West Kootenay Regional Arts Council

KOOTENAY COMEDY OPEN MIC
2025-02-12 20:00 - 23:30 (America/Vancouver) | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
Hosted by lil’ Mikey, its an open mic Comedy night!
To sign up come early or message kootenaycomedy on instagram!
$5

Visual Exploration Club (Ages 13+)
2025-02-13 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-02-20 15:30 - 16:30 | VISAC Gallery, 1501 Cedar Avenue, Trail, V1R 2J5
About Visual Exploration Club (VEC):
Students can expect to learn about other artists, experiment with various materials, and make mistakes. Each participant receives a sketchbook to track their skill development in a wide range of materials such as drawing, painting, printmaking and 3-dimensional art.
This session is for ages 13+, or secondary students in grades 8-12.
If your child is 16 or older, they can also participate in adult classes such as pottery workshops or any drop-in groups.
Workshop Dates:
Thursday afternoons
January 9 – June 5, 2025 (20 sessions)
3:30pm-4:30pm
No class during SD20 Spring Break; March 20 & 27, 2025
Minimum 5 students, with a maximum of 12.
Class Fee:
$200 per participant
All supplies are provided
Where:
VISAC Gallery – Under the red gallery awning
1501 Cedar Ave, Trail
Lower Level of Selkirk Building
Register here:
https://revenue-can.keela.co/visual-exploration-club-january-june-2025-ages-13
About the instructor:
Erin has a BFA in Studio Arts from UVic and a Masters of Illustration from Falmouth University. Her classes focus on process-based activities that don’t have a set outcome, fostering creativity and a low pressure environment, encouraging exploration and making mistakes!
If you have any questions, reach out to info@visacgallery.com

Fall into Fall FREE Thursday evenings
2025-02-13 16:00 - 20:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
The Nelson Museum is open late on Thursdays and admission is FREE from 4-8pm. Explore the new gallery exhibitions — A Crack in the Mirror in Gallery A and Within This Earthen Vessel in Gallery B — discover the region’s history in the 2nd Floor Museum Exhibit, and shop work from over 120 local artists in the Gift Shop.

Apres FREE! Thursday evenings
2025-02-13 16:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-20 16:00 - 20:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
The days are shorter but the Nelson Museum is open longer! Thursdays from 4-8pm is FREE admission to the galleries, museum and Shop, where you can explore the newest exhibitions, learn about local history, and shop over 100 local artists!

Guided Cold War Bunker tours
2025-02-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
During the height of the Cold War, in the 1950s and 1960s, nearly 50 bunkers were constructed across Canada. In 2017, the Nelson Museum began work on restoring the space and opening it to the public. You can join a tour of one of the Museumʼs best-loved spaces!
From iodine pills and Geiger counters to board games and ashtrays, visitors get a glimpse of the vast measures taken to create normalcy in an extraordinary time.
Email info@nelsonmuseum.ca to register. Adult admission required – children under 18 are always free!

Learn to Make an Axe Block
2025-02-15 12:00 - 15:00 | Blewett, Nelson, BC, V1L 6X1, Canada
In this 3 hour workshop I will teach you to make your own axe block that is the perfect working height for you. The axe block is the mini work bench of the carving world. A simple but very functional piece of portable equipment that is necessary for an enjoyable carving experience. A properly sized axe block can make the difference between a sore body at the end of a session or not. We will cover mostly axe and saw work in this class.
This course is perfect for everyone, especially those that are total beginners and have perhaps never used an axe or knife to carve before. You will learn the confidence to handle sharp tools safely and by the end will be ready to do with your own home carving station.

Open Mic
2025-02-15 19:00 - 22:00 | Slocan Lake Arts Centre, 408 Lake Avenue, Silverton, BC, V0G 1S0
Hosted by Jeff Bonner, this licensed evening of performances will be a delight and full of surprises! Come to play, or simply to enjoy the local talents.
Event takes place in our Slocan Lake Arts Center: 408 4th Street, Silverton BC
This happens every 3rd Saturday of the month!

The Bad Art Bonanza | Youth Workshop
2025-02-16 10:30 - 14:30 | 320 Wilson St., Revelstoke
Calling all creative and curious youth ages 12–17—are you ready to dive into the world of messy, hands-on, experimental art? Forget about perfection and polished masterpieces; these half-day classes are all about the experience of making art! This class is perfect for those who feel unsure of what to make, those that struggle with perfection, and those who just want to have fun.
These classes take an unconventional approach to creativity, championing exploration and curiosity. You’ll explore strange, messy, and playful activities that go beyond just paint and composition. From experimental techniques to playful destruction, this is your chance to embrace the chaos and make some bad art. Come hang out, we have snacks.
“Break it to Make it” – February 9
– OR –
“The Bad Art Bonanza” – February 16
– Sunday, 10:30am – 2:30pm
– $40 per session, all materials provided
– Students can choose to take one, or both sessions
– Ages 12 – 17
– Some snacks will be provided (Courtesy of Save On), however students will still need a packed lunch
– RVAC Jailhouse Studios, 320 Wilson st.

