The Provocation Ideas Festival is returning to Stratford.
The festival began in Toronto in 2022, and expanded to Stratford last year.
Mark Rosenfeld, founding director and president, explained the concept behind the festival and what people can learn.
The festival itself is designed to be a community-focused, spirited exploration of ideas and perceptions through discussions, performances, interactive artistic creations and debates.
It asks attendees to think about current issues that are affecting the region and the country. It also challenges peoples’ pre-conceived perceptions of themselves and the world they live in.
The theme of the festival this year is City of Dreamers. It wants to look at the way dreams and aspirations of people in the region have changed over time, while also looking retrospectively and proactively at the city.
“And witness how the dreamers have shaped Stratford, yesterday, today and how they might shape tomorrow,” expressed Rosenfeld.
The festival kicked off this week with the River of Dreams launch, an art exhibit working with 15 local artists in their exploration of the Avon River. The installation will run from Nov. 1 – 29.
Additionally, Neural Ballet Redux is slated for this weekend at Gallery Stratford. On Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at noon there will be a neo-classical ballet performance where artistry and technology intertwine.
More information can be found at www.provocation.ca.
