March 19, 2020, 12:45 p.m.

Sometimes you have to make that difficult decision.

It is with an extremely heavy heart that we have made the decision to suspend our 8th annual PlaySmelter Northern New Works Festival as a result of ongoing COVID-19 concerns. We have made this determination out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of our audience, artists, volunteers and festival staff.

The PlaySmelter Festival is committed to the safety, health and well-being of everyone in the PlaySmelter community. We hope to resume our 8th annual festival in early Fall, once the unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19 has resolved. We will follow instruction from Public Health authorities as we make that decision and at that time. If you would like to stay in touch for updates, please send an email to: hello@playsmelter.ca and we will keep you informed.

Our best wishes to all. Please go slow and be kind to each other as we work together to flatten the curve and make sure we are all healthy and safe.

We’ll be back soon.

On behalf of all our artists, volunteers and festival staff, my thanks.

Lisa O’Connell | Artistic Director
PlaySmelter Festival