Venus Fest is pleased to announce the second edition of the
festival returning thisSeptember 20-22, 2018. The annual event is the only
festival dedicated to celebrating women and non-binary artists, in downtown
Toronto. Last year’s line-up featured performances by Weaves, Grouper, Lido
Pimienta, Madame Gandhi and more.
Founded with the intent to foster community, inclusivity and unification, based
on feminist values, the festival aims to provide a welcoming and safe
environment for all attendees. Venus Fest is committed to creating a shift in
terms of the long standing industry trends that have dominated event
programming and organizational structures by ensuring greater awareness around
who has access and representation in the arts. It is this responsibility that
dictates the festival’s mission to ensure a fun atmosphere that is respectful
and tolerant, without enabling destructive behaviours or attitudes. The
festival arrived in response to a well-expressed need in the music
industry to create a new kind of space for artists to thrive in and for
community members to attend with a sense of safety. Since the success of the
first edition, Venus Fest has held a monthly event series leading up to the
2018 festival edition.
“The inspiration behind Venus Fest is not a new one in the world. But it does
feel like the world may be ready for it now. We’re in the midst of some very
powerful changes and I hope that Venus Fest can continue to grow and learn
through them, and to hold out a space for people to come together and celebrate
these talented artists, who are essentially the healers of our world.” – Aerin
Fogel, Founder / Venus Fest.
“To walk into Venus Fest was to occupy a completely different emotional
universe from every other festival I’ve attended. To feel really, truly safe at
a show, for once. Safe and seen and celebrated. Every organizer, and every
artist, was a woman or non-binary. There were accessible entrances and
gender-neutral washrooms.”- NOW Magazine
2018 Dates:
Thursday, September 20-The Mod Club Theatre
Friday, September 21- The Opera House
Saturday, September 22- The Opera House
*Early bird wristbands available here.
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