By Alex Soloducha

Despite financial loss, Borealis hopes to shine on

Oct 9, 2015 | 6:19 AM

Summer 2015 was an exciting one for Prince Albert with the first ever Borealis Music Festival. Despite a financial loss, Prince Albert Tourism said they’re ready to start planning a 2016 event.

The event, held at Kinsmen Park from July 31. to Aug. 2, featured over 30 local, national, and international acts including headliners The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, July Talk, and Yukon Blonde.

In total, about 1200 spectators attended.

“The first year event did take a financial loss but left a lasting impression on residents, tourists, and the artists that performed at the event,” Prince Albert Tourism said in a statement.

Amber Pratt, CEO of P.A. Tourism, said overall, the festival was a hit.

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“We’re so happy with how everything turned out. We had such great support from our sponsors, volunteers and the community in general,” she said. “We’ve had nothing but positive feedback from everybody, especially people in the music industry and people who performed.”

According to Pratt, artists and managers have already been calling to get a spot on next year’s lineup.

 “It shows just how great an experience they had here and it’s really great for us moving forward,” she said.

For the 2016 event, Pratt said they’ll be making some changes, but some of the music will stay the same.

“We definitely want to keep it an eclectic mix of different genres and different types of bands as well as some local and some from across the country for sure,” she said. “It’s going to depend on who’s available and the timing.

“We’re definitely looking at some similar artists as well as bringing in maybe a couple larger-scale acts as well.”

Some people may have noticed the event had no country artists playing throughout the weekend, something Pratt said they’ll be looking in to.

“That’s a big priority for us this year, definitely having at least one or two country acts. I mean, especially in Saskatchewan and this area, it’s a big genre of music and it’s important,” she said.

Pratt said they attempted to get a country act, “but nothing really worked out.”

Also missing from the festival were First Nations acts.

“That was another thing on our list and we did have one band but it kind of fell through, so that’s another thing we definitely want to secure for next year,” explained Pratt, who said they also want more local bands in their main lineup.

In total, the event cost $300,000 which Pratt said can be paid for by sponsorships as well as ticket sales.

The City of Prince Albert gave a grant of $15,000 and matched that by donating the facility, equipment and work.

In the end, the first year event was unable to make a profit, but Pratt wasn’t specific about just how much of a loss it was.

“It’s tough to say in terms of the financial loss, exactly, for us to put that out there for people,” she said, explaining the not-for-profit P.A. Tourism will try to take on as much of the cost as they can. “We really want to make sure the music festival can continue on and won’t have any sort of debt to start with.”

“We’re definitely looking at different ways to develop the festival and to make sure we have tons of people attending and that it’s worth their while to be there,” she continued.

When asked if she would disclose the amount lost Pratt declined but confirmed it was “definitely” less than the $300,000 put in to the event. 

One of the main sponsors was Malcolm Jenkins, who also played a role in planning according to Pratt.

She said all the sponsors were, “really, really key to making the event happen.”

As far as ticket costs go, Pratt said thought went in to that decision from the get go.

“(Ticket costs) were similar to other festivals of the same calibre,” she said. “I know for a first year event it might have scared a few people off, but really, it’s a 3-day event, you have over 30 acts performing and when you think about it, sometimes when you go to a concert to see one or two artists you pay $150.”

Within two weeks, Pratt said they expect to have a new date nailed down, as they consider changing it from the long weekend.

“We do know that the August long weekend is a time when a lot of people already have plans, and have family reunions, and weddings and go to the lake so we are definitely considering that and it’s our number-one priority moving forward.”

The Festival also coincided with the Summer Exhibition.

“For us to put two major events on the same weekend maybe didn’t make the most sense…luckily we didn’t have a lot of the same market,” she said. “They definitely are different demographics.”

“I don’t think either of us really hurt too much from it.”

Tourism is looking for board members, committee members and sponsors for the event, as well as a full-time event manager to manage all aspects of the festival.

Tune in to The Region at Noon on 900 CKBI to hear Don Mitchell’s full interview with Pratt.

With files from CKBI’s Don Mitchell.

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha