Happy new year everyone! We hope that the start to 2024 is going great for you, with anticipation of wonderful things to come.
Our excitement for the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024 was a move into a new location. We’re thrilled to be in a more comfortable space, just down the hall from our old one.
Find us from now on in the same building as usual (619 B Front Street in Nelson, above Kootenay Valley Financial Services) but in suite #1 instead of #4.
The wonderful cover art is designed by Keiko Lee-Hem of Keiko Creative and features artwork by Abby Wilson.
The Columbia Basin is a place where vast nature, unbound creativity and rich cultural history intersect. Join us for the Vibrant Basin podcast—where we’ll dive deep into the stories of artists and cultural workers across the diverse communities of the Basin.
In this pilot season, host, performer and storyteller Shayna Jones will be asking guests how their artistic practices have shifted their understanding of themselves, their heritage and their neighbours.
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.
To learn more about these grants and how to apply, attend one of our FREE grant-writing workshops. The sessions all take place online through Zoom.
In collaboration with us at the WKRAC and the Tilted Brick Gallery, the Basin Food & Buyers Expo—held in Creston on November 3 and 4, 2023—put out a unique call to artists: submit original creations made of food packaging, exploring the theme of food packaging, or offering food packaging designs.
All the entries were amazing, and displayed for a couple of weeks at Creston’s Tilted Brick Gallery. In the end, a locally assembled jury selected two as our winners.
Congratulations to first-place winner Shirley McLim for “Madame Cola – Can Can Dress,” who comes away with $1,000; and to second-place winner Jess Stacey for “Processing Apron,” who comes away with $500. The challenge and prizes were supported by Columbia Basin Trust.
The Madame Cola – Can Can Dress is made of 215 Coke tins—hole-punched to create a sewing connection and cut to make items like roses—and countless tabs crocheted together. Shirley McLim said the following about it:
Second prize: “Processing Apron” by Jess Stacey.
“Madame Cola appears to have a cold exterior with an icy soul, but don’t let her colourful past stop you from approaching her. Her sassy personality will draw you in with her addictive sweetness that will leave you wanting more. I love colour and a challenge, so the vibrant red Coke tins beckoned me. The challenge was to turn Coke tins into a fabric-like medium to create this wearable dress. The bustle unhooks and the back laces up so one can slide it off and on.”
The second-place creation, “Processing Apron,” is a work of mixed-media wearable art made with items from the packaging processes of Creston farmers and food producers that would otherwise have been waste. Jess Stacey said the following about it:
“Less packaging means more kitchen work. When compared to the ready-to-eat food products that often come in substantial packages, the less-processed whole food alternatives ask more of the consumer. They invite us to spend more time cooking, preserving and essentially doing our own food processing at home. What we exchange for convenience is an investment of effort and an interest in the path that our food takes to arrive on our plate.”
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.
Thelma Brown, CKCA Steering Committee Member
Thelma Brown is a second-generation Goldenite, and is currently retired.
WKRAC: How did you come to call the Columbia Basin home?
TB: I was born in Golden in 1951 and have lived here most of my life. Locals tend to call our area the East Columbia as the Columbia River is an integral part of the community and our identity.
Are you involved in arts, culture and heritage outside of your work with WKRAC/CKCA? If so, what is your discipline or practice?
I was very involved in the past as an employee of Kicking Horse Culture and as an active volunteer, although not as much in later years. I have always been an advocate and supporter of arts, culture and heritage locally and through CKCA. My personal interests are in silversmithing, raku and painting.
Why did you wish to join this board/committee?
I wanted to be a representative for my community as, having lived here so long, I felt my knowledge of local artists and the art community gave me a broad perspective.
What do you think people in the region should be proud of in terms of arts, culture and heritage?
I feel residents are proud of the arts, culture and heritage that is part of this community. Kicking Horse Culture has provided a broad variety of year-round events that are well attended, drawing in folks of all ages. Many local artists have had shows at the Art Gallery of Golden, allowing the non-artists of the community to be exposed to the amazing talent this area has. Golden has a large, expanded community and many artists live rurally, so having a central location is something to be proud of and be part of. The local museum has revolving displays and events, and local heritage is well preserved and available to old-timers, newcomers and tourists. Locals are proud of the work the Métis Nation Columbia River Society has done to establish a meeting place and a source of information about Indigenous history and culture in the area.
