Tracy Stefanucci is a Port Moody native who launched the arts and culture magazine “one cool world” in 2004. Fast forward four years and the name has changed, albeit slightly, to OCW Magazine. Four years after OCW’s first edition, Stefanucci re-launched on Friday, July 23 at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre.

Having developed an interest in publishing and the creative arts while a student at Gleneagle Secondary, Stefanucci followed those instincts and skills into the publishing realm at the ripe age of 20. “When we started this we had absolutely no idea what we were doing and we were learning as we went,” Stefanucci told the Coquitlam NOW. “After four years of doing this, you really start to learn how these things work. Now we’re at the point where we want to take everything we’ve learned and put it into the product.”

Focusing on off-the-beaten-path elements of arts and culture, Stefanucci’s modus operandi hasn’t changed that much over the years. The magazine that she helped create bears the mantra, “Don’t just receive culture — participate in creating it.” That’s something that ArtsConnect can stand behind. Read more about Tracy and OCW Magazine on the Coquitlam NOW.

This weekend families can catch the inaugural Tri-Cities International Children’s Festival at Place Maillardville in Coquitlam. The event runs from July 23 - 25, and features Neverland: Beginnings by Rainforest Theatre, The Magic of Christopher James, Lori, Lori, What’s the Story?, Once Upon an Enchanted Imagination by Rosa Parks Improv, Deth Pickle, Jet Black, and more.

The event is being produced by James MacDonald of Vancouver’s Rainforest Theatre. James is an actor, writer, and director as well as a producer. He also is a recreation leader for Place Maillardville at local schools. Rainforest shows feature young, emerging professionals performing world premiere plays by local playwrights.

Young and young-at-heart art lovers may also enjoy the Children’s Art Festival from Evelia Espinosa. The festival showcases the artwork of Evelia’s young students, and it runs through August 31 at Terry Fox Library. Here is some video from the exhibition in Port Moody a few weeks ago:

Theatrix Youtheatre is bringing Annie, Jr. and the Broadway smash hit RENT! to Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam from July 20-25. Annie runs at 1pm and RENT! runs at 7:30pm daily. Here’s some more info on the shows:

Leapin’ Lizards! The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals. “Annie” is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and finds a new family and home in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

RENT! is a show for older teens and young adults ages. Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer-prize winning Broadway musical is based loosely on Puccini’s opera La Bohème. It follows a year in the lives of seven friends living the disappearing Bohemian lifestyle in New York’s East Village. AIDS and both its physical and emotional complications pervade the lives of Roger, Mimi, Tom, and Angel; Maureen deals with her chronic infidelity through performance art; her partner, Joanne, wonders if their relationship is worth the trouble; Benjamin has sold out his Bohemian ideals in exchange for a hefty income and is on the outs with his former friends; and Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, feels like an outsider to life in general, always behind the camera recording the events but never playing a part.

To purchase tickets for Annie, Jr. or RENT!, please contact the box office at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or evergreenculturalcentre.ca

Theatrix Youtheatre Society is a registered non-profit organization with federal charitable tax status offering equal opportunities for youth in the performing arts. For further information and registration, visit www.theatrixyoutheatre.com.

There are a lot of opportunities to take in some music in beautiful outdoor venues here in the Tri-Cities this summer. Here are just a few highlights:

As always, if you want more details on what’s happening now, stay tuned here at artsconnect.ca.

Have you checked out ArtsConnect’s Calls for Talent recently? If you’re an artist looking for exhibition opportunities, or you’d just like to work or volunteer in the arts, it’s a great resource. We post a variety of calls for artists in all media, both locally and internationally. The calls are updated regularly, so check back often.

If you have a call that you would like to publicize, please let us know! Drop us a line at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and tell us a little bit about your posting, and we’ll put it out to our membership. There is some amazing local talent, and as part of our mandate we want to nurture that talent through exhibition, performance and employment opportunities. We know that our local arts and culture scene is rich and thriving, and we are so proud to help showcase it.

Helping artists and employers find one another through our Calls for Talent is just one more way ArtsConnect is ‘connecting people through the arts’. Check it out!