PRESS RELEASE
November 22, 2006, Victoria, BC

Victoria Arts Connection to host first Pacific Festival of the Book
Victoria Arts Connection is pleased to announce the opening of the Pacific Festival of the Book, Dan Sali, The Courtship of Venus, watercolour on paperto be held Saturday March 24, 2007 in Victoria, BC Canada. The idea to host this event came from a desire by the Victoria Arts Connection Gallery Curator Heidi Bergstrom to bring in the one element that had not been fully engaged at VAC: the literary arts. Many activities at the centre had brushed up against this area such as poetry readings in the summer by artists involved in “Busted but not Broken: Warrior Women’s Garden of Art” but the centre had never put the literary arts front and centre. Together with support from Carol Sokoloff and Richard Olafson of Ekstasis Editions (www.ekstasiseditions.com), the concept for the Pacific Festival of the Book was born. The Pacific Festival of the Book will be a one day event and feature a series of integrated interdisciplinary workshops revolving around the literary arts as well as anextensive booksellers and publishers trade show. Part book fair, part literary arts festival this event will involve all levels of the publishing, writing and the book loving community to come out and enjoy an innovative series of literary events, performances and an exceptional trade show of BC book sellers and publishers. Special events throughout the day will include roving performers from different literary periods inside and outside, author talks and book signings, book making demos, publishers and self-publishing workshops, children’s storytelling as well as an art exhibition celebrating the Art of the Book. Two very exciting workshops being proposed for the program include collaborative workshops between writers, dancers and filmmakers. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Project Literacy Victoria. The Victoria Arts Connection is honored to have Victoria’s own Poet Laureate Carla Funk open the festival and participate in the Readers Program as a special guest Poet. A new section on the VAC website will be launched at the end of November detailing the schedule of programs and information for trade show attendees. The Victoria Arts Connection is a multi-media umbrella organization founded in 2005 and represents the arts in Victoria, British Columbia. Since its inception, the VAC has successfully supported a number of arts events and initiatives that have emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of the centre such as opening the VAC Art Gallery with monthly visual art exhibitions, an annual Victoria Children’s Gala held in December as well as supporting members to develop their programs such as Media Net’s very successfulDance for the Camera intensive workshops this past summer. The VAC is home to Victoria Dance Connection, Kaleidoscope Theatre, Out of the Box Productions, Media Net, Aeiwa Dance, Red Hot Swing, Kivitt Ballroom, Shan-e-Punjab Dance and Salsa Moderna as well as numerous groups that use the facility for workshops and one time events. With more than 500 visitors per week the Victoria Arts Connection has become a major hub of artistic activity within Victoria. This fall Victoria Arts Connection will officially form a non-profit society. For more information about Victoria Arts Connection and the Pacific Festival of the Book please contact *Image by Dan Sali, The Courtship of Venus Heidi Bergstrom, VAC Gallery Curator Victoria Arts Connection 2750 Quadra Street Victoria, BC V8T 4E8 t. 250-477-9089 www.victoriaartsconnectionsociety.org