Studio Fair celebrates 49th year

Nov 1, 2024 | 3:50 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Everything from high-end chocolates to unique metalwork made from forks, jewellery and candles. The displays run the gamut. The first artisan fair of the year. And it has come a long way from very humble roots nearly fifty years ago.

“It started out really small, just as a fundraiser and grew into this amazing show that has, you know, certainly attracted national and provincial artists that come from all over and they love Prince George,” says Lisa Redpath with the Community Arts Council.

Atheena Murray is the founder of Atheena’s Apothecary. Hers is one of more than 300 local, provincial, and national artisans. Well before she became a vendor, she was came to Studio Fair as a guest.

“Always a diehard attendee. So to become a vendor, I was super-excited and it was just phenomenal. Everyone that’s coming in, they’re here to support local. They’re here to support the arts. All the different guilds are part of Studio 2880, as well as the pottery, woodturners, everything. And so everything here is just been hand-selected.”

This is her third year at Studio Fair as a vendor and she says it’s a magical time.

“Everything here is handmade. It’s been curated. It’s such a high level of creativity that our nation has to offer. So not just locally, but across Canada and it’s just all in one pocket this weekend and it’s just such a wonderful event.”

Vendors come from across the country to attend this event, and each vendor is curated for quality control. It’s also a chance for the many different local guilds to strut their stuff.

“That is the foundation of our [arts] community,” says Redpath. “It’s the vibrancy of the arts community. And we at the Community Arts Council, we want to nurture that. We want them to be successful. This is the first stop on the fair circuit and is the unofficial start to the Christmas shopping season.

The event runs from November 1 from 1 pm – 8 pm• Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm.

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