Big congratulations are in order for the winners of the Royal City Literary Arts Society’s annual Write On! contest.
The contest recognizes the best work in three categories: poetry, fiction and non-fiction.
Chelsea Comeau won the poetry category with Second Coming, followed by Alan Hill’s To My Children and Juliane Tran’s Medication. Honourable mentions went to Annette LeBox, Franci Louann and Lilija Valis.
In non-fiction, Bryant Ross led the way with Lost in the Forest, followed by Carol Narod with Jerez de la Frontera and Monika Forberger with Shoeless in Halifax. Honourable mentions went to Julia Schoennagel, Rick Carswell and William Crow.
In fiction, Alvin Ens won for Pumpkins, with Susan Cormier taking second with Metaphor for an Apple and Marion Iberg third for They’re All Up in the Hills. Valerie Adolph, Brie Wells and KT Wagner took honourable mentions.
A special winners’ reading event is set for Wednesday, May 18 at 7 p.m. at Old Crow Coffee, 655 Front St., featuring readings of the top three in each category, as part of LitFest New West.
Check out www.rclas.com to stay on top of all the literary events.
ARTS TO GO
Get your family’s hands on art with the next ArtsToGo workshop presented by the Arts Council of New Westminster.
The next in the free workshop series is taking place on Sunday, May 8 from noon to 3 p.m. at Royal City Centre. Kids and families can get their hands on collage art with artist Sarah Davidson.
You don’t need to sign up – just drop in. Parent participation is required.
Check out www.artscouncilnewwest.org/artstogofor the details on the workshop series.
WRITERS' WORKSHOP SET
If you have a drawer full of unpublished manuscripts, this one may be for you.
The Royal City Literary Arts Society is offering up a new workshop, Get It Out: A Writer’s Guide to the Submissions of Literary Works for Publication.
Jamie Macarty, a poet, editor and arts administrator, is leading the workshop, which is set for Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. in the Gallery at Queen’s Park.
If terms like “SASE,” “submittable” and “submishmash” are still a bit of a mystery to you, you may want to check it out. You’ll learn when your work is ready to be sent out, how to match your work to particular publications, what information a cover letter should contain, how to understand and follow submission guidelines and more.
It costs $15 for members and $25 for non-members. See www.rclas.com for all the details, or pre-register by emailing [email protected].
BILLY ELLIOT RETURNS
Local musical theatre fans will find a bunch of familiar faces onstage when the Arts Club Theatre Company’s Billy Elliot opens May 12.
Billy Elliot is a musical based on the acclaimed film, telling the tale of an 11-year-old from northern England who finds an unlikely life in the ballet studio – set against the backdrop of the coal miners’ strikes of 1984. It stars Nolan Fahey in the title role.
Well-known New West actor David Adams is in the cast as Big Davey, and a host of Royal City Musical Theatre alumni are part of the cast. You’ll see such familiar souls as Warren Kimmel (who just played Tevye in RCMT’s Fiddler on the Roof) as Billy’s dad, and a raft of past performers from the Massey stage– watch for a host of familiar faces including Avril Brigden, Julia MacLean, Arta Negahban, Nathan Piasecki, Mat Baker and Danny Balkwill.
Billy Elliot plays at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage in Vancouver from May 12 to July 10. See www.artsclub.com.
ART OF THE GARDEN
Love art? Love gardening? You may want to make a point of checking out the next exhibition at Van Dop Gallery.
The Art of the Garden opens May 10 and runs until Sept. 20 at the gallery, which is at 421 Richmond St.
A special open house is set for Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., when visitors will have a chance to meet artists Angie Au Hemphill and Jim Walsh.
The gallery opens the gates to its gardens for the exhibition, so you can check out the art both in and outside. Outside, you can find hand-crafted birdbaths, unique abstract garden sculptures by featured artist Keith Rice-Jones and “whimsical garden treasures of all kinds,” as a release says.
“Wander the gardens and enjoy the serenity of your surroundings while experiencing the joys of living with art in all areas of the home,” says the release. “Van Dop Gallery and Garden is an experience of the relationship between art and living.”
Check out www.vandopgallery.com for information. The gallery is open for private viewings by calling 604-521-7887 or by emailing [email protected].
POETIC JUSTICE
Poetry lovers, be sure to get your tickets for the special LitFest edition of Poetic Justice.
The Sunday afternoon reading series on May 15 will feature poets Betsy Warland, Kevin Spenst and Jane Byers, plus the usual open mike session.
Because it’s happening during Lit Fest, you’ll need to get a ticket through EventBrite to attend (it’s still free, but you have to book with a ticket because the maximum attendance is 40 people.
It’s set to run from 3 to 5 p.m. at Boston Pizza, Columbia Square. Check out www.poeticjusticenewwest.org for all the details.
Got an idea for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