Newkeys Place presents, Blues in The Afternoon with Sam Hurrie
2025-02-16 16:00 - 19:00 | New Key’s Pub, 16070 BC-3A, Crawford Bay, BC, V0B 1E0, Canada
Newkeys Place in Crawforbay presents, Blues in The Afternoon with Sam Hurrie, Like with friends.
Sundays 4-7

Penny Shades
2025-02-16 19:30 - 21:00 | The Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 5R2, Canada
Penny Shades is a four-piece alt-soul group from Nelson BC that makes music featuring three-part harmonies, dynamic lead vocals, and modern grooves with psychedelic flair. The band launched with their debut FACTOR-funded EP during the pandemic and have already found themselves sharing major stages, including Nelson’s International Mural Festival and the Kaslo Jazz Etc. Festival.
Their single ‘Way Back’ marked their CBC radio debut with plays across multiple programs and was featured by Exclaim! on both their Best New Canadian Music Spotify playlist and Show & Tell column. Their most recent single “Hard Lines’ has received considerable CBC airtime and was included in Billboard’s New and Upcoming Canadian Album Releases.
Led by vocalist Sarah Orton, alongside guitarist Jesse Lee, keys/synth Jeremy Sauer, and drummer Ness Benamran, the group released their Creative BC-supported second EP release in June 2024.
The Capitol Theatre

Family Day at the Revelstoke Railway Museum
2025-02-17 10:00 - 18:00 | 719 Track St W, 719 Track St W, Revelstoke, BC
The Railway Museum will be open on Monday, February 17th from 10 am until 6 pm to celebrate family day!
We will have a special scavenger hunt, movies throughout the day, games set out, and more. Check for more details as we approach the day!
Check out the Railway Museum website for further details. www.revelstokerailwaymuseum.org/family-day

re:source – making materials matter
2025-02-18 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-19 12:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-20 12:00 - 16:00 | VISAC Gallery, 1501 Cedar Avenue, Trail, V1R 2J5
re:source is an exhibition of creative re-imagining, the act of finding and using materials over again or for a purpose not originally intended. We often think of “resources” as the things we have, but re-sourcing in this context implies the active process of discovery and reinvention.
Exhibition Dates: January 23-March 6, 2025
Opening Reception: January 28, 2025 @ 6:00pm-8:30pm
Join us for an evening of light refreshments. Artists in attendance.
Evening Hours: March 5, 2025
Intermission hours during the Bailey’s Performance Series.
Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Thursday @ 12:00pm-4:00pm
Do you have a group looking to attend outside of gallery hours? Contact us at info@visacgallery.com to discuss group visits and field trips.

Visual Exploration Club (Ages 5-8)
2025-02-18 15:30 - 16:30 | VISAC Gallery, 1501 Cedar Avenue, Trail, V1R 2J5
About Visual Exploration Club (VEC):
Students can expect to learn about other artists, experiment with various materials, and make mistakes. Each participant receives a sketchbook to track their skill development in a wide range of materials such as drawing, painting, printmaking and 3-dimensional art.
This session is for ages 5-8, or primary students in grades K-3.
Workshop Dates:
Tuesday afternoons
January 7 – June 3, 2025 (20 sessions)
3:30pm-4:30pm
No classes during SD20 Spring Break; March 18 & 25, 2025
Minimum 5 students, with a maximum of 12.
Class Fee:
$200 per participant
All supplies are provided
Where:
VISAC Gallery – Under the red gallery awning
1501 Cedar Ave, Trail
Lower Level of Selkirk Building
Register here:
https://revenue-can.keela.co/visual-exploration-club-january-june-2025-ages-5-8
About the instructor:
Erin has a BFA in Studio Arts from UVic and a Masters of Illustration from Falmouth University. Her classes focus on process-based activities that don’t have a set outcome, fostering creativity and a low pressure environment, encouraging exploration and making mistakes!
If you have any questions, reach out to info@visacgallery.com

Old Man Luedecke w/ guests
2025-02-18 20:00 - 23:30 | Spiritbar, 422 Vernon St, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4E5

Visual Exploration Club (Ages 9-12)
2025-02-19 15:30 - 16:30 | VISAC Gallery, 1501 Cedar Avenue, Trail, V1R 2J5
About Visual Exploration Club (VEC):
Students can expect to learn about other artists, experiment with various materials, and make mistakes. Each participant receives a sketchbook to track their skill development in a wide range of materials such as drawing, painting, printmaking and 3-dimensional art.
This session is for ages 9-12, or intermediate students in grades 4-7.
Workshop Dates:
Wednesday afternoons
January 8 – June 4, 2025 (20 sessions)
3:30pm-4:30pm
No classes during SD20 Spring Break; March 19 & 26, 2025

