New Drift Website Launched

The new Drift web site is finally here and it's a fantastic resource for the Main Street arts & culture community. Online registration for the Drift 2008, taking place the weekend of October 3,4,&5 is now available for artists, retailers, sponsors, performers and volunteers. No more paper! The deadline for registration has been extended to JULY 15. Registration is as easy as a click of the submit button! Click here to find out more about the benefits of participating in the Drift.

Highlights of the new web site:

• Lovers of local art can view the Drift 2008 Preview slide show on the home page, browse by artist name or medium, or find a participating artist's studio or Main Street retail partner on the Google map.
• Drift member artists have their own web page where they can create a profile with up to ten images of their work and full contact information. And the new system allows artists to update the information easily whenever they choose.
• An event calendar features year-round information about members' art shows, workshops and other Drift events.

Check it out!   www.thedrift.ca

More Artists needed to Open their Studios

We have approximately 50 artists who have registered for this year's event.  More artists are needed to open their studios during the Drift weekend. If your studio is within the Drift boundaries (Cambie to Fraser, from Industrial to 33rd), we invite you to participate. Visitors to the Drift love to see the artist's working space, interact informally, and observe them working.

We also need more artists to show their work in our host Main Street retailers. The deadline to be included in the printed publicity materials is JULY 15. Register now! 

Main Street Retailers - get the Drift!

Participation in the Drift is a great benefit for the small local shops on Main Street. Our survey of over 100 retailers indicates an overwhelming level of support for the Drift event. More than 22 shops have registered so far. To see the list of retailers who have joined the Drift visit the Retail Partners Page . Then click the Get Started button and fill out your form. Deadline is July 15. Remember, participation for shops is FREE. 

Call for Performers

We are now inviting applications from interested local performers of all disciplines to be a part of the 4th annual Drift. This is your opportunity to participate in this community arts event and showcase your talent to thousands of visitors to Main Street.

Music, live theatre, street performances, dance, creative workshops, visual arts, culinary arts, the spoken word, and multiculturalism are all part of the dynamic programming and experiences that make up the Drift weekend.

Many of our retail partners have indicated an interest in hosting a performance as part of the weekend program. Some ideas are: artist talk or demonstration, poetry reading, dance performance, acoustic musical event. All who donate their performance as a benefit to the Main Art Drift Society will be listed for a full year on the Performers web page with an artist bio, picture and website link .

Apply using the performers online registration form . Deadline is August 8.

Sponsors

The Drift is produced by the Main Art Drift Society, a non-profit art society that relies on government art grants and private and corporate donations to make the event free for visitors.

We would like to sincerely thank our early sponsors for their support:

Clay Yandle of sharkbite art & design for his web design work and many hours of time.

Azaris Studios for getting the site up and running smoothly and donating hours of time and support to make it happen.

The City of Vancouver for another Celebration Grant this year.

G&F Financial Group for their continued support. 

The Mount Pleasant BIA . 

Aurora Draw Winner 

We're happy to announce that the winner of the dinner for 2 at Main Street's award-winning Aurora Bistro is Drift artist Joan Tayler. The draw was held at the June 4 Drift Board of Directors' meeting and included all artists registered before May 31, 2008. Congratulations, Joan!

Call For Artists 

Artists who are willing to donate a small piece (max. 8 X 12) of original or limited edition art work to be used for the Drift 2008 Press Kits will receive priority publicity. Your work and artist's biography will be sent to one of Vancouver's major arts & culture journalists at key newspapers and television and radio stations.