An invitation from Heritage BC:

This year, Heritage BC invites you to be part of something different: the 2025 Heritage BC Conference: Me7 Elkstwéwc-kt — Working Together, taking place May 22 and 23 in Tk̓emlúps (Kamloops).

Me7 Elkstwéwc-kt means “we are working together” in Secwépemctsín—a reminder that meaningful heritage work doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s built in relationships, through respect and in shared responsibility.

This gathering marks a continuation of the intentional shift we (Heritage BC) began last year—a move away from a traditional, presentation-style conference format to a more collaborative, place-based approach that is grounded in community. It isn’t just a change in style; it’s a reflection of deeper values and a growing recognition that our sector’s most pressing questions—about sustainability, reconciliation and inclusivity—can’t be answered from a distance. They require us to be present, to listen deeply and to learn in place.

We’re hosting the 2025 conference in partnership with the Kamloops Museum and Archives and Secwépemc Museum and Heritage Park, two institutions whose work reflects what it means to care for their community through heritage. Tk̓emlúps (Kamloops) was chosen not only for its accessibility and natural beauty, but because of the layered histories and relationships it holds—between people, across time and in conversation with the land. As a site of cultural continuity, memory and both colonial harm and Indigenous resurgence, it offers a meaningful space to explore this year’s central theme: Me7 Elkstwéwc-kt — Working Together. By spending time on these lands and learning from local leaders, Elders and practitioners, we are invited into a different kind of heritage conference—one that’s participatory, respectful and centered in truth-telling and collaboration.

What does this mean for you as a heritage professional, educator, community organizer or institutional leader? It means stepping into a learning environment designed not only to inform, but to transform. Over two days, you’ll gain practical tools for co-creating heritage projects with community, strategies for deepening relationships between institutions and Indigenous partners, and ideas for reimagining how heritage work can be more sustainable and inclusive. Whether you’re coming from a museum, archives, local government or grassroots initiative, this conference offers a space to reflect, re-energize and reimagine what’s possible when we work together. You’ll leave with tangible examples, renewed partnerships and inspiration for how to shift practice in your own context—wherever that may be in the province.

Expect to:

• learn how local communities are reclaiming their histories through collaborative partnerships, with sessions led by those doing the work on the ground
• explore how emerging leaders and experienced professionals can support one another through inclusive, intergenerational dialogue and skill-building
• participate in tours and workshops that ground heritage practice in land, community and lived experience—including opportunities to engage with both settler and Secwépemc perspectives
• centre Indigenous voices in conversations about heritage conservation, truth-telling and the future of our shared histories
• build lasting relationships through shared meals, evening gatherings and facilitated opportunities for collaboration.

We hope to see you in Kamloops this May!

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. We also have great employees!

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

Maggie Shirley, Project Manager, Digital Services Transformation Project

Based in Castlegar, Maggie Shirley was instrumental in hosting our Kootenay Art Connect Conversations, and continues to work on a digital project to bring together those working in arts, culture and heritage in the region. She also works as the Project Coordinator for the Dementia Project based in the Trail Hospice. 

WKRAC: When did you join WKRAC, and why did working here appeal to you?

MS: I first joined WKRAC in 2023 when we received a grant to do outreach work with the Columbia Basin arts sector. The grant finished, but as an outcome of that work we applied for a grant for the Digital Services Transformation Project. We were successful and so I’m back working with WKRAC.

What are the main things you do in your position?

With the Digital Services Transformation Project, I am working with consultant Nate Gerber and the leaders of six arts and culture organizations on a pilot project. We are working together to analyze the systems of each organization and to identify ways in which we can create digital or other solutions to improve ways of operation both individually and as a collective group. It is groundbreaking and exciting work.

How did you come to call the Columbia Basin home?

I first moved to Nelson in 1981 and attended David Thompson University Centre. I’ve moved away several times, including to Ireland for seven years, yet I have always returned. The West Kootenay is home for me.

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

I consider myself an artist. I am part of an arts group called Ten Thieves. I create theme-based work in a variety of media and methods, primarily three-dimensional work. At the moment, I’m experimenting with creating bioplastics and then creating objects combining the bioplastics with found objects harvested from the forest floor. I examine themes such as gender, the body, evolution and the natural world. Ten Thieves has an exhibition scheduled for the Langham Cultural Centre in 2026, so I hope you come see it.

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

I think we punch above our weight when it comes to the quality of our professional artists. There are folks living here who are exhibiting in galleries and spaces across Canada, in the States and in Europe, as well as in the Kootenays. CKCA grants have been an important source of support for these artists and for Columbia Basin galleries so they can show regional professional artists. I hope professional art continues to be valued, as it has in the past.

