WHO WE ARE

 

The Fort Langley Jazz and Arts Festival is a not-for-profit cultural organization that makes accessible the highest caliber of jazz music and arts programming to a wide variety of audiences through the presentation of year-round concerts and events and an annual music and arts festival.

Mission: To inspire the discovery and celebration of unforgettable music and art experiences that unite artists and audiences.

Vision: To be a financially sustainable music and arts festival destination that embraces artistic excellence, innovation, exploration, collaboration and community.

Our Values:

  • Artistic Excellence: We are committed to the highest degree of artistic quality and production with an aim to provide audiences with engaging opportunities to discover, enjoy and cultivate an interest in jazz and art.

  • Provide opportunities for performers and artists: We support the artistic and creative endeavours of professional, youth and emerging performers and artists through performance opportunities, exhibits, unique collaborative projects, mentoring, and educational workshops.

  • Innovation: We encourage and model imagination, creativity, and innovation in everything we do.

  • Community: We think of our community as a valued stakeholder. We consider sustainability and the community in everything we do.

  • Collaboration: We seek to collaborate wherever possible with the community, our partners, other music and arts organizations, performers, artist groups and others.

  • Continuous Improvement: We pursue superior quality and continuous improvement in every aspect of the organization and what we do.

  • Diversity and Inclusiveness: We create accessible and welcoming environments for people of all ages, genders, and income levels. Through programming, we are committed to showcasing underrepresented communities, gender parity, and inclusive programming.

  • Integrity: We conduct ourselves with integrity, authenticity and in cooperation with others. We are professional, courteous, responsible, respectful, transparent, and ethical in all of our interactions.

Our Story

The festival started with a casual conversation in December 2017 amongst a few Fort Langley residents about the desire to hold a music and arts festival in Fort Langley. At that time, there were no music festivals or music events occurring in the Village. Within seven months, a small group of dedicated community volunteers, and with the support of several local businesses, community groups and the municipality, hosted the first Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival on July 28, 2019. A total of 10 bands and 150 musicians performed at the 2018 festival which included a one-day outdoor festival, Mardi Gras Strolling Parade, All-Star ticketed Blues Show, a community dance, self-guided Art Walk and art demonstrations and art auction. A half-day jazz education workshop for young musicians was also held in conjunction with the festival on July 29. Festival attendance was approximately 5,000 people.

Following up on the success and feedback from the inaugural day-and-a-half-long 2018 Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival, (July 26-28, 2019) the 2019 festival expanded to three days, and added more music, more venues, more headliner ticketed events, more art, and more for families to do. This included two outdoor stages in front of the community hall providing non-stop music throughout the day, four outdoor performance stages throughout the community, a Kidz Zone, Friday night blues show, Saturday night big band swing dance, jazz performances at restaurants around town, Mardi Gras Strolling Parade, Lions Club pancake breakfast/BBQ and the Jazz Education workshop. A total of 57 bands and 266 musicians performed at the 2019 festival. Festival attendance was approximately 15,000 people.

Since physical gatherings were not an option in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival carried on with its first live-streamed format: a two-night, one-day virtual festival, (September 4 – 5, 2020), with 11 shows streamed free of charge and two live-streamed headliner ticketed concerts, all accessible on the festival website, Facebook and YouTube channels. The 2020 virtual festival included behind the scenes interviews with each performing artist, community spotlight videos with local arts and community organizations that ran between shows during the online festival, a Virtual Art Walk with 24 local artists and “Backyard Festivals” where socially distanced groups could come together at their homes during the festival with festival-provided screens, programs, refreshments, BBQ fixings and tip sheets from experts on hosting a backyard bbq jazz festival. A total of 17 bands and 98 musicians performed at the 2020 festival. The online audience was estimated at 10,000.

Given the ongoing COVID restrictions in 2021, the festival hosted a hybrid festival featuring a combination of online live-streamed and in-person ticketed performances with local and established jazz artists (September 2 – 5, 2021) along with a one-day free outdoor festival featuring local and emerging talent, an online Art Walk featuring 70 local artists and four art exhibits with local artists. A total of 24 bands and 146 musicians performed at the 2021 festival. Online and in-person attendance was estimated at 10,000.

The festival is a member of:

  • Arts BC

  • BC Jazz Festival Coalition

  • Canadian Arts Presenting Association

  • Canada Live Music Association

  • Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce

  • Jazz Festivals Canada

  • Music BC

The festival was incorporated as a non-profit society in June 2018.