Mississauga, ON – March 14, 2024
by Lejla Pepeljak
The fourth biennial, award-winning InSitu Multi-Arts Festival returns to the Small Arms Inspection Building March 21-23, 2024. Presented by CreativeHub 1352, this exciting event will feature immersive and interactive installations.
This year’s theme will see The Lost Museum leap from the digital to the physical with InSitu 2024: The Lost Edition. The Lost Museum, the theme of InSitu 2021, is being carried over 3 years later in new and exciting ways.
Be prepared to see the transformation from artist to curator right in front of your eyes! Fusing art, performance and community collaboration, this event will light up the historic building like never before. Tickets are available now.
Speaking to Heather Snell, the Artistic Co-Creator of InSitu 2024 about the preparations of such a large festival and her crew she says, “The folks working on the project are diverse, talented, and committed to community art practices. Preparation for the event is the responsibility of Jill Hollingsworth and Heather Snell – volunteering as Co-Creative Directors, supported by the herculean efforts of volunteer architect and installation leader Ken Snell, supported by the incredible efforts of CreativeHub 1352 Outreach Coordinator Jo Yetter. The staff at the Small Arms Inspection Building have been so supportive and curious about our preparations and the organizational efforts of Creative Hub staff have been wonderful.”
CreativeHub 1352 promises to entice and engage its audience through physical and dance theatre performances throughout the space and its collections. The hub is situated in the Small Arms Inspection Building which has a long history in Mississauga.
The 1940 Small Arms Inspection Building, located in the Port Credit area, is the only surviving building on the original site of a munitions plant that manufactured guns and small arms during World War II. It was saved in 2008 by LLCF and later acquired by the City of Mississauga as a heritage building. Today, as part of CreativeHUB 1352’s mandate, they prove the worth of arts and culture in this building with events like InSitu. The words themself, ‘in situ’ refers to the place of origin a certain item or object would have been displayed in and ties nicely into the history of the building itself.
Since 2016, InSitu has served as an opportunity for large sections of the arts community to gather, learn and contribute to the 3-day event. In past years, over 300 secondary students from local schools participated in InSitu. In 2021, the event went virtual and this year, 2024, we will see it return to the physical realm. Heather Snell has said InSitu is very special and looks forward to opening night especially, “It will be an adventure, and a thrill to watch and participate with guests as the wonderful characters of The Lost Museum welcome us and lead us in an opening parade. We are all looking forward to showcasing the work of each artist, and celebrating the unique mentorships and partnerships that make InSitu a unique Festival; to be in the room when a young artist sees their work exhibited professionally for the first time! InSitu also gives Mississauga residents opportunities to acknowledge, support and appreciate the talent that lives in our community.”
The multi-arts festival has won the Recipient of the Web Excellence Award, and the Ontario Art Educator of the Year awards. Of their event, CreativeHUB 1352 mentions that the Lost Edition will build on the lore, structure, and model of The Lost Museum to create an in-person experience for audiences as they explore the Lost Collections throughout the South and unfinished North sections of the heritage Small Arms Inspection Building. “On their travels, audiences will meet the Lost Curators – outreach artists who have worked with community artists to create curious collections of Lost Letters, Lost Books, and Lost Places. Musicians and dancers will greet the audience, popping up to animate the collections; welcoming, interacting and sharing the story of this mysterious space and its sudden appearance in Mississauga.”
This one-of-a-kind festival and Mississauga’s only multi-arts festival promises to be a healthy blend of community collaboration, artistic expression, and interactive exploration. Be sure to check out InSitu 2024 on March 21-23rd, 2024 at 1352 Lakeshore Rd. E. Mississauga, ON and support a local arts hub!
So often, Mississauga folks believe they need to travel to downtown Toronto to participate in immersive art experiences. InSitu2024 will turn the tables just a little – showcasing Mississauga culture in ways that might reverse the typical travel route for culture seekers.
Heather Snell, Artistic Director, InSitu 2024
All photos courtesy of CreativeHub 1352.