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

There’s an old cliché of a starving artist working alone in a garret. Aside from the dearth of garrets in the Kootenays, to be a thriving artist you need to build relationships and community with other artists, with curators and with local businesses that can support you. A lot of work can be done alone in the studio, but connecting to the larger community will enhance your practice in a multitude of ways.

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

I envision a healthy, thriving arts sector that is interconnected and working collaboratively to support arts and culture workers. I believe the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council can play an integral role in bringing this vision to reality. This is what the Digital Services Transformation Project is working toward.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

Although it not considered an essential service, arts and culture plays such a vital role in our society. It brings us together. It can get us talking about controversial ideas. It gives voice and visibility to non-dominant cultures. It lifts our spirits in difficult times. It is a binder that holds us together. Whatever happens, we need to support and celebrate our Columbia Basin culture and the people who create it.

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. We also have great employees!

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

Galadriel Watson, Communications Manager

The WKRAC website and monthly newsletter are just a couple of the items overseen by WKRAC’s Communications Manager Galadriel Watson, who lives in Nakusp.

WKRAC: When did you join WKRAC, and why did working here appeal to you?

GW: I’ve been doing communications on a part-time basis for WKRAC since August 2022. As a freelance writer, I was excited to find a position that would nicely slot into my other writing tasks. Plus, as a former staff member of Columbia Basin Trust, I was keen to work for an organization that had strong ties to the Trust—such as managing its arts and culture program—but which also enables me to obtain an even broader vision of arts, culture and heritage in the Basin.

What are the main things you do in your position?

Outward-facing messaging is my main domain, such as maintaining the WKRAC website, writing news stories, compiling the monthly newsletter, and advertising programs like the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance grants or the Columbia Basin Culture Tour.

How did you come to call the Columbia Basin home?

My family and I had been living in Calgary and dying to get out of the city and into a small town. When we camped in this area, we decided to make moving here a goal. It took a few years, but we finally secured jobs and made the leap in 2010.

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

I’m a writer of non-fiction books and articles for children, and newspaper and magazine articles for adults, which have been published in outlets like The New York Times for Kids and The Globe and Mail. Over the past few years I’ve also taken up linocut printmaking, and greatly enjoyed taking part in last year’s Nelson ArtWalk.

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

There’s so much of it here! One of the first things I did when I moved to the area was attend the Columbia Basin Culture Tour—it was so cool! Whether you’re interested in textiles, painting, pottery, photography, metalwork, historical sites or so on and so on, there’s going to be something available.

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

Diversify. To make a living, you may need to create your art, plus teach your art, plus take a part-time position somewhere, plus be open to anything else that fits your values and interests while helping you pay the bills. And remember that you’re being creative because you love it. Don’t let the pursuit of dollars suck away the joy of doing what you do.

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

I think arts, culture and heritage in the Basin will only grow stronger. We’re extremely lucky to have supports like the Trust’s CKCA grants that no one else in the province has, and opportunities like the Culture Tour. Know that behind the scenes, the WKRAC is working hard to give artists and arts, culture and heritage organizations tools to build even more positive futures.

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.

Irma de Visser, CKCA Steering Committee Member

Kimberley resident Irma de Visser owns Art Gallery Kimberley, also known as “The Laundromat.”

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

IdV: Sometimes, life takes you across an ocean and a mountain range or two. One of several reconnaissance trips east and west of the Rockies brought me to Kimberley for what was supposed to be just a day. But this sweet little mountain town had other plans. I met some lovely people, came back a few times, made some friends, and before I knew it, Kimberley had quietly ticked off every box on my “future home” wish list. So, in 2013, I traded Holland’s low lands for the Columbia Basin’s peaks and creative spirit. Best decision I ever made!

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

I own and operate Art Gallery Kimberley and I played a role in the inception of, and I volunteer with, the Kimberley Clay Collective. Someday, when I find more time on my hands, I intend to have them covered in clay regularly. Until then, my creative practice involves running the gallery, curating, organizing, supporting artists, encouraging creative connections and championing the arts. I like to think of it as sculpting inspiring spaces for others to thrive.

Why did you wish to join this board/committee?

To get inspired and learn, as well as to challenge myself, while supporting the arts and culture sector in the Basin.

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

The amount of talent in our region never stops to amaze me. For a place so vast, with a population density of just 2.8 people per square kilometre (compared to the 544 I grew up with), you’d think we’d all be “howling into the wilderness.” Instead, the Kootenays are alive with creativity. Another really inspiring thing about this region is its heart. The support within the artistic community is something special. That’s something to be proud of.

