Event Details

Founded in 2015 and incorporated in 2019, Cultivate Community Non-Profit Services (CCNPS) exists to help residents of Port Hope and Northumberland County culturally connect with their community. Cultivate 2021 will mark the first presentation of the Festival by Cultivate Community Non-Profit Services (CCNPS), after previously being incubated by the Local Food for Local Good charity under whose auspices the Festival began in 2015. The organization presents a three-day Cultivate Festival on the third weekend of September and are also planning a 10-week free summer series called “Road to Cultivate” which will culminate with the Festival. After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 6th annual Cultivate Festival 2021 will return and continue to develop the caliber and diversity of its musical programming as well as its geographic audience reach. The Festival is in a strong financial position, having achieved a surplus of over $12,000 in 2019, $7,500 of which is being reinvested back into the 2021 festival as seed funding with rest being held as a prudent reserve. CCNPS’ current board members have all been with the Festival from its beginning, and have experience programming, marketing and producing successful Cultivate events. Most act on a volunteer basis although the Chair receives payment as Artistic Director. The organization is incorporated not for profit and is not yet charitable. The Festival has been supported in the past through Celebrate Ontario.

This application is for “The 2023 Cultivate Festival”, the seventh edition of the Festival, taking place September 22 to 24, 2023 at Haute Goat Farm in Port Hope. While still in the planning stage, programmers are in talks with the following artists: Aysanabee, Natalie MacMaster, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Bio Ritmo, Five Alarm Funk, Exco Levi, OKAN, Shawnee Kish, Tenille Townes, Jeremie Albino, Polky, Nomadic Massive, Sarah Harmer, Heavyweights Brass Band, Diogo Ramos, Sleepy Jean, The Brooks, Urban Science Brass Band, and Slocan Ramblers. Other initiatives include: an Indigenous Artist in Residence program; a Ukrainian Artist in Residence program, the Cultivate Kids stage, and music-specific workshops.