Nov. 9, 2020
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO – As social distancing measures continue to create challenges for members of the arts community, the Wilfrid Laurier University Library is curating a virtual exhibition featuring Waterloo Region artists. On Nov. 19, the Laurier Library will release a compilation video on YouTube called Love in the Time of COVID featuring creative submissions from more than 20 local arts organizations.

“During this pandemic, people have turned to the arts community to feel joy and love and connected to society,” said Isabel Cisterna, manager of cultural programming and community engagement at the Laurier Library. “Waterloo Region boasts excellent musicians, innovative theatre, diverse visual artists, dancers, singers, poets, writers and community leaders. This is our way of elevating artists in our community while also raising our national and international profile.”

Cisterna has invited organizations to participate in Love in the Time of COVID by recording videos of art they have produced. The organizations include:

• Bring on the Sunshine Caribbean and African Festival
• City of Kitchener
• City of Waterloo
• Flush Ink Productions
• K-W Glee
• K-W Multicultural Festival
• Laurier Faculty of Music
• Laurier Indigenous Initiatives
• Laurier Library MakerSpace
• Laurier Women Entrepreneurship Centre
• Martin Luther University College
• Neruda Arts
• Numus
• Open Ears
• Page1 Theatre
• Pat the Dog Theatre
• Robert Langen Art Gallery
• Sun Life Waterloo Busker Carnival
• Sun Life Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival
• The Jazz Room

“This is akin to sending a love letter from our artists to our community,” said Cisterna. “We are compiling a media quilt of art in Waterloo Region.”

The video will be available free of charge on the Laurier YouTube channel on Thursday, Nov. 19.