Ward 2 Coun. Hope Jamieson is disappointed with the George Street Festival for not showing diversity in its upcoming festival.
The 2018 George Street Festival lineup was announced on June 14 and will feature Our Lady Peace, Trooper, Sons of Erin, Finger Eleven, Classified, Arkells, Shanneyganock, I Mother Earth, and Kardinal Offishall — all acts that prodominently feature male artists.
Diversity is missing in the lineup, and Jamieson says it’s frustrating to see women left out, again.
“It’s hard for women in the city and women involved in the cultural world who know the incredible richness and diversity that we have in that scene, to see that again and again missed in the lineups of festivals that we see in this city,” said Jamieson.
“It is difficult to contend with and I’m frustrated that this keeps happening.”
Jonathan Galgay, executive director of the George Street Association, declined an interview on Monday, but says the full lineup has yet to be released for the festival, something he let Jamieson know of before her commentary.
He says more diverse acts will be announced in the coming days.
Jamieson says while more diverse acts may be coming to the festival, not having them as prominently featured as the male acts is another disappointment.
“I think it’s important that when you’re announcing what is going to be the meat and potatoes of your festival, what the headliners will be, that there is again that representation from other kinds of acts — acts that include women, people with disabilities, people of colour, Indigenous artists,” said Jamieson.
“There’s such a diversity and such a richness in the music scene both at home and abroad that to miss that entirely really seems like a missed opportunity.”
She says she is hopeful city hall will take a look at its policy toward granting money to arts organizations in the future to ensure that diversity is a value that matters in future applications.
Twitter: DavidMaherNL
