Plans for Crossroads International Celtic Festival under way

5 mins read
Phill McIntyre (Artistic Director), Deborah Sutton (Executive Director) and Andy Buckland (Steering Committee Member) are part of the team launching the Crossroads International Celtic Festival. As part of their planning they made a fact-finding trip to Cape Breton to study the Celtic Colours music festival.
From left to right: Phill McIntyre, Deborah Sutton and Andy Buckland are part of the team launching the Crossroads International Celtic Festival. As part of their planning they made a fact-finding trip to Cape Breton to study the Celtic Colours music festival.

CARTHAGE – The latest addition to western Maine’s lively music scene is the Crossroads International Celtic Festival (CICF), which will take place in towns and villages throughout Oxford and Franklin counties from Sept. 11 to 15, 2013.

The festival will present top musicians from throughout the Celtic world and Maine over five days of live music, heritage arts and community events. Each day, the festival will feature daytime and/or evening concerts in multiple venues in the two counties. Communities are invited to host their own satellite events, which could include community suppers, art exhibits, jam sessions, dances, workshops and more. Youth participation will be a central component.

“The time is ripe here in western Maine for a festival like this, and the need is great. Our towns and villages are struggling to create a new economy that builds upon the region’s significant assets, which include gorgeous scenery, charming towns, welcoming people and a vast wealth of traditional arts and music. This is the best possible way to showcase and strengthen our own cultural traditions and build the economy at the same time. Cultural tourism has a proven track record and holds great promise for western Maine,” said Phill McIntyre, artistic director, who envisioned the festival and pulled the organizing team together.

McIntyre is the founder and owner of the Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center, which has been presenting world renowned Celtic artists for the past nine years. The theatre’s astonishing success has attracted enthusiastic audiences in ever growing numbers from all over Maine, New England and abroad. Yankee Magazine named it the Best, Hidden Performing Arts Center in New England in 2012.

McIntrye said the model for the CICF is the 15-year-old Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton, which has become a driver of economic development in a rural region whose socio-economic characteristics resemble western Maine’s.  According to Celtic Colours organizers, the 2012 event attracted visitors from all over Canada, 49 U.S. states and 31 other countries. More than 20,000 tickets were sold, audiences spent more than $8.1 million ($CAN) in the region, and the economic impact is thought to exceed $15 million. McIntyre has studied the Cape Breton festival for years, he said, and is confident that with time the CICF can achieve similar success.

The CICF steering committee is composed of experts in marketing, information technology, community relations, economic development, fundraising, grant writing, and event planning. The executive director is Deborah Sutton, a communications consultant with many years experience working with non-profit arts organizations including the Kingfield POPS. Many of the steering committee members represent leading arts and economic development organizations that are partnering to pool expertise, knowledge and human resources to support the launch of this new festival.

The Festival is currently seeking expressions of interest from venues interested in presenting a concert. There will be a limited number of events and all decisions in this matter are the responsibility of the Crossroads International Celtic Festival Steering Committee. Consideration will be given to the overall geographical representation. The building must be up to code for a large gathering and preference will be given to venues that meet the following criteria: Seating capacity of at least 100; good quality sound system; green room, or separate room that that can be used as such; Restroom facilities; Handicap accessibility; and strong core of committed and enthusiastic volunteers.

This consortium of partner organizations includes Deertrees Theatre, Greater Franklin Development Corporation, the Kingfield POPS, Mahoosuc Arts Council, Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center, the University of Maine at Farmington, and the Western Maine Economic Development Council. The collaboration is an innovative organizational model intended to build the capacity of the region and its arts organizations.

The Crossroads International Celtic Festival is a non-profit organization, currently under the fiscal sponsorship of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.

For more information, send an email to info@crossroadscelticfestival.com.

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2 Comments

  1. Those of us who appreciate all of Phill and Jan’s devotion to bringing Celtic music to the western mountains of Maine are looking forward to this great event in September. Phill, you can count on me to lend a helping hand to make this grand event a “sweet success!” I encourage all of you who have enjoyed the myriad venues of memorable music at Skye to lend your support when called upon.

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