A Culmination of All Things Creative: CAN Fest 2022

September 01, 2022

Starting on September 10th, CAN Fest will offer a month of programming to support the CAN Foundation’s mission of providing a nexus of interconnectivity and development for a strong, enduring, harmonious arts community within the global art market. The program will run until October 8th and consists of four separate events intended to inspire collaboration and networking in the Hampton Roads creative sector and beyond.

The Events:

The CAN Opener (September 10th)

True to its name, opening night will be an evening of multi-floor programming, including a pop-up market of merchandise from Hampton Roads makers, podcasts, film screenings, artist meet and greets, and live music. The CAN Opener will also serve as the opening night of ‘In Conjunction’ and is free to the public.

‘In Conjunction’ Exhibition and Auction (September 10th – October 8th, ongoing)

Participants, prepare to be dazzled by the work of top emerging artists from Virginia and the greater Mid-Atlantic. This ongoing exhibition includes select pieces from the CAN Collection and artwork for auction from these regional creatives. Some of the talents featured include self-taught figure painter and digital illustrator Nadd Harvin, sculptural fiber artist Nastassja Swift, and mixed media artist Andrew Samuel Harrison – who, coincidentally, met Nastassja through the CAN. The artist meet and greet as part of the CAN opener will offer an opportunity to liaise with these artists. ‘In Conjunction’ culminates with an October 8th auction as part of the CAN Foundation’s fundraising campaign.

Next Up All Stars (September 17th)

This multi-floor, multi-genre event will feature the talents of over 30 Hampton Roads-based artists. Hosted by HenMusik & TeezySoDope, with sounds by DJ Wyze and production by Loplex, the stage is bound to come alive.

The Creative Summit (September 24th)

A networking opportunity to engage in dialogue, gain inspiration, and explore the intersection of arts and technology. There will be a keynote, breakout rooms with visiting speakers, and a panel including tech experts, business leaders, art professionals, and creatives, who will discuss arts ecosystems and examine the role of the arts in community development.

You can RSVP to each event on the CAN Foundation website.

About CAN and the CAN Foundation

The CAN, founded by Norfolk artists Asa Jackson and Hampton Boyer, strives to aggregate and cultivate arts in the Hampton Roads community. Their first CAN Fest event, held in 2015, sparked the interest of everyone from local artists to patrons and performers. Since then, it has become a regular installment hosted at various local spots and has spawned the creation of the CAN Foundation.

The CAN Foundation aims to engage communities through artist development, education, and public projects. To foster a viable art market in the area, they equip local artists with the resources to celebrate their talents and gain visibility while evoking the creative spirit of the community at large. Leveraging art as a unifying force, the foundation works with municipalities, corporations, and community groups to bring art and programming to underserved and developing areas. Some of these events, such as Next Up at the CAN, feature a lineup of rising Hampton Roads-based artists and solicit submissions for local performers to take the stage in the competition. Other events, such as the CANTemporary workshop series, offer an incubator-like environment for artists to converge across disciplines, working towards a culminating exhibit and programming series.

Together, CAN and the CAN Foundation have laid the groundwork for Hampton Roads to serve as a place where creatives survive and thrive.

Rachel Reiss

Talbot Park, NFK

Rachel Reiss moved to Norfolk in 2021, and, true to her native Floridian roots, has been enjoying life near the beach. Since her day job as an HR Program Manager has gone remote, it offers her the flexibility to explore the area’s rich history, culture, and diverse food scene in her spare time. She is also a passionate pianist, aspiring yogi, and self-proclaimed health nut who loves to cook. Rachel lives near Talbot Park with her husband, Phil - a CHKD resident - and their Maltese, Minnie.

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