What advice do you have for people in the region pursuing a career in arts, culture and heritage?
I would suggest getting involved in all areas of arts, culture and heritage in their small community. It’s valuable to get a broad perspective of the challenges faced and ways to connect with the artist community. I feel it is important that artists themselves help raise that awareness through collaboration with other agencies. Through collective knowledge and working together, information can be shared that can benefit them in the end. Volunteering and seeking out grants allows artists to not be isolated in their artistic practice. I feel that pursuing a career in these fields in the current climate takes dedication, tenacity, creativity and a willingness to push the boundaries.
What vision do you see for the future of arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin?
I would hope the value of these continues to be recognized by communities at large. With continued and increased collaboration between art councils, museums, Indigenous communities, libraries, collectives and artists of all disciplines, it will continue to grow stronger roots. The support of small local business—such as local co-op radio and newspapers—will help draw people back to the importance of a strong community that looks to each other instead of to their phones to seek out the importance of a strong arts, culture and heritage core. It takes a wide variety of arms to grow, support and sustain a strong arts, culture and heritage future.
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.
Join us at the Rural Artist Support Weekend
The CKCA application period is traditionally open from early winter to spring. However, it’s never too early to start developing your ideas.
To start, we recommend attending one of our grant-writing workshops. At these, you’ll learn all about the different granting streams available and how to write a solid application. We run a whole series of these workshops, so as many people as possible can find one to fit their schedule.
At this point, we invite you to attend our first grant-writing workshop, which is taking place during the Rural Artist Support Weekend, hosted by the Nelson and District Arts Council (NDAC) in December 2023. For details on the weekend’s events when they become available, follow NDAC on Instagram or Facebook.
As for additional CKCA grant-workshops, coming in January and February 2024, get details as they’re announced by signing up for our newsletter or following us on Facebook or Instagram.
The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council (WKRAC) exists to help arts, culture and heritage in the Kootenays 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.
Fernanda Fernández, Board Member
Originally from Mexico City and educated partially in Paris, new WKRAC board member Fernanda Fernández now lives in Kimberley. Until recently, she was the Acting Administrator at the Kimberley Arts Council–Centre 64.
WKRAC: How did you come to call the Kootenays home?
FF: My husband got a job with the City of Kimberley in the planning department in 2020, and the municipality provided an affordable option to buy a house and settle down. We married in 2021 and have lived in the Kootenays for three years, close to my husband’s family, who live in Slocan, Nelson and Creston.
Are you involved in arts, culture and heritage outside of your work with WKRAC/CKCA? If so, what is your discipline or practice?
I ran the arts and culture centre in Kimberley. Before coming to Canada, I worked on various projects as a curator and art collection manager. My academic research focuses on sex work representations with an intersectional feminist perspective, the decolonization of photographic archives, and cinema theory.
Why did you wish to join this board/committee?
My job with the Kimberley Arts Council has come to term, and I would like to keep a connection to the arts in the region. Coming from Mexico City to rural Canada has made me aware of the challenges small communities face compared to urban centres. I believe my insight as an immigrant woman will bring more diversity to the board and another way to understand social dynamics for minorities.
What do you think people in the region should be proud of in terms of arts, culture and heritage?
Before coming to Canada, I had never been surrounded by so much nature. Most people in the Kootenays care about the environment and take pride in their natural heritage.
What advice do you have for people in the region pursuing a career in arts, culture and heritage?
These are challenging fields with great personal rewards but where well-paid jobs are scarce. There are many opportunities to make communities value the effort, research and human resources involved in delivering exhibitions, educational programs and festivals, but it is an ever-changing and demanding job. Tolerance to frustration, resilience and perseverance are traits one should have to pursue a career in these areas. Seeking collaborations and exploring what happens outside the Kootenays will become handy to materialize arts and culture projects.
