SPARK Photo Festival
SPARK: a start, a catalyst, to spark interest, to spark the imagination. The SPARK Photo Festival is all these things. In 2012 co-founders Bill Lockington, Robert Boudreau and Micky Renders connected over their desire to draw attention to the talented photographers in the Peterborough and Kawarthas region. At the time, there were few venues for their photographic art. Thus, the idea for the SPARK Photo Festival was formulated. Based on the model of Toronto’s CONTACT Festival, this homegrown, smaller version has stayed true to its roots–providing dozens of venues for regional photographers to exhibit their work. The first SPARK Festival was held in April 2013. Now, on September 1st, 2021, the 8th Festival has opened with exhibits on display through September 30th.
Anyone can register for SPARK — there are seasoned veterans who have shown their work hundreds of times, and those who are taking the leap to hang their own prints for the very first time.
A hallmark of SPARK is the variety of venues where photographic art exhibits pop up. At the Kawartha Art Gallery in Lindsay, you’ll find Tim Bellhouse’s Mostly Monochrome exhibit. The Colborne Street Gallery in Fenelon Falls is showing Cheryl Rondeau’s La Chute. Jim Babbage’s Through My Eyes is up at Elmhirst’s Resort. The Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region will display their Motion images in the windows of their office in Peterborough. And there are many more venues and exhibits – indoors and out.
Annual traditions include the Themed Juried Exhibit showing the top submissions on a designated theme as selected by a jury. This year, SPARK is showing both 2020’s Motion and 2021’s Nourish exhibits. The SPARK Showcase is also not-to-be-missed – typically an historical photography exhibit. This year’s Showcase is photographs marking the 20 years of Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival. That’s on display at Peterborough Square.
All exhibit information is on the SPARK website: sparkphotofestival.org.
With this year’s festival just started, the volunteer board already has plans in motion for next year when the event will return to its traditional April time slot. Watch for announcements in late fall for registration information and the announcement of the next Juried theme. To keep up-to-date with SPARK visit the website and sign up for the newsletter!
