by: Erin Morrison
With the COVID-19 pandemic postponing most in-person events, Champaign-Urbana’s annual Boneyard Arts Festival organizer had to make some changes. Year 18 of the festival was originally scheduled to take place April 2-April 5, but that is no longer possible. However, according to Kelly White who works for 40 North, the organization that coordinates the Boneyard Arts Festival, there are still plans to hold the festival at a later date that is for now undetermined. White is also an artist and a part-time faculty member at Parkland College, and she has taught Art History at Parkland for about 12 years now.
In the meantime, while there cannot be a physical arts festival held out in the “real” world like planned, the Boneyard Arts Festival will be having a virtual festival. Virtual Boneyard will be starting on the festival’s original start date of April 2. White said the virtual festival “will include individual posts featuring participating artists as well as streaming performances, demos, and behind the scenes video tours.”
The artists participating in the virtual version of the festival are the same artists who were already planning on participating in the festival before it had to be postponed. White also said, “Anyone else who is interested in being a part of our virtual celebration can contact me at kwhite@40north.org.” Art forms of all kinds are typically represented at the Boneyard Arts Festival from music to photography to poetry. This can be a great opportunity for student artists to present their work.
“Art is the most accurate indicator of the strength of a community and we will need the Boneyard Arts Festival more than ever before.”
While many of us are required to stay safe at home, for the time being, art is a great way to remind us that we are still connected with one another.
“Art is the most accurate indicator of the strength of a community and we will need the Boneyard Arts Festival more than ever before. Watching the collaborations come to life – whether artist with artist, or organization with artists or property owner with an arts collective – it’s a wonderful way to celebrate the profound way creativity can help rebuild once these trying times are behind us,” White said. “Experiencing the celebration of the arts during Boneyard is soul-feeding stuff – it could provide much-needed joy, vibrancy, reflectiveness, and healing that we will all need throughout this community.”
The Boneyard Arts Festival has always been a great way to support local artists, and now is an important outlet for people to support one another virtually.
The festival has historically drawn many patrons and is a communal time for artists and art lovers alike. And each year, the festival continues to grow. “The festival began as a small 13-venue gallery walk in downtown Champaign and has over the years developed into a county-wide art celebration with over 100 venues,” White said. Of these 100 venues, included is Parkland College’s own Giertz Gallery.
“In 17 years, the mission hasn’t changed. Unlike other traditional festivals where tents are lined up in a specific blocked off area, the Boneyard transforms the entire community into a giant celebration of the arts for one special weekend,” White said. “It not only provides a chance for the community to discover the amazing art that thrives in this area but also to explore new spaces and realize the value of collaboration between art and local business. It’s a chance to demonstrate our unique personality – as individuals and as an entire community.”
Virtual Boneyard will connect the community through art during these hard times, and when the community can hold the physical festival once again, the community will be notified.
Visit the 40north/ boneyard website here.
