The Saskatchewan Arts Board has awarded a $7,000 grant to Prince Albert’s Rock My Soul Music Festival.
The money will go towards the third annual event taking place Sept. 12 in Memorial Square.
Volunteer Lisa Quartel said the festival begins with a youth showcase primarily from Jam Street Sessions, followed by about seven acts. It also displays art, food and artisan vendors.
From the beginning, organizers have wanted to support female artists.
“It’s great to have the Arts Board support what we’re doing and it’s allowing us to really sort of up the artistic merit of our festival so we can pay fair prices to the professional musicians and we can hire artists to do some of the collaborative art projects,” said Quartel.
“It’s really going to make a difference.”
The festival thrives from grants, explained Quartel: “That’s the only way we’re able to do this.”
In previous years, it’s received support from the City of Prince Albert, the Northern Lights Casino and Northern Lights Community Development, to name a few.
Grants and sponsors are crucial to keeping the festival free and accessible, she said.
“Our goal really is to actually present something for the community to have the opportunity to be exposed to a quality music festival experience and everybody can come,” said Quartel.
“It really is for the people.”
Now that they’ve secured some funding, she explained, organizers are starting to form the lineup.
Prince Albert artist Leah Dorion also received a $7,500 Indigenous Peoples Art and Artists grant. The money will be used to design and create an art show that features the 13 moon teachings.
At the most recent deadline, the Saskatchewan Arts Board has provided funding to more than 100 people and organizations. Altogether, the grants add up to nearly $850,000.
