The Yukon Arts Centre (YAC) has released the roster for the 2014-15 season, with a line-up they hope has a promising selection of new and exciting events for everyone.
Exhibitions for the YAC begin on September 4. The season officially starts on September 12 with a performance called The Damage is Done, staring Dr. Gabor Maté. The play is by the independent inner arts performance company, Productive Obsession.
Katie Newman is the marketing and development director for the YAC.
“I think our team has put together an excellent line-up this year, with something for just about everyone,” says Newman. “I can’t wait to see what the community thinks of them.
“Expect to see woolly mammoths, singing robots, a gumboot dance, a herd of caribou in the gallery…I think this will be one of the most fun and innovative seasons we have put together.”
This YAC season is divided into four categories—visual arts, performing arts, the Northwestel Art Lover’s Series, and Available Light Cinema. Selecting the events to be presented in each category wasn’t an easy task. Newman says shows and exhibitions get booked in a variety of ways. The artistic director travels extensively throughout the year to attend festivals, conferences and individual performances of music, dance, theatre, and other disciplines such as circus. He seeks performances he thinks will resonate with audiences in Whitehorse and throughout the Yukon. Newman says the artistic director seeks out the most excellent, challenging and entertaining work in Canada and beyond.
Highlighting the visual arts season is a Croatian exhibit called Museum of Broken Relationships.
“We have planned the exhibition to run from March through May so that it will be on view during the spring river breakup,” Newman says. “Not only will the exhibition showcase pieces from the museum’s collection, but is will also be a chance for any Yukoner with a broken heart to deal with a relationship ending in a creative way — by making a contribution to the museum and sharing their stories and mementos with the community.”
Performance art is an integral part of any arts center. The 2014-15 season will feature international and Canadian performers. Newman is especially looking forward to seeing Bruce McCullough, from Kids in the Hall, in Young Drunk Punk.
“Seeing one of my biggest comedy heroes live will be a highlight for sure.”
Another performance feature will be a musical group from Zimbabwe, Black Umfolosi, who will perform traditional sounds and dances.
The Northwestel Art Lover’s Series offers a diverse set of packages.
“The Arts Lover’s Series was created about a decade ago to offer an attractively-priced package for our more adventurous audience members,” Newman says.
The YAC line-up would not be complete without cinema. Teaming up with the Yukon Film Society, the YAC has, as usual, an eclectic selection of films to present. This year the YAC has also collaborated with the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre for an ice age mammal exhibition, to be shown at the YAC gallery.
The YAC season begins on September 12.
