The snow may be flying but it’s not too early to start thinking about a warm summer weekend: the 2025 Culture Tour. This year, the event will take place on August 9 and 10, 2025.

Registration opens February 4, 2025, so now’s the time to start considering if you’re interested in being one of the venues, and what your venue might be like.

What’s new this year

• There will be one-step registration. (In 2024, we divided registration into two steps, but this wasn’t efficient.) Therefore, prepare to have all your information and photos on hand when you register.
• We heard your feedback! We’re shortening the tour days by one hour. Instead of being open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the 2025 venues will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Think about these questions so you’re ready when registration opens

• In small towns or rural areas, it may be hard to draw the public to your more isolated location. Should you collaborate with other artists to create one venue in a central hub?
  • Note: If you register as one collective venue, you get one listing in the Culture Tour brochure and website. If each artist registers separately, you each get your own listing—simply make sure the venue location information remains the same for everyone.
• Alternately, do you want to be a venue of your own?
• Where will your venue (individual or collective) take place?
  • It can be on your own property, such as your workshop or studio.
  • Or you can hold your event at a location like a community hall, gallery, library or café (with its permission, of course).
  • Which choice is best for you and would interest the public the most?
• If your location is open regularly to the public, how can you make the weekend special so that people have a reason to check it out during the Culture Tour?

To prepare the best venue, read the following before you register

• Tips on how to write your artist/venue description
• Tips on how to photograph your work and venue
• Tips from previous venues on how to have a great weekend

Have questions? Get in touch.

The newest issue of Articulate has hit the stands and been distributed to subscribers’ mailboxes and public locations around the Columbia Basin! Read it online here.

With a new logo, fresh look and expanded page count, this 2025 edition offers in-depth features about arts, culture and heritage projects, practitioners and organizations across the Columbia Basin. You’ll also find the latest in news, previews, editorial thoughts and more. Check out this small selection of headlines:

• Myth, Mathematics & Sacred Texts: The art of Tanya Pixie Johnson
• By the Beat of the Drum: Collective drumming empowers individuals and cultivates connections
• A Boat to Carry Us Across the Water: Art & disability

Pick up a paper copy, for free, in hundreds of locations across the region, such as theatres, bookstores, galleries, hotels and cafés. And if you’d like a copy of the 2025 issue and future issues mailed directly to your home or business, sign up here.

Also coming soon is an expanded online presence. Articulate’s new website will provide a modern reading experience, complete with more frequent features, more timely news and up-to-date release announcements. To get the latest updates, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram or Facebook.

Enjoy!

Do you have an idea for a project that focuses on arts and culture? Grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA) could help.

These grants—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and managed by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council—are available for all art disciplines, for both individuals and arts and culture organizations in the Columbia Basin.

The application period is now open

CKCA’s current application period closes February 21, 2025, or March 7, 2025, depending on the program. To learn about each program and apply, click here.

What’s different this year?

• We simplified the name of the program Arts Funding to Communities; now, it’s called Community Grants. Note that the deadline for this program is February 21, 2025.
  • All other program applications are due March 7, 2025.
• We adjusted the focus of the program that was formerly called Major Project Arts & Culture. Now, it’s called Major Projects. Major Projects funding is available to support individual artists or artist groups and collectives in the execution of projects to create artistic works, bodies of work, arts and culture performances, events or projects on a major scale.
  • Non-profit organizations proposing large-scale projects should apply under Arts Evolution.

Q&A sessions

To learn more about these grants and how to apply, attend one of our FREE question-and-answer sessions. The events all take place online through Zoom.

REGISTER NOW IN THE ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU!

• Wednesday, January 15, 2025: noon Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain
• Wednesday, January 29, 2025: noon Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain
• Monday, February 3, 2025: 4 p.m. Pacific / 5 p.m. Mountain
• Wednesday, February 5, 2025: noon Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain

Before you attend a session, we encourage you to watch the video about the specific program you’re considering applying to. To find the video, select the program that interests you and navigate to that program’s page. Afterwards, come to the Q&A session with your questions.

If you have questions about your specific project, rather than the programs themselves, contact us directly instead of asking them during a session.

The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council (WKRAC) exists to help arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin thrive. To do so, we rely on a dedicated team of board members, plus steering committee members who oversee the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA) arts and culture grants.

Who are these people? In this series, we’re introducing you to the folks behind the scenes.

Michele Dupas, CKCA Steering Committee Member

Living in Procter, Michele Dupas is self-employed and owns Dupas Designs.

WKRAC: How did you come to call the Columbia Basin home?

MD: I was living in Vancouver with my partner and we were looking to buy a house to start a bed and breakfast. Someone mentioned the Kootenays, so we drove through on a beautiful summer’s day, had a lovely lunch and decided to call Nelson our home.

Are you involved in arts, culture and heritage outside of your work with WKRAC/CKCA? If so, what is your discipline or practice?

I am a full-time ceramic artist; my practice is a mix of creating functional and sculptural works in clay. I am so fortunate to have a fabulous bright studio in Procter with views of Mount Loki.

Why did you wish to join this board/committee?