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

Love what you do, and do it as often as you can. (I may or may not have borrowed that from the Holstee Manifesto, but let’s call it wisdom-sharing.) Take your passion and run with it. But don’t just create; transfer your passion, connect, inspire and share your work with others. And here’s a big one: treat your art like a business. When balanced well, creativity and commerce can turn passion into a sustainable career.

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

My vision is one where artists are empowered to sustain themselves, where arts, culture and heritage are recognized as essential, and where collaboration strengthens creative networks.

Anything else you’d like to add?

How about a “Haiku” (not sure all the rules apply) to inspire some positivity in the “upside down” we find ourselves in these days?

Love is more than words,
Kindness shared through seasons, warm and bright,
a spark in the dark.

Apply liberally on affected area.

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. We also have great employees!

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

Lily Andersen, WKRAC Grants Officer and Operations Manager

If you phone or email the WKRAC office concerning CKCA grants or the Columbia Basin Culture Tour—or for any other reason—there’s a good chance you’ll connect with Lily Andersen. A Nelson resident, Lily works as our Grants Officer and Operations Manager.

WKRAC: When did you join WKRAC, and why did working here appeal to you?

LA: I joined WKRAC in 2017 as a part-time contractor and my position has grown over the years into a full-time Grants Officer position.

As a graduate of the Selkirk College jewellery program, and with a history of film production, I was drawn to the direct connection to the local arts community and the opportunity to have an impact on it.

What are the main things you do in your position?

Primarily I administer the CKCA grant program, which is funded by Columbia Basin Trust. My work with WKRAC includes the entire life cycle of each grant, from the initial consultation with applicants to the completion of projects. Mainly I engage directly with the public (both individuals and arts and culture organizations) in the Columbia Basin about the grants. I also build the applications for our annual intake, host grant workshops and take care of the ongoing administration for all grants throughout the year.

I also assist with organizing our annual Columbia Basin Culture Tour, plus take care of operations for the organization.

How did you come to call the Columbia Basin home?

I was raised in the Slocan Valley and lived there until I was 17. Next, I attended college on Vancouver Island and lived between British Columbia and the U.S. for the next 25 years. I returned to the Columbia Basin in 2015 to attend Selkirk College and have remained here ever since. 

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

In 2015 I enrolled in the Selkirk College jewellery program and studied metalsmithing. My art practice consists of the design, creation and sale of my work. 

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

The volume of artists in the region is inspiring. We should be proud of the concentration of full-time artists, as well as heritage organizations, in this area.

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

My advice to anyone living rurally is to broaden their audience. The summer markets are amazing for our local makers, but a broader customer base outside of the Basin is the most effective way to pursue a financially viable business and career in the area. Also, participate in local grant funding opportunities!

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

The future of arts, culture and heritage in the Basin is in the hands of the practising artists and the organizations that house locally made products in the area. We need to support museums, galleries, event venues and local makers. My hope is that more people will shop locally in order to support our communities within the Basin, especially now that there is instability in our trade relations with the U.S. 

Each year, the public is invited to explore and enjoy studios, galleries, museums, events and more through the free, self-directed Columbia Basin Culture Tour. We invite you to become one of the essential stops!

This year, the tour takes place:

• August 9 and 10, 2025
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Register now if you’re an artist, or an organization or venue focused on arts, culture and heritage, anywhere in the Columbia Basin. Your venue will receive a listing in the 2025 Culture Tour brochure, a profile on our website and a social media spotlight; our tour promotions help you extend the reach of your cultural practice!

Ensure your spot now:

• Early bird rate ($50): register by March 23, 2025.
• Regular rate ($60): register by March 31, 2025.

View venue terms and conditions here.

NEW THIS YEAR!

There will be one-step registration. Therefore, prepare to have all your information and photos on hand when you register. If need be, you can adjust your information up until the registration deadline of March 31, 2025.

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 before you register

• 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 each artist registers separately, you each get your own listing—simply make sure the venue location information remains the same for everyone. If you register as one collective venue, you get one listing in the Culture Tour brochure and website.
• 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

For more information, contact [email protected] or 250-352-2421.

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. The deadline to apply is March 23 (early bird) or March 31, 2025 (final).

What’s new this year

• There will be one-step registration. Therefore, prepare to have all your information and photos on hand when you register.
  • Note: In 2024, we divided registration into two steps to allow for increased time to consider venue details. This year, we’re giving you advance notice so you can consider your details before you register. If need be, you can adjust your information up until the registration deadline of March 31, 2025.
• 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 each artist registers separately, you each get your own listing—simply make sure the venue location information remains the same for everyone. If you register as one collective venue, you get one listing in the Culture Tour brochure and website.
• 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.