Community Members Rally to Raise Lumière Festival 2007 Funds

Lumière organizers are thrilled that members of the Ottawa region are coming forward with amazing ideas on how to raise much needed funds for the Crichton Cultural Community Centre’s amazing lantern festival – scheduled for August 11, 2007.

On April 6th, Lumière will be the beneficiary of a World Beats and Eats (WB&E) fundraisers. WB&E was founded by Brad Campeau as a way to support regional arts community. The fundraisers take place on the first Friday of the month at the Mercury Lounge, a space donated by the owners. Campeau then finds regional caterers to provide the food, a DJ to mix beats and a visual artist to add to the atmosphere.

The Lumière WB&E will feature beats by Emily Jones. Miss Jones selections are smooth, mellow and vaguely reminiscent of what you'd expect to hear in a Shag-esque martini lounge, or a late sixties or early seventies movie soundtrack. Delicious eats will be provided by three of Ottawa’s funkiest restaurants – Blue Cactus, Stella Osteria, and Luxe Bisto. Eric Chan, a new media artist who explores the intersections of art and technology will provide the visuals. Chan’s pieces are most heavily influenced by Japanese print, graffiti and music.

Tickets to the fundraiser are $8 and all the proceeds go towards supporting The Lumière Festival. Contact Brad at worldbeatsandeats@sympatico.ca for more information.

Alison Melia, Program Coordinator for the Ottawa Esteem Team, was behind the Light Up Lumière fundraiser. This evening event took place in February at the well loved Rainbow Bistro on Murray Street.

Special thanks goes to performers Lindsay Ferguson for her soulful songs and amazing voice that sent chills down peoples spines and Hoodlum, a fiddle punk band, who had everyone dancing all night long!

Volunteer Gabby Phillips helped make creativity contagious at our lantern-making table. People created beautiful pieces out of glass jars, and after a few drinks, even beer bottles and wine glasses were turned into lantern art. All of the creations will be displayed at the festival.

The success of this event was evident in the $1500 that was raised through ticket sales so thank you to all of our supporters.

If you have an idea about raising funds for the festivals please let us know (613-745-2742; cccc@bellnet.ca) – we appreciate your support!