West Kootenay Regional Arts Council

Creston - Skill Share: Visible Mending + Creative Alteration
2026-05-23 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Vancouver) | Creston Valley Public Library, 531 16 Ave S, Creston, BC, V0B 1G5
Join us for an afternoon of community, crafty mending, and thoughtful discussion.
SkillShare Saturday events are built around the idea that everybody is an expert at something, and we all benefit when we have opportunities to learn from one another. These creative mending events welcome folks at all skill levels to bring their projects and either seek advice and tips or show off their skills a little bit. We often end up helping one another problem solve a tricky mend or get inspired to finally tackle those little tasks that never seem to reach the top of the to-do list.
We will have a selection of essential supplies on hand, but if your project requires something very specific, it’s probably best to bring it along. We will also have some reference resources available to help us with the technical questions.
This is an adult programming event. All experience levels welcome & kids accompanied by a participating adult are welcome.

Rossland - Tonye Aganaba
2026-05-23 19:00 - 22:00 (America/Vancouver) | Rossland Miners Hall, 1765 Columbia Ave, Rossland, British Columbia, V0G 1Y0, Canada
We’re pleased to welcome Tonye Aganaba to Rossland for a rescheduled performance as part of our May Music & More series. After an earlier cancellation during Blizzard Music Festival, this upcoming show offers a chance to finally experience Tonye’s powerful and intimate live performance.
An interdisciplinary artist and musician, Tonye Aganaba blends elements of soul, neo-folk, funk, hip-hop, and R&B into a dynamic and fluid sound. Their work is known for creating deeply connected live experiences that invite reflection, vulnerability, and engagement.
Based on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, Tonye is also an active community organizer and advocate, bringing a thoughtful and grounded presence to both their artistic and community work.

Rossland - Béton Armé + local guests
2026-05-26 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Vancouver) | The Flying Steamshovel Inn & Gastropub, 2003 2nd Ave, Rossland, BC, V0G1Y0, Canada
Béton Armé is a punk/oi! band founded in 2018. Having become a fixture on the global punk scene, the band stands out for its original music, with driving rhythms and haunting choruses, as well as its universally celebrated live performances. The band’s numerous live performances all over North America and Europe have attracted the attention of the punk sphere around the world. Having spent much of 2026 on the road already, the band will hit Western Canada for a few selected dates including 4 shows in British Columbia.
Béton Armé hits the stage in Rossland at The Flying Steamshovel on May 26, 2026, for an evening with support from local guests Reality Trap.
May 26 – 8pm – $20
The Flying Steamshovel
2003 2nd Avenue, Rossland BC V0G 1Y0
Listen to Béton Armé here: https://betonarmeoimtl.bandcamp.com/
Buy your ticket here: https://theflyingsteamshovel.tickit.ca/events/33708-beton-arme-w-guests

Procter - Our Side: photodocumentary of people of Harrop-Procter
2026-05-29 17:00 - 2026-06-02 19:00 (America/Vancouver) | Procter Hall
Ursula Heller has been documenting the people and events in Harrop, Sunshine Bay and Procter since 1988. This exhibition is collection of 500 B&W photos showing the community to itself and the surrounding Kootenays.
Excerpt from her invitation:
The exhibition shows the collective life of our side of the Harrop Ferry from Harrop to Procter Point. The intention of this huge undertaking is for locals to connect and reconnect, old-timers and new-comers, getting to know each other and share stories. Over the last 38 years I have photographed people in their homes, at Markets, Protests, Memorials, Weddings, Info Evenings. I’ve photographed Farmers, our Community Forest, Loggers, Roadbuilders, the Harrop Sawmill, Bingo, Pickleball and Ping Pong, and so much more.
Opening May 29th: 5 – 9 pm
May 30th & 31st: 10 am – 5 pm
June 1st & 2nd: 10 am – 7pm

Rossland - Cara Luft
2026-05-29 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Vancouver) | Rossland Miners Hall, 1765 Columbia Ave, Rossland, British Columbia, V0G 1Y0, Canada
We’re pleased to welcome Cara Luft back to Rossland as part of our May Music & More series, touring her new album My Heart Will Always Be. A Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter and musician, Cara is widely recognized as one of Canada’s most respected voices in folk and roots music.
Known for her warmth, authenticity, and exceptional musicianship, Cara’s live performances combine strong songwriting with engaging storytelling and a natural stage presence. Her new album marks her first solo release in over a decade and reflects a deeply personal and confident body of work.
A founding member of The Wailin’ Jennys and one half of The Small Glories, Cara brings a wealth of experience and a distinctive voice that continues to resonate with audiences across the country.

