Fort Simpson (July 10/06) - The sixth annual Open Sky Festival gave Fort Simpson its yearly dose of arts and culture last week.

This was the biggest year for the festival yet, with more performers than ever before, said festival co-ordinator Simone Hanos.

Rob Manuel from Fort Simpson was one of the performers who filled the Papal grounds with music on July 1. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"It went really well," she said.

Topping the popularity chart was the dance on July 1. More than 300 people came out to listen to the music of Fort Simpson's Jared Sowan Project and Yellowknife's Godson.

Many of the arts and cultural workshops held over the weekend were also well received. The most popular was the jewelry design session hosted by Martin Goodliffe, said Hanos.

Also drawing in the crowds were the workshops on soapstone carving, scroll saw woodwork and moose hair tufting.

Fort Simpson made a good impression on many of the visiting tourists, artists and craftspeople, said Christina Holman, chair of the Open Sky Creative Society.

"They thought the Open Sky Festival was one of the best arts and crafts promotion venues they have seen," Holman said.

Marion Arnold is one of the craftspeople who was impressed. Arnold came from Smithers, B.C., to display her glass bead pictures.

"We really enjoyed our visit and the people have been just fantastic," Arnold said.

For artist and biologist Diane Boudreau, of Yellowknife, every year there is a reason to travel to the village.

"I enjoy coming back here," Boudreau said.

This was her fifth year at the festival. She taught a mural workshop and displayed some of her urban artwork.

Boudreau particularly enjoyed the Nah a Dehe exhibit at the visitors' information centre.

"I'm very impressed by the exhibit they did," Boudreau said.