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.

Peter Vogelaar, Board Vice-President

Living in Winlaw, Peter Vogelaar is Vice-President of the WKRAC board.

WKRAC: How did you come to call the Kootenays home?

PV: I moved to Winlaw in 1989 with my partner Lesley Mayfield after a 12-year stint up in Fort St. John running my own sign business. Lesley had found a lovely spot in the Slocan Valley and I was happy to come and settle in. It was a bonus, as I had some previous connections to Nelson, having attended the Kootenay School of the Arts from 1972 to 1976.

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

Not long after we got here, I heard about a snow-sculpture contest on the CBC—the lure of a trip to Quebec for the winner had me hooked. Little did I know that I was off on a new career, applying my art-school sculpture training to all manner of ephemeral media. I am one of a group of sand, snow and ice sculptors from this region, and happy to have helped some of my old friends from art school get into it.

Why did you wish to join this board/committee?

I had been involved with the arts council in Fort St. John and got right into it in the Valley. When Columbia Basin Trust came along and created CKCA, I recognized that all the local arts councils needed to participate. Somewhere along there, I ended up on the WKRAC board.

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

I think we have a flourishing arts community here in the Kootenays, partially as a result of all those years of grads from the Kootenay School of the Arts putting down roots. It has also attracted artists from all over thanks to our beautiful landscapes. With the Castlegar Sculpturewalk, the successful mural fest in Nelson and the fantastic cultural events of Revelstoke, I think we have lots to be proud of.

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

My advice to those who want to succeed as artists here is to be versatile—be open to opportunities whenever they present themselves. Network as much as you can. Take advantage of the grants that are available to us through CKCA. And volunteer!!

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

I think we have lots of good momentum in support of arts, culture and heritage in this region—and having hired an energetic new executive director for WKRAC is only going to help things along. We still need to get more young people involved in arts councils and still need to encourage more people to take part in all the fine cultural events that surround us.

Takin’ care of business. As an artist or performer, whether you’re a newcomer or veteran, it’s not as easy as the old song says. It’s challenging to build a career that provides reliable paycheques while maintaining excellence and meaning in your medium. 

To help those who are developing careers in arts and culture, the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce has pulled together a how-to guide. Topics run the gamut from writing a business plan, to knowing your competition, to finding support through others.  

There’s also a list of 17 helpful contacts you can reach out to for funding or advice (including us and the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance grants that we manage). 

See the full guide here. 

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.

Carol Palladino, Board Secretary

Retired from her position with Community Futures and living in Revelstoke, Carol Palladino is the Secretary and Past President of the WKRAC board.

WKRAC: How did you come to call the Kootenays home?

MP: I moved to Revelstoke in 1979 for work opportunities.

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

Yes, but not as a practising artist. My role has been in the volunteer sector, serving on boards that serve the arts. I have been a Director for Arts Revelstoke and the Revelstoke Visual Arts Society, and currently sit as Past President of Arts BC.

Why did you wish to join this board/committee?

I’ve been involved with WKRAC since the late 90s and was part of the original CKCA committee, and it’s been very satisfying to see the development of the sector. I just really want to live in a community that has arts that I can experience.

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

The creativity in the Columbia Basin and the Kootenays is truly amazing. We have individuals practising all types of arts, many at a very high level with national and international recognition.

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

Connect! There are many in-person and online opportunities to connect with peers and with programs that will support your work. Follow WKRAC and Arts BC social media to ensure that you are up to date with granting programs and professional development conversations and workshops.

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

It’s a growth sector. I believe that creative individuals are finding that they are welcome in Kootenay communities, and they bring the skills and vision to make our communities vibrant and responsive to all types of future challenges.

Anything else you’d like to add?

My wish and hope is that more of our local governing bodies and administrations really begin to understand the true value of the arts and what they contribute to healthy and resilient communities, and make a commitment to support the work.

Are you seeking stronger relationships with your municipal officials? Trying to foster local participation in the arts? Simply curious about arts advocacy and where to begin?

Join WKRAC and your peers in arts organizations across the Kootenays as we learn together and collaboratively develop strategies to build community support for the arts.

This small group will meet biweekly from mid-June through September. Sessions will combine peer support and strategy development, with opportunities to learn from guests working in the fields of public policy and government relations, and peer organizations who have built successful relationships with their municipal partners. 

You can expect to come away with greater confidence in:

• external communications and outreach
• relationship-building and partnership management
• developing a local narrative of arts impact
• digital strategies to support project and campaign management.

If being part of this small, supportive group appeals to you, complete the intake form below by May 21, 2023.

Amazing news: this year’s Columbia Basin Culture Tour is going to be the biggest one ever, with more than 110 venues! Save the date to view extraordinary art, take part in unique events and fill a couple of summer days with colour and delight. The 15^th annual event takes place around the Columbia Basin on Saturday and Sunday, July 29 and 30, 2023.

We thank the record number of venues from throughout the region that signed up. And who are they? You don’t have much longer to find out!

Right now, we’re prepping their information so you can clearly see who’s participating and where you can find them. We’ll be launching them on our Culture Tour web pages soon. Shortly after, our print directory will be delivered to locations around the region.

To keep up to date on the Culture Tour—and everything we do—follow us on Facebook or Instagram and sign up for our newsletter. Also, mark that you’re “going” on our Culture Tour Facebook event.

And please, share the word with friends!

Join us to tell us your needs and what you can offer to arts and culture in the Kootenays!

If you’re an artist or represent an arts and culture organization in the Kootenays, we want to know how we can support you. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our new series of conversations, called Kootenay Art Connect, organized by our new Outreach Manager, Maggie Shirley.

“How can the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council collaborate with artists and local arts organizations to further strengthen the arts scene in the Kootenays?” asks Shirley.

Through a series of online and in-person conversations, together we’ll be exploring questions like:

• What are your professional development needs?
• How can we help you better network, share knowledge and exchange resources?

Everyone is invited to attend, and the events are free. For the in-person gatherings, places are limited (with lunch provided), so sign up soon! (See the link below.)

Here is the schedule:

Online conversation for artists

Wednesday, May 31, 2 p.m. Pacific / 3 p.m. Mountain

Are there blocks in the arts and culture system that you know can be fixed? Do you have skills or resources you can share with other artists or the community?  Do you just want to talk and make some new connections? We welcome artists of all types: musicians, writers, visual artists, media artists, performers, etc.

Online conversation for arts organizations

Thursday, June 8, 2 p.m. Pacific / 3 p.m. Mountain

Arts administrators and staff have been working harder than ever to stabilize organizations over the past few years. This is a chance for arts sector colleagues to regroup, assess where gaps continue to exist within our systems of support, and map out how we can help each other to serve artists and audiences more sustainably.

Online conversation for BIPOC artists and arts administrators

Monday, June 12, 2 p.m. Pacific / 3 p.m. Mountain

This session is specifically for BIPOC artists and arts administrators.

What are our dreams for arts in the Kootenays? What could a regional arts future look like that includes many more voices? What are the particular barriers we face in accessing arts funding and opportunities? This is a space for us to imagine together, discuss our needs and celebrate our offerings. This session is open to artists and administrators who work in any medium.

Live events

It’s time we had a talk! Join fellow artists and arts organizers for a meet-up. Representatives from Arts BC will be in attendance at the event. This will be a great opportunity to participate in a professional development workshop, learn from colleagues as they share their operational tactics and strategies, and meet others in the arts and culture community.

There are limited spaces, so register soon! Lunch is provided and honourariums are available for those volunteering their time and facing barriers to participation.

In-person West Kootenay gathering: Tuesday, June 20, Taghum Hall, Taghum (near Nelson), 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In-person East Kootenay gathering: Thursday, June 22, Centre 64, Kimberley, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

---

Who Is Maggie Shirley?

