06/11/2026
So Long….And thanks for all the Riff….
The news wasn’t surprising. There had been whisperings. I was half-expecting it, but was trying to hold onto hope, I guess, that things would continue as they were, as they do. Because Victoria never changes. Except when it does.
I didn’t think it would hit me the way it has. I think I’m in mourning. Flipping back through photos, realizing how much of an impact Rifflandia had on me. As a volunteer. As a spectator, As an artist. It was a yearly catchup with friends and neighbours, when life splits us apart in all directions throughout the year, but we all rally to revel in music and art for the September weekend that Victoria’s streets came alive.
Rifflandia introduced me to many friends I still have today, and artists that I love.
As an emerging interactive artist, it helped foster our creations over the years. It was a launchpad for our first Monkey C projects: Amazing Philliphone, The Synaestesiatron, ThinkCubes, and Registroid. Rifflandia was an incubator for our creative offerings, our little experiments with interactivity and music that eventually became the Artcade.
I was fortunate to see the inner workings, as both a volunteer, and also an artist working with the festival. To work alongside the huge team of people that set up the stages and speakers, and pavilions and artwork. It was a labour of love and I saw it firsthand.
I can only imagine the sweat that goes into steering a cultural event the size of Rifflandia. Huge respect for anyone willing to step up to create cultural offerings, especially at that scale. Thanks to the visionaries who helmed the ship, and the crew who pulled it all together. There are too many names to name, but you know who you are. Thanks to all of you for making it happen.
Sad booping noise.
But change makes way for opportunity, I know the next generation are already creating their own cultural movements that will rival the impact of Rifflandia. Victoria is still teeming with creativity and delightful weirdos. I hope we seize this opportunity to create something else amazing together. We deserve it.
Beep boop
Scott
