Since the Rotary Club of Powell River started organizing of Powell River’s Festival of Performing Arts more than a decade ago, small tweaks have been made to enhance the event’s fairness and make it run smoother.
Before 2003, competitors were able to view their scores and compare rankings, a practice which often led to tearful breakdowns. When that practice was discontinued few complained and the event ran smoother.
Now festival organizers are taking the next step and stopping the practice of awarding medals and trophies. Something they say is more in-line with the way other performing arts festivals around the province are run. Competition is still a component of the festival with adjudicators choosing who will go on to the Performing Arts BC provincial festival, but it has stopped being the main focus.
The whole point of the festival is to help Powell River musicians and dancers develop their artistic potential. While recognition of achievement is no doubt important, the mission of festival seems better served by providing master classes instead. And when the painted pieces of medal were costing the festival several thousand dollars per year, the change also seems a prudent fiscal decision.
That’s not to mention that in some disciplines, performers had several different trophies available to be won, while others did not have any. Surely piano playing is not inherently more valuable than dance.
The thing about awarding medals is this: medals only have value when there are objective standards on what constitutes a win and the number to be awarded is limited.
For the most part the Rotarian organizers are not musicians or dancers, so they did not set the criteria and standards for what a gold medal performance might look like, leaving that up to the adjudicators. But every judge is different and over the years the number of gold medals being awarded increased, silver decreased and bronze was left out, leading to medal inflation, something that could eat away at the festival’s credibility.
Offering master classes not only helps the performers, but also enriches the community and enhances understanding and appreciation of art, something which appeals to Powell River.
Now all competitors, no matter how well they performed, will receive a certificate of participation and be able to use the experience as a springboard for further success.
