Downtown Lethbridge is the place to be this summer with all kinds of exciting activities taking place for people of all ages, thanks in part, to the financial support through the Re-Imagine Downtown Activation Grant.
The City of Lethbridge, Opportunity Lethbridge, with the support of the Heart of Our City Committee (HOCC) is excited to announce the results of the third intake of the Re-Imagine Downtown Activation Grant. The grant program is designed to facilitate the re-imagining of Downtown's vacant and underutilized spaces by supporting initiatives that look to create a critical mass of activity that supports local businesses, fosters healthy and safe social settings, and provides a feeling of safety and security through positivity.
"As we saw with the launch of Re-Imagine in 2021, there are several great projects that can happen with the right support in place," says Andrew Malcolm, Urban Revitalization Manager. "During intake 3, we received 11 applications with funding requests totaling in excess of $145,000. Although we did not have adequate funds to meet the demand, this is a great sign for overall interest in the future of Downtown Lethbridge."
Through the evaluative process in this third intake of applications, the review panel and the HOCC prioritized grant funding based on the criteria identified in the application package, with nine initiatives being partially or fully funded with a total of $80,500 in funding:
- Hootenany! 2022 (U of L Fine Arts)
- A month-long free, outdoor theatrical production for all ages presented in downtown Lethbridge at Galt Gardens throughout July. Hootenanny!'s productions include diverse theatrical styles such as clown, puppetry, and physical theatre and embraces themes of inclusivity and diversity. This year's production's themes will centre around Indigenous ways of knowing and/or environmental awareness.
- Lethbridge ArtDays (Allied Arts Council)
Lethbridge Arts Days 2022 is a one-week festival running from September 23 to September 30. It is designed to encourage participation and engagement from the greater community with the arts. The month of September is the Month of the Artist and the entire month will be a celebration of the arts with extensive collaboration and culminating in Arts Days 2022.
- Lethbridge Jazz Festival (Lethbridge Jazz Society)
The Lethbridge Jazz Society (LJS) will host a series of live music events in venues in downtown Lethbridge, showcasing local, Alberta, and Canadian artists and creating opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and incomes to engage with the downtown and enhance community connection. We will expand our audience to a variety of different demographic segments (i.e., younger age group, seniors, and underserved populations) and by maintaining accessible ticket prices.
- Shakespeare in the Park – Hamlet (Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society)
Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society presents a total of ten engaging performances in Galt Gardens Amphitheatre and Casa Plaza, this summer, adding unparalleled colour and excitement to downtown Lethbridge!
- 10th Annual Lethbridge Electronic Music Festival
Celebrating its 10th Birthday this year, LEMF continues to strive to bring a free, all-ages, family-friendly festival to Lethbridge. They have grown from one stage and 500 people to a full-fledged year-round event company with LEMF being the marquee production attended by several thousand festival-goers.
- Foodie Fest (Downtown BRZ)
Foodie Fest will bring food trucks, downtown restaurants, and late-night shopping together in Downtown Lethbridge once a month! Grab dinner, try free samples from local restaurants, and shop your favorite stores till 9 p.m.
- Downtown Farmers' Market (Downtown BRZ)
The Downtown Farmers' Market is an annual event that invites local vendors to sell everything from fruits and vegetables to handmade goods in Downtown Lethbridge every Wednesday during the summer.
- Centric MusicFest Pop-up Concerts (Primo Music Assn)
Centric MusicFest is once again looking to fill outdoor, downtown spaces with performances by professional and up-and-coming artists as part of the programming of their summer festival. Classical or art music would be performed by either solo or small groups of performers for a series of four 1 hour performances at noon.
- First Friday Lunch & Listen Concert Series (U of L Conservatory of Music)
The Conservatory of Music - located at Casa - offers free concerts on the first Friday of every month at 12:15 p.m. These concerts offer wonderful opportunities for the downtown core to enjoy high quality classical performances by Conservatory faculty and guests at no charge. These have been very successful, attracting hundreds of people every month, including seniors' homes, special needs organizations, and many retirees.
Events and activities carrying over to this summer from previous intakes include Horses in the Park (Lethbridge Therapeutic Riding Association), Artcade (independent host), Theatre Outré, Lethbridge Pride Festival & Parade and the Lethbridge Cigarette Butt Initiative.
The HOCC encourages all unsuccessful applicants to reach out to City administration with any questions, concerns, and/or to receive individualized feedback on their application. They are encouraged to reapply in the next intakes. More information is here.
