A successful fibre arts festival that put Gibsons on the map for fabric artists everywhere will not continue in 2011.
At the annual general meeting of the Gibsons Landing Fibre Arts Festival (GLFAF) Society Jan. 19, members voted to dissolve the society. It was not unexpected.
"We realized that all attempts to form a new board had failed," festival chair Janet Genders told Coast Reporter, adding that this does not rule out the festival making a return under another format and with new blood.
The problems began when the core group of directors, including one of its founders, Noreen Tretick, wanted to step down. They had worked hard for 10 years steering the project through its annual week of workshops, exhibitions, displays and activities, but could not find others to replace them in sufficient time to plan a small event for 2011 and a full festival for 2012.
"The mandate of the society was to promote and encourage fibre arts and artists," said Genders. "We have fulfilled this by successfully staging 11 festivals."
Genders said with pride that fibre arts are thriving on the Sunshine Coast, and they are confident that they will continue to do so.
Some local businesses, Carola's Quilt Shop and Unwind Knit and Fibre Lounge, plan to host a fibre fest in August. While Genders is delighted for their interest, she said that as commercial businesses they could not have come under the mandate of the current non-profit society.
Carola Russell, who previously taught at the GLFAF, will be carrying the torch by offering a selection of classes in her shop, including a presentation from an award-winning quilter. Russell observed how special the Fibre Arts Festival was and how it attracted visitors.
"People are keen to come here, but they need an excuse, like classes," Russell said. "It's not enough to offer only a shopping place like the GLFAF's merchant mall."
She will be inviting other fibre artists to participate and offer programs in their studios.
Kim Fenton of Unwind also hopes to carry on the best of the tradition. She plans several workshops and will bring in a speaker on the growing art of yarn "bombing," creating crochet and knit graffiti.
"I think it was brave of that group [the GLFAF] to trust that the community will continue to create something good," Fenton said. "They were astute enough to realize that as much as it was loved, it was time to end it."
Genders notes that the festival is grateful for the outstanding support they received from the community and from sponsoring businesses and organizations. The festival included all forms of fibres, even wood, and Howe Sound Pulp & Paper became a major annual sponsor.
She points out that the organization never had problems in attracting wonderful volunteers during the week of the event -but the festival's planning required a year round commitment.
"We grew in our capacity to stage such a festival in this community," Genders said.
The festival's final wrap up date will be June 30.
