Happy participants Riverfest Elora 2025 were processed world class composition both local and international talent, but they were also, unknowingly, the latest cohort of visitors to the long-running festival, which announced its closure after 15 years last month, citing financial difficulties as the main reason for the shutdown.
Now, on the same day that Calgary's Sled Island Music and Arts Festival was forced to shut down ask for donations Amid economic struggles, Riverfest organizers issued a call to action to Canadian politicians, businesses and citizens, advising the country to invest in live music before other institutions like its own fade away, with the goal of “nurturing emerging artists, validating their talent and giving them a stage to grow.”
The lengthy statement reads in part:
The loss of Riverfest Elora—and the pressures festivals, venues, and live music organizations across the region now face—underscore a hard truth: We cannot expect arts organizations to bear the burden of maintaining this vital public good alone. When festivals and cultural institutions collapse or disappear, communities lose more than just entertainment: they lose jobs, economic activity, tourism, cultural identity, opportunities and pathways for creative people, and the social benefits that come from shared experiences.
This moment should serve as a call to action – not just for cities like Wellington Center and their residents, but for the province and country as a whole.
To citizens across Canada: embrace the arts. Attend concerts, attend festivals, support local artists, participate in cultural life, and protect cultural spaces. Your presence and support makes a difference and impacts the future of Canadian communities.
Businesses (local, regional and national): Consider playing a larger role in supporting arts organizations through sponsorship, in-kind support, partnerships, cross-promotion or joint programs. Your participation is a strategic investment in Canada's cultural fabric and creative ecosystem that produces growing talent and innovation, with clear benefits in the form of the opportunity to build brand loyalty and increase employee engagement and satisfaction.
To municipal, provincial and federal policymakers: When developing budgets, economic development plans, cultural policies and funding mechanisms, recognize that the arts are critical infrastructure. Consider Hear and Now's data showing that the live music industry contributes billions to GDP, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and boosts tourism and supporting industries – and invest accordingly. Support venues, festivals and community arts organizations that help shape the next generation of Canadian artists, enrich our social fabric and strengthen our economy.
If we fail to support the arts, we risk irreversible losses: the closure of small venues, the disappearance of festivals, fewer opportunities for Canadian artists to discover, fewer jobs in the creative and hospitality sectors, quieter communities, a diminished cultural heritage for future generations, and reduced levels of local and national cohesion.
While the loss of Riverfest Elora is significant, the festival's legacy does not end there. This moment could be a turning point: a call for sustainable and sustainable cultural infrastructure in municipalities, provinces and the country. By investing boldly and purposefully in arts and culture, we honor what festivals like Riverfest Elora have created and ensure that creativity, community, shared experiences and Canadian talent remain at the core of our country's identity.