Maggie Shirley is a polymedia artist, researcher, curator and community worker. She has lived in the Kootenays for many years and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Limerick School of Art in Ireland and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. For eight years, she was Curator of the Kootenay Gallery of Art in Castlegar, where she has lived since 2013. Today, among other activities, she volunteers with Castlegar Art Walk and Castlegar Pride.

---

To keep up to date on our outreach activities—and everything we do—follow us on Facebook or Instagram and sign up for our newsletter.

---

We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.

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.

Margaret Pacaud, Board Treasurer

Retired and living in Revelstoke, Margaret Pacaud is the treasurer of the WKRAC board.

WKRAC: How did you come to call the Kootenays home? 

MP: I moved to Revelstoke in 1993 from Peachland in the Okanagan Valley for employment.

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 not involved in local arts and culture organizations at this time, except as an admirer and through attendance at gallery openings and events. In the past, I held positions as Chair of the Revelstoke Arts Council and of Revelstoke Visual Arts for many years, and also served on the CKCA Steering Committee for many years. 

Why did you wish to join this board/committee? 

I joined WKRAC as a board member in order to broaden my knowledge of arts and culture activities in the Kootenays.

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

People should be proud of the fact that Kootenay arts and culture have brought provincial, national and sometimes international recognition of the work done by artists, writers and musicians, et al., to the region.

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

To use the resources of the local arts councils and the regional arts council to ensure that they know what is available to them in the way of grants, education and mentorship that would assist them in pursuing their careers. 

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

I would like to see an increase in the partnerships of arts, culture and heritage organizations in the Kootenays.

Music. Birds. Trains. Murals. No matter what you’re keen on, there may be a festival or event in the Kootenays that focuses on just that.

Our 2023 Kootenay Festivals & Events Brochure pulls together over 30 amazing options when it comes to getting out and about to celebrate arts, culture and heritage in the region.

Take a look, select your favourites and mark them on your calendar!

Also make sure to keep track of what’s going on with our online events listing.

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.

Laura White, Board President

From Krestova and recently retired, Laura White is President of the WKRAC board and supports the CKCA steering committee.

WKRAC: How did you come to call the Kootenays home? 

LW: It was mostly economic; thirty years ago,  we were able to purchase our house in the West Kootenay for $20,000, which was only a down payment for a house in the Vancouver area we came from.

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

I have a creative journal practice and I design, teach and make jewellery.

Why did you wish to join this board/committee? 

I joined the WKRAC board to be involved at a regional level. (I have also been an executive board member of a local community arts council and provincial arts organizations.)

I joined the CKCA committee as the opportunity to grant money to creative individuals and arts organizations (through funding from Columbia Basin Trust) is amazing!

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

They should be proud that there is a tremendous amount of work being produced and presented, despite being a region of small, rural, isolated communities.

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

I’m hesitant to give advice because everyone’s situation is different. In general, it is still difficult to make a living solely from creative work at the beginning, so my advice would be to keep doing what you love but also learn how to approach creative work as a business professional. For example, if you are selling work, you need to keep financial records. If you can’t learn to do it yourself, then you need to hire someone to do it. Making a living from creative work means knowing where the money is coming from and where it is going.

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

I see a more inclusive and accessible community that is able to incorporate local and regional concerns and opportunities into the work they do.

We have a new strategic plan!

In 2022, we consulted with the arts, culture and heritage community through an online survey and one-on-one interviews. Thank you to everyone who participated! Our board and staff also provided their input—and our consultant neatly wrapped all feedback into a well-thought-out plan that will guide us from 2023 to 2026.

Our vision is to see the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council act as a catalyst to build capacity in the creative ecology so that arts, culture and heritage thrive throughout the region. We do this by assisting those involved in arts, culture and heritage so they can carry out their activities more effectively through support like training, consultation and communication about resources available throughout the region and province.

Our ambitions are as follows:

1. We are the convenor/connector for the regional cultural sector.
2. We offer a comprehensive suite of programs and services that strengthen the regional arts community. 
3. The Kootenay region is a source of world-class arts and culture.

We will embody the values of:

• adaptability
• collaboration
• connection
• equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility
• sustainability.