Minimum 5 students, with a maximum of 12.
Class Fee:
$200 per participant
All supplies are provided
Where:
VISAC Gallery – Under the red gallery awning
1501 Cedar Ave, Trail
Lower Level of Selkirk Building
Register here:
https://revenue-can.keela.co/visual-exploration-club-january-june-2025-9-12
About the instructor:
Erin has a BFA in Studio Arts from UVic and a Masters of Illustration from Falmouth University. Her classes focus on process-based activities that don’t have a set outcome, fostering creativity and a low pressure environment, encouraging exploration and making mistakes!
If you have any questions, reach out to info@visacgallery.com

Still Life workshop with Amelia Ford
2025-02-20 13:00 - 17:00 | Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery, 502 Vernon Street, Nelson, V1L 4E7, Canada
Amelia Ford facilitates this 2-part workshop on still life painting techniques. Bring your own objects to paint or use the items on hand. Pre-registration is required and is $50+GST for non-members and $40+GST for Museum members, all painting materials are provided. Space is limited so register early! Register here.
Born and raised in Nelson, Ford graduated from LV Rogers Secondary in 2018 and completed her Bachelor of fine Arts at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in 2022. She has participated in exhibitions throughout the Southern Interior as well as in New York, where she currently lives and works, and is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts degree.Read more about Amelia’s exhibition Vessels (Feb 15-May 24, 2025) here.

Rosa Good Live at Backroads Brewing
2025-02-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Backroads Brewing, 460 Baker St, Nelson, BC, V1L4H8, Canada
Rosa Good brings an enchanting blend of mesmerizing vocals and uplifting folky guitar. Soulful, heartfelt, and captivating songs, with honest lyrics and compelling hooks that will have you singing along. Rosa’s performance is intertwined with inspiration from both bonnie Scotland and New Zealand. She has years of experience creating a captivating show; including several intimate sell-out gigs, and performances on the big stage at Burning Horse Festival 2023 & 2024 and Ripe Festival 2024 (NZ). Come on down to Backroads and enjoy her unique style while you sips on tasty craft beer.

Family Friendly Paint Night – Fox – By Gilbert Studios
2025-02-20 18:00 - 21:00 | Gilbert Studios, 3364 Southridge Drive, Castlegar, BC, V1N 4G1, Canada
Come join me for a fun evening and we will paint this fantastic fox! ?
?Date: Thursday February 20th
⏰Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
?Location: 3364 Southridge Drive
?Cost: $40 or bring a friend and pay $75 for both of you
(must be paid together)
Etransfer to hold your spot please message me for details.
A great way to enjoy a creative night out with friends, and family!
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, this event is designed to be fun and accessible for everyone! All the materials you need: brushes, paints and canvas plus a tasty snack and warm beverage will be provided.
FAMILY FRIENDLY. You are welcome to bring a child (recommended age 12+) but as long as they are focused, able to follow directions and sit for the full duration of the class they are welcome to attend! Ratio of one adult per child.
Warm drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) and a light snack will be provided, please let me know if you have any food allergies.
https://www.facebook.com/StudioPaintNight/
Studio is located in Castlegar, British Columbia

COLDSMOKE’S STELLAR FILM COMPETITION
2025-02-20 19:00 - 23:00 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
Got an epic story to tell? A shot that needs to be shared? An awesome trick that deserves an “ooh” and an “ahh”? We want you to capture your fun, unexpected, and stellar moments this winter to share with our community!

Enter your film into the Stellar Film Competition, with prize winning categories for Best Overall Film, Best Edit, Best Cinematography, Best Storytelling, and People’s Choice! Films will premiere on the big screen at The Royal on February 20, 2025 to kick off Coldsmoke.

Oh, and did we mention that Best Overall Film wins two seats for a day with Stellar Heliskiing? Plus, YETI is adding some serious prizing to amp up the stoke. Now’s the time to go all out!