What vision do you see for the future of arts, culture and heritage in the Kootenays?
Increase professionalization opportunities for arts and culture mediators and creators. Increase collaboration efforts between First Nations organizations and regional arts councils, museums and libraries.
Anything else you’d like to add?
When I became the Acting Administrator at Centre 64, I was relatively new to the region and the art scene in the Kootenays. Without the support to write grants and the connections the WKRAC has facilitated, my job would have been more challenging.
We’re pleased to welcome two new members to the WKRAC board.
Louise Ferguson is Executive Director of the Fernie & District Arts Council, more commonly known as The Arts Station. From England, she originally came to Canada for a year in 2011 to travel and work and has been here ever since. Outside her day job, she offers seamstress services in Fernie, teaches sewing and fibre classes, and loves to be involved in anything theatre-related. See her full profile here.
Fernanda Fernández is an art historian and Acting Administrator at the Kimberley Arts Council–Centre 64. Originally from Mexico City and educated partially in Paris, she moved to Kimberley in 2020. Her work has included curating content for museums and exhibitions on topics such as the environment, children’s development, sex work and gender, plus doing translation for institutions like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Denver Art Museum, and creating subtitles for documentary films. (To see her full profile when it becomes available, sign up for our newsletter.)
We look forward to having their contributions—along with those of our established board members—help shape WKRAC into the future!
The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council (WKRAC) exists to help arts, culture and heritage in the Kootenays 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.
Louise Ferguson, Board Member
New WKRAC board member Louise Ferguson lives in Fernie and is the Executive Director of the Fernie & District Arts Council, more commonly known as The Arts Station.
WKRAC: How did you come to call the Kootenays home?
LF: From England, I originally came to Canada for a year in 2011 to travel and work. I met my Canadian husband and then never left! We moved to the Kootenays for his job, having never visited Fernie before, and quickly called it home.
Are you involved in arts, culture and heritage outside of your work with WKRAC/CKCA? If so, what is your discipline or practice?
Outside my day job, I offer seamstress services in Fernie and teach sewing and fibre classes. I love to take any fibre workshops whenever I get a chance, and to be involved in anything theatre-related—although you won’t catch me on the stage, just behind it!
Why did you wish to join this board/committee?
I wished to join the WKRAC board to give back more to arts and culture and make an impact regionally. I also wanted to share the experiences and knowledge I have gained while connecting and learning from others.
What do you think people in the region should be proud of in terms of arts, culture and heritage?
I think they should be proud of the positive impact that arts and culture has on communities, especially with the limited resources and rural nature of our region. I am amazed at what is created—by artists and organizations—with so little.
What advice do you have for people in the region pursuing a career in arts, culture and heritage?
Remember that you are not alone and take opportunities to connect with other creatives and use the resources available. Also be professional!
What vision do you see for the future of arts, culture and heritage in the Kootenays?
I see continued growth and development for arts, culture and heritage by working together across the Kootenays. This will create further positive impact, vibrant communities and greater access to the arts for everyone.
HOW HAVE WE SUPPORTED ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE OVER THE PAST YEAR?
We’re excited to explore this answer with you at the annual general meeting of the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council:
Thursday, November 2, 2023
1 p.m. Pacific / 2 p.m. Mountain
online through Zoom.
We look forward to reflecting on the past year and sharing what we heard during this summer’s Kootenay Art Connect events.
You’ll also have the opportunity to share your own efforts, voice your needs and seek advice on issues your organization may be facing. You’ll connect with other arts-focused people and organizations across the region to hear what they’re doing, learn from one another and exchange information and resources.
Members and non-members are welcome, with voting reserved for members. (Below, see how to become a member, plus view AGM voting details.)
Plus, you’ll be helping us administer the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance granting programs, funded by Columbia Basin Trust, which provide direct financial support to artists and arts organizations in our region.
Thank you for your contribution to arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin!
AGM Voting
Organization members: One representative from each member organization can vote on behalf of the organization.
Individual members: Each member has one vote on their own behalf.
Non-members wanting to attend the AGM are welcome, but not allowed to vote.
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