For the last 12 years, there has been an acknowledgement that the Headwaters area has more artists of all kinds than most areas can boast. With this understanding, a few individuals began the work of organizing their fellow artists in this region. They wanted to promote the arts community by establishing a festival or tour when people would learn where the studios were and come to visit.

This is the foundation of Headwater Arts and its present day Festival. Over the ensuring years, there have been various versions of the festival but only in the last few years has there been such a coming together of artists of every ilk. Visual, musical, writing, acting artists will all put their talents on display to show and to share.

Some will teach kids how to paint and draw; others will read selections from their writing; musicians will play and sing; there will be showings and visits to studios — old ideas and new all coming together during the two terrific weeks of celebration from September 25 to October 12.

Six years ago, the base for the festival was at the Dufferin County Museum, where visual art was displayed as part of the overall tour. Now the Museum still offers space for the judging of submitted pieces before the festival begins.

The winning pieces go to the SGI Centre just north of Alton, on Peel Road 136, for display, especially for the Opening Night Gala, which is Friday September 25. The Gala begins at 5:30 p.m., with patrons being greeted by a group doing West African drumming. Inside, the food will be catered by Gourmandissimo and the entertainment provided by Russell Scott and Lisa Watson.

The Centre will be festooned by the premier works of our many local visual artists for display — and for sale.

The Gala evening begins early enough to include another diversion at Theatre Orangeville — the season's first presentation: Blue Suede Shoes... Memories of the King. Ray Leblanc, voted the best Elvis (next to the real thing but more available) in L.A., will perform his tribute to Elvis Presley in a weekend of perform- ances.

As the opening to this weekend at the theatre coincides with the Festival's Gala, it is offered as a package with the Gala. For tickets to enjoy this combination, call the Festival office at 519-943-1149 or the box office at Theatre Orangeville 519-942-3423.

This is just the beginning, though, and there is a great deal more to come in the way of entertainment and showings.

The fabulous Alton Mill is hosting a special display of sculpture in the courtyard of the mill for the whole of the Festival. Of course, inside are the many artists who are residential in the Mill, renting their studios all year. They are a family of artists, painters, craftsmen and a jeweller, working together to encourage support and patronage of not only their own work but also of the whole community of artists in the Headwater region.

The Alton Mill is a work of art in itself, thanks to many years of thoughtful renovation by the Grant brothers of Guelph, retaining the valuable antiques in the building while giving it the benefit of modern knowledge.

Throughout the two weeks of the festival, there are some truly notable events. Matt Brubeck and Kevin Breit are making an appearance at Aardvark Music & Culture at 169 Broadway on Saturday September 26 at 8 p.m.

BookLore presents its fifth Annual "Armchairs, Authors and Art", featuring Margaret Wente, Robert Rotenberg and Catherine Gildener who will read from their works, talk about writing and chat with the audience, the event to be held at the SGI Centre.

Acoustic Traditions, at 510 Riddell Road, is hosting Lorraine McDonald, singer/songwriter in the evening of Oct. 3 (8 p.m.). Lorraine will be singing with her group of musicians. She is such a mainstay of the music community, it is always a pleasure to see her.

During both weekends, naturally, the numerous artists' studios are open and looking forward to welcoming visitors to chat about art (and everything) and make purchases for gifts and as souvenirs of the tour. A really beautiful brochure the festival has produced outlines every feature of the two weeks, especially the weekends.

After its time of being based at the Museum ended, the Headwater Arts Board of Directors began applying for a Trillium grant which, when they received it, helped to pay for one full time administrator and the expenses of running an office, the space for which is given in the Alton Mill.

More than ever this year, is the importance of the participation of the young people in the world of art.

"The next generation," a Board Member commented, "they are the future. We are going to see some art come that'll blow us away," he remarked. To encourage them, there is a Festival Youth Committee, through which the youth have been asked for their input on what they want to see, what's important to them in art.

So, the student artists are included in the juried selection that is on display at the SGI Centre.

In honour of the tastes of young people, there is an "'Spress yo'self Hip Hop Dance kids' Fest" — a dance workshop at the Alton Mill Oct. 4 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. On the same day is the Paint the Mayors mess fest where the kids actually get to paint the Mayors of the Headwaters community.

This year, as well, is the Headwaters Shining Stars contest for singers of all ages. The finalists with perform at the Home and Lifestyle Show at the Agricultural Fairgrounds, taking place October 2 to 4.

In recent decades, there has been a slump in the interest in the arts, albeit that there have always been talented people creating art. However, in the last decade, there has been a growing appreciation for all things creative.

The rise of Theatre Orangeville's repertoire in the last decade is undoubtedly a strong contributing factor to this increase in interest and excitement in the arts. Added to this, the changing population, coming to the area to build homes to get away from the cities to the south, to enjoy and embrace our way of life here in a somewhat more rural environment. As the theatre started to offer entertainment of very high quality, so the desire for purchasing art, looking at art, going to concerts has grown.

And Orangeville finds itself in the midst of a renaissance that will only do it good, both for the citizens who live here and as incentive for people to come from all over to patronize the artists, craftsmen, businesses and restaurants in our area.

It is a wonderful time. Please be sure you take full advantage of it.