Behind the Scenes: Q&A WITH LINDA KALBUN, CKCA STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBER
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.
Linda Kalbun, CKCA Steering Committee Member
New Denver resident Linda Kalbun works as the Administrator of the Slocan Lake Arts Council (SLAC).
WKRAC: How did you come to call the Columbia Basin home?
LK: We moved to Nelson in the mid-90s and lived there until 2008, when we left for an adventure in the high north: Yellowknife. We planned to stay up north for three years and stayed for 13! Just before covid, we moved back to Nelson, and last year moved to New Denver.
Are you involved in arts, culture and heritage outside of your work with WKRAC/CKCA? If so, what is your discipline or practice?
Before moving to Yellowknife, I began painting with acrylics and participated in Nelson’s ArtWalk. I continued painting in Yellowknife, which has a hugely supportive arts community. I still paint but have also moved to printmaking, which I adore. I am excited for the arrival of a press in the next month. While in Yellowknife, I was a member of a print studio that had a large press and was exposed to lots of different printmaking techniques. My art pal and I also travelled to various locations for printmaking courses. (The photo is of me in Ireland a couple of years ago.) So to have my own press shortly is a dream. (I may have to quit my arts council job to find time in the studio!)
Why did you wish to join this board/committee?
I would like to give back to the arts community here, and sitting on this committee does that—as well as being interesting and providing exposure to all kinds of creatives.
What do you think people in the region should be proud of in terms of arts, culture and heritage?
The North Slocan Lake region has a huge number of artists, of all stripes. The Slocan Lake Arts Council is a small, volunteer board that punches way above its weight in terms of the programming it offers, and on a very small budget.
What advice do you have for people in the region pursuing a career in arts, culture and heritage?
Be aware of all of the various funding opportunities, support your fellow artists and have fun! Hold onto the process! (And keep your day job—ha ha!)
What vision do you see for the future of arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin?
I would love to see the tiny villages of Silverton and New Denver become destination arts communities. The area already is a destination for music training during the summer months through the Valhalla Fine Arts Society and I would love to see it expand beyond that to week-long arts workshops and residencies, bringing artists from far and away to the community. The Slocan Lake Arts Council has been active in spearheading the restoration of a heritage building that has historically been the home of SLAC (previously known as the Silverton Gallery Society). The restoration of this building would make it a great home for artists’ workshops and residencies. (I am not speaking on behalf of SLAC here, just my dreaming!)