Nelson - Reality Trap + Tolerance + Physicalist at The Royal
2026-05-30 20:00 - 23:30 (America/Vancouver) | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
Reality Trap + Tolerance + Physicalist at The Royal

REALITY TRAP, a Kootenay-based rock band known regionally for its penchant for high-volume performances, will return to the stage on May 29 and 30 with shows in Vernon and Nelson. As the band prepares to enter the studio to complete recording its debut full-length album, it will be joined for the occasion by TOLERANCE (Vernon) and PHYSICALIST, a new group featuring members from Québec and British Columbia. Tickets for both events will be available at the door for $20.
Event Details:
Friday, May 29, 2026
Five Fathoms Tattoo
3313 31st Avenue, Vernon
8:00 PM — $20
&
Saturday, May 30, 2026
The Royal
330 Baker Street, Nelson
8:00 PM — $20
P.S. Please bring hearing protection.
Listen:
PHYSICALIST: https://dirtcultrecords.bandcamp.com/album/physicalist
REALITY TRAP: https://coupsurcoup.bandcamp.com/album/slocan

Castlegar - West Kootenay Camera Club: Annual Photography Salon
2026-06-04 17:00 - 2026-07-13 19:00 (America/Vancouver) | Kootenay Gallery of Art, 120 Heritage Way, Castlegar, BC, V1N 4M5, Canada
Coinciding with the celebrations of Castlegar SunFest, the West Kootenay Camera Club’s highly anticipated annual Photography Salon returns to the gallery from June 4 to June 13, 2026.
The Photography Salon has become one of the Gallery’s most popular and well-attended shows, drawing visitors from across the region. This dynamic exhibition showcases an impressive range of photographic work by talented West Kootenay photographers, celebrating not only the natural beauty of the region but also offering a rich visual experience with unique perspectives that reflects both technical skill and artistic vision.
Whether you are a photography enthusiast, an art lover, or simply looking to take in local culture during SunFest, the West Kootenay Camera Club’s Photography Salon promises an engaging and memorable experience.
Location: Kootenay Gallery of Art
Dates: June 4 – June 13 2026
Opening Reception: June 4 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Admission: By Donation

Nelson - Artist Talk with Genevieve Robertson
2026-06-05 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Vancouver) | Oxygen Art Centre, 320 Vernon St Unit-3, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4E4, Canada
Join us on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM for an Artist Talk with Genevieve Robertson. The event is an extension of Robertson’s Fall 2025 residency at the artist-run centre to share the new body of work developed during this time.
Genevieve Robertson was artist-in-residence at Oxygen Art Centre from November 12, 2025, to December 20, 2025. Robertson works at the intersection of visual art and environmental studies. Her practice is grounded in drawing and painting, extending to video, installation, and various forms of collective work and collaboration. Through long-term place-based research projects, her work explores anthropogenic impacts on ecology and the climate, and the intelligence and interconnection of the life systems of which we are part.
This event is free to attend. Doors open at 5:45PM. The talk begins at 6:00PM and will include a short question and answer period at the conclusion of Robertson’s talk.
The Artist Talk will introduce Robertson’s artistic practice, as well as share process-based explorations from her residency and resultant exhibition at the Midlands Art Centre in the UK entitled “Under the Orange Sticks of the Sun,” currently on view this Spring 2026.
Robertson is also currently working with Oxygen Art Centre to offer an online mentorship program entitled “Hedge-rider” this Summer to three emerging, remotely located artists.

Winlaw - Beauchamp: Comedy by Aaron Pickett & Material Theatre
2026-06-05 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Vancouver) | Vallican Whole Community Centre, 3762 Little Slocan South Road, Vallican, British Columbia, V0G2J0, Canada
BEAUT BEAUCHAMP is The Coach. A straight talkin strategist of “the field”, who’ll rally your sorry self up off the bench and right into The Game.
A new play, written & performed by Aaron Pickett, with special guests. Produced Material Theatre, this is a reprise of the Whole’s Up Close show from April.
What if a college football coach went on a psychedelic adventure, discovered the meaning of the creative life, and was tasked with giving a team of artists a pre-game pep talk?
This one-act, a hybrid of stand up comedy and character performance, is a silly and profound examination of what makes an artist tick, reflecting on courage, communion, self-doubt and perserverence, the battle against artificial intelligence and disposable “content” culture, and the enduring human impulse to create and iterate.
If you were at the New Works Cabaret last October, you may have seen an excerpt from this show.
Tickets available at @Rambling Rose in Winlaw, or at the door – $20-25.
We need a few volunteers to help at the door and in the kitchen – you get in for free! Contact us to help out!

