NFOTA was launched in 2016 as a grass roots collective of local writers, poets, editors, and publishers—enterprising members of the Spirit of the Hills Writers Group trying by various means, to network, raise their profiles in the community and sell books. Over the years, they mounted several niche-focused activities with limited success. In 2016, the group invited other artists — visual artists, singers and musicians—to mount a mini-festival the following year. They hoped to rise collectively on the same tide by appealing to a wider audience, showcasing their works en masse and offering them for sale. It worked!

            In 2019 they expanded further to include drama, photography, multimedia, dance, writing, photography and play writing contests. The festival took place in Coburg over three days and was opened by the Lt. Governor of Ontario. Following rave reviews and positive responses from the attendees, The Town of Cobourg later honoured two of the organizers with Civic awards for their work, recognizing the festival as a valuable tool for growth and promotion of the area. An expanded festival was scheduled for 2021, but the Covid pandemic upended that plan, and it ran in 2022 instead.

NFOTA 2022 collaborated with groups already offering arts performances and exhibits in Northumberland, to create synergy, and optimize the limited resources available to the arts community, and include artists and communities that are often ignored.

NFOTA 2024 continues this goal.

We believe art should be inclusive and accessible to all, creativity is unlimited and collaboration makes a community strong.  In venues across the region, we’ll be ready to entertain you, to give you opportunities to participate, to learn and to be inspired.

As a not-for-profit arts organization, NFOTA brings together actors and artisans, painters and photographers, musicians, singers and dancers, writers and poets in a grand collaborative showcase over 10 days in September 2024.

Many artists and art organizations have historically done great things in artistic silos in Northumberland County. NFOTA wanted to collaborate and create synergy so we can all benefit from pooled efforts. We’re proud to partner and collaborate with galleries, art clubs, art businesses, libraries, choirs, musicians, singers, visual artists, writers, poets, dramatists and film makers.

Support from these organizations, as well as businesses, service organizations, municipalities, government agencies and individuals ensures that NFOTA can build on the success of our last two festivals and continue to showcase art and artists.

Many artists and facilitators are also donating their time and talent or performing at reduced fees to help make NFOTA happen. As they say, “It takes a village…”

We list and acknowledge our sponsors and artistic partners here

• President – Gwynn Scheltema
• Secretary – Felicity Sidnell Reid
• Treasurer – Tom Pickering
• Melody Crowe
• Mandy Martin

Full bios available here

Watch and Listen.