I am passionate about arts and culture; I believe they bring connection and value to any community. I am finally in a place to have volunteer time, and I wanted an experience where I could meet others with the same passion.

What do you think people in the region should be proud of in terms of arts, culture and heritage?

I am shocked at the talent we have in the Basin area, including the scale of creative undertakings—from folks happily making art/music in their studios to large festivals fueled by committed volunteers. I am truly in awe of the might of small communities, the vision to create as a group.

What advice do you have for people in the region pursuing a career in arts, culture and heritage?

Talk to other creatives—there is such a wealth of experience and knowledge to be shared in the Basin. There are resources and community that will help your journey and help you find your people and collaborate!

What vision do you see for the future of arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin?

I believe that arts and culture can be the catalyst to provide hope and change in these divisive times.

For over two years, we’ve been promoting arts, culture and heritage events across the Columbia Basin through our online events calendar.

We’d now like to know your opinion of the calendar, whether you:

• use it to look for events you can enjoy
• post your own events on it
• have never used it at all.

Fill out our short survey and you could win a $50 gift card to Cowan’s office and art supply store, which ships throughout the region!

The deadline to submit the survey is 10:59 p.m. Pacific / 11:59 p.m. Mountain on Sunday, January 26, 2025.

We appreciate your feedback!

TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY, click on the area of the Columbia Basin that best describes where you live and/or work:

• Nelson and North Shore
• Castlegar / Salmo / Trail / Rossland and area
• Arrow Lakes / Slocan Valley
• Revelstoke and area
• Cranbrook / Kimberley and area
• Fernie / Sparwood and area
• Crawford Bay / Creston Valley
• Golden / Columbia Valley and area
• Valemount and area

For the past few newsletters, you may have noticed a new banner: a fabulous piece of artwork by Pat Bavin. In upcoming issues, we’d like to continue to introduce banners by other artists. Get in touch to be one of them! We pay!

We’re looking for the following:

• You’re an artist who works in any media and lives in the Columbia Basin.
• The banner is horizontal: 800 px wide by 322 px high, at 96 dpi. Ensure your work would be suitable for these dimensions; it will be cropped, so the entire image most likely won’t be shown.
• A new banner will be introduced every three months in 2025, starting in January. Ideally, we’re looking for artwork that would be suitable for the seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall.

We will pay $100 total for this three-month use, plus tax if you require, with your name credited beneath the image. This would be non-exclusive; feel free to use the artwork in any other way during that time.

Interested?

FILL OUT THIS FORM NOW!

The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council (WKRAC) exists to help arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin thrive. To do so, we rely on a dedicated team of board members, plus steering committee members who oversee the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA) arts and culture grants.

Who are these people? In this series, we’re introducing you to the folks behind the scenes.

Kristin Teetaert, WKRAC Board Member

Living in Cranbrook, Kristin Teetaert works as the Executive Director of Cranbrook Arts (Cranbrook and District Arts Council).

WKRAC: How did you come to call the Columbia Basin home?

KT: On a whim, really. In 2022 we decided to move from our small town in Saskatchewan back west (having lived in Calgary previously). We visited Cranbrook and it felt like a good-sized community for us…plus mountains!

Are you involved in arts, culture and heritage outside of your work with WKRAC/CKCA? If so, what is your discipline or practice?

I’ve been an arts administrator since 2011 and have taught art classes for two decades. Outside of work I am a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on fibre and ceramics.

Why did you wish to join this board/committee?

I was seeking a way to connect with the arts community in a broader sense, and want to be a part of strengthening the connections between the East and West Kootenays. I think there are opportunities for collaboration and sharing of information that will benefit our communities and artists.

What do you think people in the region should be proud of in terms of arts, culture and heritage?

Artists in the region should take pride in their unique art style that is deeply influenced by the beauty of the surrounding mountains and lakes. They should be proud of what they have built, often with little to no money and a LOT of hard work.

What advice do you have for people in the region pursuing a career in arts, culture and heritage?

Build connections with other artists and cultural organizations, and be open to collaboration. Never stop learning! I know that sounds cliché but I feel it’s valuable to continue to seek out opportunities for professional development, workshops and collaborations as you are establishing your career, and even after.

What vision do you see for the future of arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin?

In Cranbrook, we are seeing a lot of growth. There are new collaborations happening in the arts and culture sector, which is exciting. I think that region-wide collaborations and sharing of knowledge and resources will help the region continue to grow and develop.

Do you have an idea for a project that focuses on arts and culture? Grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA) could help.

These grants—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and managed by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council—are available for all art disciplines, for both individuals and arts and culture organizations in the Columbia Basin.

Program information now online

CKCA’s next application period will open January 13, 2025, and close February 21, 2025, or March 7, 2025, depending on the program. To view the basic information about each program, click here.

Additional details—such as funding policies, program guidelines and application links—will be available when the programs launch on January 13, 2025.

What’s different this year?