Shane Koyczan
2025-02-20 19:30 - 22:00 | The Capitol Theatre, 421 Victoria Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 5R2, Canada
There seems no shortage of adjectives to describe a Shane Koyczan show. Moving, hilarious, challenging, provocative, or inspirational. Take your pick. Here is a writer that takes you on a tour of your own feelings in a way that leaves you grasping for your own heart just to make sure it’s still in your chest. His work has become a staple in schools for both its impact and reach. Shane curates a kind of art gallery that displays sculptures of the human experience each time he speaks. Lauded for his sold out live performances Koyczan has carved out his own artistic path and taken his work beyond the conventional.
The Capitol Theatre
Adult: $35; Senior: $31.50; Under 30: $20
https://www.shanekoyczan.com

Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest
2025-02-21 09:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-22 08:30 - 21:00 | Whitewater Ski Resort, Whitewater Ski Hill Rd, Nelson BC, V1L 5R3, Canada
Kootenay Coldsmoke Powderfest is an annual celebration of ski and snowboard culture. This grassroots flagship festival features clinics, competitions, and ski-themed arts and culture programming both in Nelson and at Whitewater.
Coldsmoke brings together a community with a shared passion for winter sport. Through a curated collection of competitions, backcountry education, arts and culture, storytelling, and clinics, we aim to connect, educate, and inspire.
It’s a chance to expand your skills, bridge connections, and immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscape that surrounds us. The spirit of Coldsmoke stays with you long after the weekend ends.
Join us at Coldsmoke, where the slopes are our canvas, and the spirit of skiing and snowboarding takes center stage.

5 Broken Cameras film screening feat. talk by Palestinian solidarity activist
2025-02-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Nelson United Church, 602 Silica Street, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4N1, Canada
Join Nelson 4 Palestine to watch the multi-award winning documentary 5 Broken Cameras; an extrodinary work of cinematic and political activism. It features a deeply personal, first-hand account of non-violent resistance in Bil’in; a West Bank village threatened by encroaching Israeli settlements.

The evening will also feature a talk by a local activist about her experience visiting the Occupied West Bank last fall where she volunteered to provide protective presence with Faz3a.

Doors open at 5:30pm – Talk starts at 7pm

Suggested donation of $20pwyc

All funds raised will be slipt between the Autonomous Sinixt, our sponsored children in Gaza, and the Tulkarem Refugee Camp in the Occupied West Bank.

For tickets: email nelson4palestine@gmail.com or at the door.

L’OMELETTE with HONEYDRIPPER
2025-02-21 21:00 - 23:30 | The Royal, 330 Baker Street Nelson, BC V1L 4H5, Nelson, British Columbia, V1L 4H5, Canada
L’omelette weaves soul, jazz and punk into colourful, honest, genre-fluid tapestries. The Calgary art-rockers dart between prog and new-wave rock rhythms and synth-led dance pop, tethered by commanding melodies and current concepts. Meg Benedict’s vocal, sax and synth stylings are underpinned by guitarist Alex Klipper’s thoughtful and driving riffs; Matthew Lowe’s infectiously melodic bass lines; and Peter Cormier’s diamond-cut drumming and backup vocals. With them, there’s always something vivacious, heady, danceable and thought-provoking to chew on.
Honeydripper (aka Steven Gevenich) is an Edmonton based producer, musician, and DJ. A guitarist by trade, he has spent well over a decade heavily involved in live music, taking inspiration and experience from a diverse background in jazz, funk, and roots music. However a love for dance music and underground culture sparked the way to a solo house music project in the spring of 2017. Honeydripper’s productions are a medley of lush chords, dusty drum samples, sultry vocal hooks, deep bass lines, and worldly percussion, all carefully detailed with a signature emotion and subtlety. Add a touch of lo-fi and you get warm and cozy house beats designed for long summer nights and early morning dance floors.

DJ Civillian [Vancouver] – Live in Nelson
2025-02-21 22:00 - 2025-02-22 02:00 | Finley’s Bar $ Grill, 705 Vernon St, Nelson, BC, V1L 4G3, Canada
Civillian [Vancouver]
– Shambhala / Bass Coast / Wicked Woods –
Eclectic is an understatement when trying to describe the sound of Civillian. While always staying true to his roots in Hip Hop, his taste and collection have expanded exponentially to allow him to become a party-rocking chameleon – no situation outside of his scope. Beside his proven taste and wide range in selection, his ability to integrate elements of Turntablism into a dance-floor friendly set is what separates him from other DJ’s. Whether it’s the main stage, an impromptu sunrise set, house party or underground rave, Civillian is always prepared.
Venue: Finley’s Bar & Grill
PK Sound by Live Harmonics
Supporting Acts:
Fluxo & Dubconscious
Luminesce
Wax Headroom
Doors 10pm
First tickets $10

Write Off the Bat!
2025-02-22 09:00 - 2025-02-23 17:00 | Taghum Hall, 5915 Taghum Hall Rd, Nelson, V1L 6Y4
Taghum Hall invites writers to come out of the garret and into something more convivial on the weekend of February 22 and 23. Write Off the Bat! is an on-site, theme-based writing marathon, a juried competition, and a chance to hang with fellow writers—and get fed! The weekend’s supportive environment includes morning pep-talks from celebrated local authors, a delicious lunch each day, plus snacks, coffee and tea—and a chance to win prizes. Advance registration is required. More information and the registration link can be found at www.taghumhall.ca/events
