibitor marketplace.
- Centric Music Festival (Primo Music Association): this festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and will produce several unique performances, including free and ticketed events featuring local and visiting professional musicians in Festival Square.
- Independent Film Festival (Galt Museum): the festival features films by various local artists and filmmakers, including engaging kids’ shorts, animation, documentaries and more.
- Street Wheelers (Street Wheelers Car Club): Street Wheelers Show and Shine will provide free entry for spectators to view more than 400 unique cars at the annual event in Galt Gardens Park.
Between the two intake periods, 17 projects received more than $120,000 in funding.
“We’re happy to fund these events that improve the vibrancy of our downtown,” says Justin Schipper, Urban Revitalization administrator. “And this is a hand-up, not a hand-out. There is an expectation these events will become financially sustainable in the years to come.”
