CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Stratford may be a small city in Canada, yet it has miraculously produced some very big dreams over the years, and that’s precisely what will be explored this month in the Provocation Ideas Festival (PIF)’s second year operating.
Mark Rosenfeld, founder of the PIF, announced the 2024 Stratford lineup on Oct. 10 by the bandshell on the banks of the Avon River. As he told the crowd that gathered, the river has a deep significance to this year’s festival, but it primarily focuses on the city’s wider history of change.
“It celebrates Stratford’s ongoing invention and reinvention over the years, over the centuries, really,” Rosenfeld said. “We're going to be doing that through community storytelling, discussion, culinary exploration, the geographic landscape, choreography, collective-art creations and the voices of our children.
“And the festival also intends, because it is called the Provocation Ideas Festival, to ask some provocative questions in the discussions that take place. So why do some dreams succeed in Stratford? Why do some don't? And how would the city be different if the unrealized dreams came true? Who has a luxury of dreaming, who doesn't? And how might that change?”
PIF launched in Toronto in 2022. Rosenfeld originally intended it to bring together disparate voices working towards positive change for the community and society at large. Since then, he moved to Stratford and brought his creation over last year.
He describes it as “a new public square,” a venue rooted in local communities that are informed by global ideas.
This year’s festival takes place throughout October and November. Its theme is “City of Dreamers” and explores the dreams and aspirations of the region’s inhabitants, from initial Indigenous populations to future residents of the Festival City.
“Celebrating Stratford's spirit of innovation and reinvention, it invites the community to share its stories, engage in thoughtful discussions and explore the city through culinary experiences, art, choreography and the voices of our children,” a media release on this year’s festival reads. “Together, we'll witness how dreamers shape Stratford’s past, present and future.”
The first official event, Neural Ballet Redux, took place on Oct. 10 and 11 in partnership with Gallery Stratford. It was a neo-classical ballet performance which fused ballerina Irina Lerman’s award-winning choreography with software artist Ryan Kelln’s AI-generated visuals. It included a half-hour performance and a discussion exploring the impact of generative AI on the future of art making.
Robert Windrum, interim director and curator for Gallery Stratford, said he was proud the gallery could be involved.
“There’s two things that just fit perfectly with what Gallery Stratford does, what I do … and that’s collaboration and dreaming,” Windrum said at the kick-off. “In talking with Mark about the festival, about how the gallery could be involved, (it) got me really excited. … We really look forward to future years and we’re so happy we are able to present and collaborate with the neuro ballet.”
Additionally, a month-long exhibition at Our Stōr(y), an “explorium” as owner Kevin September called it, is running. Entitled “River of Dreams,” it is an exploration of the Avon River, the waterway that simultaneously connects and divides Stratford.
The remaining 2024 Stratford PIF events, per the festival’s website, are:
River of Dreams opening reception
The River of Dreams exhibition features work from more than 15 local artists of diverse artistic visions. The exhibition will be open from Nov. 1-29, barring Mondays when Our Stōr(y) is closed. An opening reception is scheduled for the first evening it’s open on Nov. 1, from 7-9 p.m., at Our Stōr(y), 7 George St. W.
A Culinary Journey Through Past, Present and Future
Co-presented with Mercer Kitchen, this ticketed event celebrates Stratford’s deep culinary heritage and its future. Organizers promise it is a captivating event for anyone passionate about food and the local community. It takes place Nov. 13 from 5-8:30 p.m. at The Old Prune, 151 Albert St.
CBC IDEAS: Shaping Tomorrow’s Cities
Co-presented with CBC IDEAS and investStratford, host Nahlah Ayed will have a discussion on imagining the cities of the future with “Jay Pitter, an award-winning placemaker focused on bridging divides in urban spaces across North America; Robin Mazumder, an environmental neuroscientist studying the impact of urban design on wellbeing; and Greg Lindsay, a futurist exploring the role of AI and augmented reality in shaping cities.” It takes place on Nov. 28 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Stratford City Hall Auditorium, 1 Wellington St.
Reimagining Stratford: Designing the Future City
Co-presented with investStratford and the Stratford Public Library, this event is a community-based exploration of urban development by citizens. Discussion will revolve around the future and current needs of the city. It takes place on Nov. 30 from 1-2:30 p.m. at the Stratford Public Library, 19 St. Andrew St.
Storied Stratford
“Participate in an unforgettable evening of live readings by local actors and authors, bringing to life short stories, vignettes, plays and historical accounts inspired by Stratford and the surrounding region. Following the performances, dive into a thought-provoking discussion on how Stratford has been portrayed in literature, film, history and the popular imagination – exploring diverse perspectives, including an Indigenous lens.” Co-presented with the Stratford Public Library, the Stratford Perth Museum and Fanfare Books and takes place Nov. 30 from 7-9 p.m.
For more information, visit www.provocation.ca/2024-events-stratford.
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