Creston - Screening of 'Silver Screamers': doc, short film, Q&A
2026-06-06 13:00 - 15:30 (America/Vancouver)
Join us in celebrating National Intergenerational Day with a free screening of the documentary Silver Screamers about a group of seniors who made a short horror movie together. We will also screen their movie, The Rug.
This event will be co-hosted by Ashlene Chadburn, Seniors Community Connector with Valley Community Services.
Always free to attend, no registration required, and we always have free popcorn!

Cranbrook - Outsiderness Documentary Screening
2026-06-10 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | College of the Rockies, 2700 College Way, Cranbrook, BC, Canada

Golden -Summer Kicks in Golden BC!
2026-06-17 19:00 - 2026-08-19 21:00 (America/Vancouver) | various locations
Every summer, the world comes to play in Golden, and so does the community at Summer Kicks.
Presented by Kicking Horse Culture, Summer Kicks is a FREE outdoor concert series featuring touring artists from across Canada alongside amazing local performers. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy live music, dancing, and community under the mountain sky.
Weekly Events:
June 17th – Blaeberry Show with the Honky Tonk Collective
June 25th – Parson Show with Dixie Fried Hep Katz and local Tweener Robbie Banks
The following shows all take place in town at Keith King Memorial Park:
July 1 – LOCALS DAY! with the Jumping Rodents and youth Tweeners Maya Balon, Jake Pawley, and Finni Jobin
July 8 – Mbira Renaissance Band with local Tweener the Travelling Blaeberries
July 15 – Oktopus with local Tweener the Parson Jazz Cooperative
July 22 – Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz with local Tweener Colin Shields
July 29 – Madeleine Roger with local Tweener Sarah Osadetz
August 5 – Cousin Harley with local Tweener Whiskey Jack
August 12 – Tim Sars Band with local Tweener Jubilee Mountain
August 19 – Miesha and the Spanks with local Tweener Nathan Turner & the Echo Rangers

Shows at other locations:
June 17 – Blaeberry Show at Hillside Lodge & Chalets (1740 Seward Frontage Rd, Golden, BC),
June 25th – Parson Show at Parson Community Recreation Park (3612 Highway 95, Parson)

Nelson - Reclaim: KSA Ceramics Year End Show
2026-06-19 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Vancouver) | KSA – Selkirk College, 606 Victoria Street, NELSON
The KSA Ceramics Year End Show – RECLAIM will showcase the skills and progress of the 2025-2026 ceramics cohort, celebrating this major milestone in their education and the transition for the new KSA.
Open to the entire community, the RECLAIM show will feature work from both first and second year students. Ceramic mugs, bowls, plates, vases, jars and other objects will be on display to admire and purchase.
Friday, June 19th 4 – 8 pm
Saturday, June 20th 10 am – 4 pm
606 Victoria Street
In addition to this year’s student showcase, an alumni & faculty silent auction will take place. With proceeds going towards the new Kootenay School of the Arts Society.

Nelson - Forty Words for Yes at the Graine
2026-06-21 14:00 - 16:30 (America/Vancouver) | the Graine, 1106 Seventh Street, Nelson, BC, Canada
A presentation of the musical installation of 40-part choral work, Forty Words for Yes, at the Graine townhouse complex in Nelson. It will be outdoors on the lawn at the Graine entrance.
The recording of Forty Words for Yes features 40 multi-ethnic singers, each singing a word that translates to ‘yes’ in their mother tongue. The singers in the recording were from as far away as New Zealand.
The presentation will be an unusual 8-track surround-sound setup. Eight speaker stands will be set up in a circle. On each is a sound system that plays a recording of only one quintet. Hearing all eight speaker systems creates the 40-voice effect.
Each speaker stand will display a banner by one of the renowned Kootenay artists, Alf Crossley.
Free admission.

Many locations - 2026 Columbia Basin Culture Tour
2026-08-08 10:00 - 2026-08-09 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | various locations throughout the entire Columbia Basin region
August 8 & 9, 2026 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — time of day is local to the region (MST/PST)
Each year, the tour invites you to:

meet people behind the scenes at galleries and museums
visit studios and venues not normally open to the public
shop for original art or fine crafts
enjoy special events.

Self-directed and free of charge, the tour features the work of skilled local artists and fascinating cultural and heritage sites.
Find the venue directory here

Creston Clay Fest
2026-08-15 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Edmonton) | Eversfield Ceramics, 1522 Airport Road, Creston
Local Potters invite the public to learn, play, and explore the world of ceramics. Refreshments and interactive kids table available throughout the day. Fun for all ages!
