Nextfest invites patrons to adopt an artist

As Nextfest heads into another year of showcasing emerging artists, festival director Erin Chorley encourages you to consider adopting one of the stars before they go supernova. You can adopt an artist for $100 and receive a full festival pass to experience a variety of artistic expression between June 4 and 14. You would also get a T-shirt by Sammy-Jo Rodgers that's not available in stores, a tax receipt, and your name next to your adopted artist in exchange.

The adoption option offers validation to both the artist and the sponsor, Chorley told Taproot. "It's a really great way for us to individually highlight artists, and I think for artists to feel great pride in their work when we make sure that someone is cheering them on," she said. "Then people will be like, 'Oh, I adopted that artist two years ago, and now they're playing Yardbird Suite,' or 'Now they're doing a show at the Art Gallery of Alberta.'"

The multidisciplinary arts festival features theatre, music, visual arts, film, dance, and more. At Theatre Network's Roxy Theatre, Chorley highlighted FANTASIES IN TRASH: in eleven movements, a trans-centric "industrial puppet symphony," as well as Storybook Skin, which explores classic (and topical) literature such as Animal Farm and Frankenstein. The festival also brings live music to various venues for free. Esther Forseth performs at Delavoye Chocolate Maker on June 9; Holly Sangster plays at Three Vikings on June 10; and Shalyon Bourque and Addison Wall perform at Helen Nolan Park during the 124 Grand Market on June 11.