OCTOBER 27 – 30, 2006

From October 27 - 30, 2006 the City of Victoria, B.C. in partnership with the Royal & McPherson Theatres Society hosted the first VICTORIA INTERNATIONAL ARTS SYMPOSIUM, an unprecedented gathering of local, national and international artists. Born out of the City’s designation as a 2005 Cultural Capital of Canada, the International Arts Symposium was an event designed to celebrate Victoria’s vibrant arts community and appeal to local arts supporters and out-of-town visitors alike. For four intense and exciting days a series of keynote speakers, panel discussions, exhibitions and performances took place in the Victoria Conference Centre, the McPherson Theatre and other venues throughout the downtown area.

ARTISTS OF CONSCIENCE

The theme of this inaugural multi-disciplined Symposium was ARTISTS OF CONSCIENCE – an exploration of how an artist’s work is impacted by their awareness of and involvement in vital and sometimes controversial social issues. Topics for the Symposium embraced a wide range of concerns including: art and ecology, radical architecture, feminism in the arts, music and activism, indigenous art and art versus violence and war. Participating artists were invited from across Canada, the United States, South America and Europe, as well as renowned professionals from Victoria, Vancouver and the Gulf Islands.