
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.