Two strangers have a date Thursday that could lead to a lasting relationship in Waterloo Region.
The Tech Sessions -- Music Festival Showcase in the Tannery Event Space aims to introduce tech leaders to the local arts community. It's a no-charge event from 4-6 p.m. Registration is required.
It will show off Grand Social, the things-to-do-and-see arts portal maintained by the Creative Enterprise Initiative. And it offers samples of two major summer events in Kitchener: The TD Kitchener Blues Festival in August and the KOI Music Festival in September.
"What we are trying to do is get a group of tech folks together, experience some of the music that will be played at these festivals, and get people to log into Grand Social to understand that there is so much going on," says Paul Donald, one of the organizers behind Tech Sessions.
"The artist community is really vibrant in K-W. We need the tech community to take an interest and start driving support."
Donald is the founder of Encircle, an app that helps helps property owners take inventory of the contents of their homes.
During Thursday's event, guests will learn about KOI from Cory Crossman, who founded the festival with brother Curt. Rob Barkshire will talk about the blues festival.
Donald will join Heather Sinclair to begin the program. Sinclair, who heads the Creative Enterprise Initiative will also talk about Grand Social. Organizers have lined up two musical acts: Hinindar and Lumberjunk.
The arts and tech communities need each other, Donald says. Tech workers want a variety of things to do to unwind from their jobs.
Artists want the audience support that tech workers could provide by attending events and filling seats.
The arts, Donald says, play a role in the region's ability to attract and keep tech talent.
"If we have a vibrant arts community, people will want to stick around in K-W. You have students coming out of two world-class universities. You've got folks coming out to work for these tech companies.
"Let's show them how great the community is."
