
Music, art, food and more will fill the grounds at Government House for the brand-new ArtisTREE Festival.
BY DAVID LENNAM | PHOTO BY JEFFREY BOSDET
For a long time, Cory Judge had been contemplating an idea for an outdoor market. But not just any market — a spectacular outdoor market featuring some of the best music, food and vendors around. One day, walking through the lush gardens at Government House, she knew she’d found her venue.
“I just thought this is the most beautiful space in Victoria to be able to have an event that would profile creativity and artisans and music,” she says.
And with this, ArtisTREE Festival was born.
Jerymy Brownridge, private secretary to the lieutenant-governor, was immediately on board. ArtisTREE is another chance to show off the magnificent gardens at Government House, still something of a hidden jewel for many Victorians.
“We love the notion of doing some sort of family-oriented festival every year,” he says. “We have had great success in outdoor festivals at least once a year, providing opportunity for communities to gather on this beautiful property.”
Judge brought in her partners in the Victoria Market Collective, Katrina Dwulit and Vanessa Gaudet. The trio has staged numerous markets in Victoria, but most of them on a smaller scale and often confined to very urban environs. The expansive Government House gardens with their enormous trees, running water and huge lawns are a stark contrast to the typical parking lot where so many local markets are set up.
“What kind of ambience is a parking lot?” says Dwulit.
ArtisTREE will feature a juried selection of 128 artisans, handmade wares, food trucks, a kids’ crafts area, a fashion show, performance artists, installations artists, Indigenous artists and plenty of live music curated by musician Mike Roma.
The daytime stage will feature solo, duo and trio acts, culminating with evening performances by Roma’s roots rock band Electric Timber and alt-country outfit Pony Gold. Those artists playing during the day will join the headliners at night. In an innovative twist, the lineups throughout the day will be chosen by the band from the opposite night.
“The idea,” says Roma, “is to have a collaborative day of music where artists will get a chance to make live music together and create future musical friendships.”
The organizers are aware of the abundance of local markets that pop up around Victoria, and are equally aware of their homogeneity — the same vendors in the same layout with the same entertainment.
“Everyone’s doing a market every day of the week,” says Dwulit. “We wanted to create something different and special.”
A multi-dimensional experience, adds Judge. A designer whose Shi Studio creates jewelry, stained glass, silk and textile pieces, Judge has spent 20 years attending some of the biggest festivals in the country. With ArtisTREE, she is taking her favourite elements from her travels and presenting them to Victorians.
“Personally, this has always been a dream of mine. I think that creative lifestyle fills our soul and is a recognition of what brings communities together. At the root of it, it’s about inspiration.”
Judge has taken a cue from Comox’s popular Filberg Festival, which has people booking hotels 10 months in advance. She figures it could become a key annual event for Victoria, attracting up to 10,000 people a day.
“It’s sort of a melding of all of my favourite elements,” she says. “It has so much potential.”
ArtisTREE runs July 27, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and July 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Government House. Admission is free. Note that there will be no parking at Government House.