The 100 Mile Winter Arts and Crafts Fair raised over an estimated $2,200 during its two-day course and all of it goes back to the community according to Barbara Hooper, vice-president 100 Mile and District Art’s Council.
“It pays for three Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) scholarships for students in the arts,” she said of the scholarships worth $500 and are categorized for visual, performance and literately arts. They also give grants to its member groups every year. “We live on a slim budget but we always manage to give everything back to the community.”
The art council selects the students who receive the three scholarships. Students apply for them and Hooper, along with two others, go through them and select the students who they deem the “most worthy” for the bounty. The students then receive them during scholarship tea in June of each year.
“It’s not always easy to do, we don’t always choose the ones with great marks,” said Hooper, adding that not every good academic becomes a great artist. “One time, a young woman used to help out in the younger art classes all the time and that says something to me.”
Over 750 people came to the event, with many of them paying the $2 entry fee allowing them to take part in winning a door prize. Each of the vendors donated one of their works of art as a door prize and Hooper said they were excellent, some of the prizes included a hand-turned vase, a painting and home-made Belgian chocolate.
There were also six new vendors and entertainment was provided by accordion player, Tom Fisher. Also new was the concessions from the Iron Horse Pub at the event, which Hooper said was a huge draw.
“A lot of people were really thrilled with the fact that we had them,” said Hooper.
The Winter Arts and Crafts fair is booked for the next four years at the community hall for every fourth weekend in November, with next year’s slotted for Nov. 23 and 24.
You can catch the 100 Mile and District Art’s Council on Facebook and www.100milearts.com.