• We simplified the name of the program Arts Funding to Communities; now, it’s called Community Grants. Note that the deadline for this program is February 21, 2025.
  • All other program applications are due March 7, 2025.
• We adjusted the focus of the program that was formerly called Major Project Arts & Culture. Now, it’s called Major Projects. Major Projects funding is available to support individual artists or artist groups and collectives in the execution of projects to create artistic works, bodies of work, arts and culture performances, events or projects on a major scale.
  • Non-profit organizations proposing large-scale projects should apply under Arts Evolution.

Q&A sessions

To learn more about these grants and how to apply, attend one of our FREE question-and-answer sessions. The events all take place online through Zoom.

REGISTER NOW IN THE ONE THAT WORKS FOR YOU!

• Wednesday, January 15, 2025: noon Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain
• Wednesday, January 29, 2025: noon Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain
• Monday, February 3, 2025: 4 p.m. Pacific / 5 p.m. Mountain
• Wednesday, February 5, 2025: noon Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain

Before you attend a session, we encourage you to watch the video about the specific program you’re considering applying to. Note: these videos will only be available as of January 13, 2025, when the programs launch. To find the video, select the program that interests you and navigate to that program’s page. Afterwards, come to the Q&A session with your questions.

If you have questions about your specific project, rather than the programs themselves, contact us directly instead of asking them during a session.

From October 3 to 5, 2024, artists and cultural workers from across British Columbia met in kʷikʷəƛ̓əm | Coquitlam for the biannual Arts BC conference. One of the most resonant themes at this year’s event was the need for arts organizations, arts workers, artists and arts supporters to “shift the narrative” around arts and culture’s role in society. Presenters emphasized the significant economic contributions of arts and culture within BC and their critical role in fostering healthy communities and ecosystems. Here are a few standout examples.

Scotia Monkivitch from the Creative Recovery Network gave an inspiring presentation on how her organization uses arts and culture in disaster management and recovery efforts across Australia. Her talk highlighted how the arts can be a powerful tool for communication and healing. In one project she highlighted, artists crafted birdhouses to provide shelter for animals displaced during wildfire, creating a symbol of hope and renewal within the transformed landscape. Similarly, the Chook Project invited communities to knit colourful chickens as comforting gifts for children who had lost their schools and homes to wildfire. These projects go beyond aesthetics, offering accessible and meaningful ways for people to process trauma and loss collectively.

X’staam Hana’ax Nicole Halbauer, Research Manager for H.E.A.L. Healthcare at the Health Arts Research Centre, urged conference attendees to see the arts as an essential counterpart to the sciences. She shared the example of graphic novels being used in training healthcare professionals, particularly in anti-bias training, to deepen empathy and understanding. Halbauer stressed that arts are not merely complementary to sciences but are essential tools for rethinking and enriching healthcare practices.

These examples underscore the essential role of arts and culture in society, reminding us that they are far more than sources of inspiration—they are foundational to resilience, understanding and community well-being.

Additionally, conference sessions called on us, as arts leaders, to create shifts within our organizations. A metaphor that came up several times throughout the conference (thanks to Sidi Chen) is that the arts are not just the icing on a cupcake; they’re the flour, eggs and milk. You can’t have a cupcake without those ingredients, and—as Nicole Halbauer added—you can’t remove them once they’re baked. Equity work should live in a similarly central place within organizations, suffusing every aspect of cultural work.

Confronting outdated narratives in the broader sector sometimes requires us to look inside our organizations and ask honestly, “Are there patterns of harm that our work is perpetuating?” Conference presenters offered meaningful tools to help answer that question. Dagan Nish from ActSafe broke down for session attendees the difference between mental health, psychological safety, and psychological health and safety. While taking each of these seriously can improve the well-being of our teams, Nish also advocated for a shift in how we regard the value of these workplace factors. Amy Edmondson’s research out of Harvard University has demonstrated that psychological safety is the number one factor in workplace productivity; it is high time that supportive and caring workplaces are seen as having a competitive edge.

Meena Das, an expert in non-profit data management and evaluation, guided participants through an exploration of how values and a commitment to equity can be expressed in seemingly simple processes like survey creation. For instance, if “inclusivity” is an organizational value, are you ensuring that everyone who takes your survey can see themselves reflected in the options provided? If you value “accountability,” are you acting on insights the community provides to you, or simply performing an engagement process? 

The energy in plenary and breakout sessions was palpable. While changing the narrative around our sector’s value won’t happen overnight, the Arts BC conference was a vital step toward a shared language and the creation of a province-wide commitment to advocating for stronger investment in the arts, for the sake of our sector and our communities at large.

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Written by Ingrid Love, Social Media Coordinator of the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council, and Kallee Lins, Executive Director.

As an artist or arts and culture organization, you may have big dreams. So how do you get the funding to make them come true?

Each year, the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA)—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and managed by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council—provides grants to arts and culture projects throughout the Columbia Basin.

The CKCA application period opens in January, and it’s never too early to start developing your ideas.

At this point, we invite you to attend our first question-and-answer session, which is taking place online at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, during the Rural Artist Support Weekend, hosted by the Nelson and District Arts Council (NDAC). For details and to register, view the website. Also follow NDAC on Instagram or Facebook.

As for additional CKCA Q&A sessions, coming in early 2025, get details as they’re announced by signing up for our newsletter or following us on Facebook or Instagram.