About
Dedicated to attracting diverse audiences from near and far, Ignite the Arts is a ten-day multi-venue spring festival that celebrates art in all its forms including music of all genres, visual arts, dance, storytelling and more. The Penticton Art Gallery, in collaboration with several community partners, is proud to host this celebration in snpintktn (Penticton) on the unceded ancestral territory of the syilx (Okanagan) Peoples.
Ignite the Arts transforms various existing indoor and outdoor locations across downtown Penticton into unique cultural environments with artistic showcases, workshops, family-friendly events, a “Parade for No Reason” and lots of live music. Mixing free to attend, outdoor, indoor, and ticketed events, Ignite the Arts offers a diverse and accessible experience to attract audiences locally and from afar.
In its first year, with an incredible lineup of over 200 artists, The Ignite the Arts Festival quickly caught the attention of the Okanagan, branding Penticton as a major artistic hub in the interior. The festival is an immersive experience, allowing people to connect with the arts in all its forms and be exposed to new and diverse artists in a welcoming and inclusive environment. The festival’s community partners include the City of Penticton, local venues such as the Dream Café, Tempest Theatre and Cannery Brewing, and presenting partners such as The En’owkin Centre, 2 Rivers Remix Society and Penticton School of Music.
Director, Curator and Creator of Ignite the Arts Festival, Paul Crawford
The Ignite the Arts Festival is a celebration of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts.
We believe that the arts are for everyone and we aim to provide an open platform for artists and performers to share their work. We also want to give our audience an opportunity to experience diverse cultures through dance, music, theater, film, spoken word and visual art.
Unified by a love for the Earth and the people who live in it.
Ignite the Arts Festival features a variety of Indigenous arts and culture experiences, including dance, music, visual art, storytelling, and film. The festival is committed to promoting reconciliation with Indigenous people through its programming and partnerships. With our 2 Rivers Remix showcase, Indigenous Storytelling, and commissioned murals, each year Ignite the arts is committed to featuring local and national Indigenous artists on the main stage and at main events, not relegated to a separate area or stage. In addition to featuring the artists, we leave space for their stories and protocols to be shared and respected and learned and taught without prejudice and with compassion. To create a long thread of reconciliation throughout our events we invite local elders and have welcoming ceremonies at every major event. Ignite the Arts celebrates indigenous cultures and is working to grow as a creative collective between the Indigenous and
Penticton arts community.
Connecting through mindfulness and shared experience.
The Ignite the Arts Festival supports this priority by promoting wellness through art and culture activities such as somatic movement classes, dance workshops and mental health check up sessions that are offered throughout the festival weekend. These activities allow visitors to connect with their inner selves while exploring different forms of expression through art.
