Have you ever witnessed impromptu poetry on the High Level Streetcar or a captivating comic show at the doctor’s office? This spontaneity is the foundation of Found Festival.
Found Festival, created by the Common Grounds Art Society, celebrates the unconventional and gives lesser known artists a stage, whether it’s in a theatre or a city park. It’s all about accessibility.
“We take art from conventional venues and bring it directly into the community,” says Beth Dart, festival director of Found Festival. “Nothing’s off-limits, and we work really closely with local businesses to build partnerships to support the festival.”
The 2021 Found Festival is live and in person, however, there will be performances streamed online for those who aren’t comfortable visiting physically. The festival was virtual last year, but many artists deferred their spot to perform live this year.
The lineup includes a music series curated by Mustafa Rafiq, a poetry showcase curated by Dwennimmen, a puppet pub crawl and multiple staged play readings.
“I am excited for the community to come together again, and support each other and the incredible performing arts,” says Dart. “It will be smaller than we’re used to, and there will be a lot of precautions around it, but we’re excited to come back.”
Social distancing measures are in place to keep everyone safe, including sanitization stations and contact tracing. Masks are required in indoor performance spaces and recommended outdoors if you’re in close proximity to people outside your household.
The 2021 Found Festival starts on July 8 and runs until July 11. Information about the lineup and tickets can be found online.
