The August 26th Cultural Night Market came under the microscope at Town Council last night (Tuesday October 10th), as Emily Stovel, Manager of Culture and Curator at the Arnprior Museum gave her report to elected representatives at the municipal meeting.
Stovel sees the Cultural Night Market as a visible manifestation of the Museum’s mission.
The Curator sees the Museum as the Cultural Night Market’s nurturing umbrella.
Stovel says the numerous planning sessions for the event built a dedicated cadre of participants.
She is grateful to the Town staff that pitched in, and to the Town businesses that embraced the theme.
The comparisons with the rigorous organization and devotion to task were clear in Stovel’s mind, versus the ad-hoc enthusiasm that launched the first event last year.
Stovel says it meant for a heritage walk demonstration on Madawaska Street, a hip hop dance workshop and other companion events to amplify the Cultural Night Market’s theme.
The Director of Culture says vendor art was an important accent for the Market, as was the entertainment component.
Councillor Lynn Cloutier says she has issues with the “L” shaped configuration of this year’s Cultural Night Market hampering everyone’s enjoyment of the music.
Cloutier also maintains that given the extra organizational lead-time to this year’s event, a greater diversity of vendor types may have been possible.
The Museum Director of Culture and Curator says debriefings are occurring even as planning for 2024 is already getting underway.
Here’s to you, Arnprior and area!
By Rick Stow