Message From Executive Director

By Janet Jarrell

The QAC began publishing Umbrella 30 years ago and it’s still going strong. We asked Carol Bauer for its origins as a tabloid newspaper before it became the glossy magazine you hold in your hands.

As an umbrella organization representing all artistic disciplines, we have once again curated a celebration of stories about local artists who continue to create and inspire during a still challenging year.

And we have much to celebrate: When local artist David R. Maracle was asked to perform at the Honouring Ceremony for the JUNOs, he turned to the QAC for support. We reached out to the Empire Theatre to record the video. Thank you to Bay of Quinte Regional Marketing for your support in activating this project. Despite a challenging school year, we are recognizing five exemplary students who are continuing to post-secondary education in the arts. Turn to page 40 to read about our bursary recipients. Within these pages we fondly remember that iconic edifice the Tweedsmuir, home to First Tuesday Muse, that we lost to fire in March.

Speaking of loss: the arts community also remembers Kathryn Fellows. Beyond talented, she inspired strength, compassion and adventure in others.

During hard times we often turn to music to soothe our souls – whether it is the big sound of Long Range Hustle or the classical sounds of Quinte Society for Chamber Music – our local music scene has it all.

Words help us make sense of uncertainty, and so we share profiles of award-winning Kelly S. Thompson on why she writes about hard things, the moving and bold poetry of Abena Beloved Green and Canadian icon Peter C. Newman (yes, he lives in Belleville!). In his words, “Artists see, musicians hear and writers feel.”

It’s important to consider our history within a greater context: As we go to print, our hearts are heavy after the remains of 215 children were discovered in an unmarked grave at a residential school in Kamloops, BC; another 104 potential graves have been found at the former Brandon residential school. The devastation is overwhelming. There is much sadness, anger and reconciliation to happen across this country.

As we learned during the pandemic, art is there to help us heal.