Category: Art Scene

GET THE LATEST INFO, ASAP To stay up to date with what’s essential and interesting when it comes to arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin, follow us on social media. We’ll connect you with industry news, events to enjoy, artist profiles, granting opportunities and more!FACEBOOKINSTAGRAM

HERITAGE-FOCUSED WEBINARSHeritage BC webinars help practitioners and communities enhance skills, expand knowledge and strengthen capacity to steward heritage in the province. See the current offerings. READ MORE HOW DOES AI AFFECT CULTURE? Recently, participants at the first National Summit on Artificial Intelligence and Culture came together to discuss a shared vision for the future of culture in the age of AI. Mass Culture compiled some reflections. READ MOREREAD MORE NEWS STORIES HERE FEATURED IN ARTICULATECOMING THIS WEEKEND: KOOTENAY CHILDREN’S FESTIVALSince 1986, the Kootenay Children’s Festival has been entirely free and entirely fabulous. “According to my research we’re the longest-running free children’s festival in Canada,” says Key City Theatre executive director Galen Olstead. READ MORE ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: JOEL HARDING’S “ALPINE FORCES” “Alpine Forces” is Cranbrook resident Joel Harding’s debut solo exhibition, featuring a series of paintings that seek to render the oppositional characteristics that define a mountain. Motion so immense it can only be perceived as stillness. READ MORE ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: CAREER TIPS FOR RURAL AND REMOTE (DANCE) ARTISTS How can a dance artist living in a rural or remote community develop a strong artistic career? A question like this is particularly apt in a region like the Columbia Basin—and a recent online conversation helped participants consider the answers. READ MORE METAL ARTS GUILD OF THE SLOCAN VALLEY To respond to West Kootenay metal artisans and craftspeople looking for opportunities for classes and mentorship, Winlaw-based metalworker Jen McCaw created the Metal Arts Guild of the Slocan Valley. READ MOREREAD MORE ARTICULATE STORIES HERE SELECT EVENTS IN THE REGIONCOLLAGE DROP-INCome on in and enjoy some stellar content to create unique, stunning papercraft works. (May 7, Nelson) READ MORE FAVOURITE PLACES “PAINT WITH ME”How would like to paint a scene from one of your favorite artists? Van Gogh, Group Of Seven, Min Ma, Bobbie Burgers, Cameron Bird… You can!  (ongoing, Invermere) READ MORE PAINT IT BLACK: ON OVERCOMING PERFECTIONThis online event is open to any artist who wishes to overcome the burden of perfection and make some really unusual work, in a safe and supportive environment. (May 15, online) READ MORE HAUTE TRASH! FASHION SHOW AND ART EXHIBITHave you ever looked at your trash bin and thought, “Wait, I could wear that!”? Well someone did, and they made it Trashtabulous! (May 16, Nelson) READ MORE HELP US BOOST YOUR EVENTS!List your arts, culture and heritage events on our online calendar, so we can help spread the word! READ MORESEE ALL EVENT LISTINGS HEREThank you to our funders:

It’s busy times in arts, culture & heritage!

March 2026Artist credit: Kristine McGuintyNEWSREGISTRATION DEADLINE APPROACHESJoin us during the tour! To become one of the essential stops of the 2026 Columbia Basin Culture Tour, register by March 31. READ MORE

CKCA APPLICATIONS DUERemember to submit your CKCA application by this Friday (for all programs except Community Grants, which is already closed). READ MORE IT’S NOT OUR EVENTS CALENDAR—IT’S YOURSSubmit your arts, culture or heritage event to our online calendar and we’ll help spread the word beyond your usual audiences. Here’s why you should do it and how to go about it. READ MORE KOOTENAY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS: UPDATEInterested in what might be happening to the Kootenay School of the Arts building in Nelson? A feasibility study was recently presented to Nelson City Council. Here’s some coverage of what was discussed:Arts group seeks two years rent-free to transform Kootenay Studio Arts building, February 24, 2026 (Nelson Star)Community coalition presents case, and ask, for KSA building to city council, February 19, 2026 (Nelson News, Castanet)City of Nelson Committee of the Whole Meeting, February 17, 2026 (starting at the 53-minute mark) HAVE YOUR SAYThe Canada Council for the Arts is developing its next strategic plan, which will guide its work from 2026 to 2031. Complete its questionnaire by March 11 to share your input, and make sure rural voices are heard! READ MORE EQUITY IN PRACTICE FOR NON-PROFITSImagine Canada and HR Intervals have launched two new guides to help non-profits assess their equity practices, strengthen accountability and embed inclusion across their work. READ MOREREAD MORE NEWS STORIES HERE BEHIND THE SCENESQ&A WITH PAT HENMAN, BOARD MEMBERTo help arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin thrive, we rely on a dedicated team of board and steering committee members. Here, meet Pat Henman, WKRAC board member. READ MORE FEATURED IN ARTICULATEFOOTLIGHTERS THEATRE: 30 SEASONS AND COUNTINGSince 1995, Creston’s Footlighters Theatre Society has transported audiences to places that they can only dream of visiting: An enchanted castle in France. A house made of gingerbread in a murky forest. The bridge of a starship in interstellar space. READ MORE ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: MICHAEL HEPHER: THE INFORMAL PATH Even the most intuitive self-taught artists sometimes need to shore up their efforts with knowledge to maximize their natural talent. READ MOREREAD MORE ARTICULATE STORIES HERE SELECT EVENTS IN THE REGIONSAPPHIRE GUTHRIE AND TENISE MARIA IN CONCERTTwo local artists combine for an evening of music excellence. (March 7, Balfour) READ MORE YEAR-LONG PLANT DYE JOURNEYThis in-person, year-long program meets once a month and offers participants the opportunity to build skills gradually while exploring a wide range of dye plants and processes. (starting March 9, Winlaw) READ MORE LOOT: ORIENTING TO MATTERThis three-day symposium in Nelson and Kaslo features Kootenay and Okanagan artists and writers who are exploring humanity’s current relationship to matter. (March 13 to 15, Nelson & Kaslo) READ MORE WKRAC PRESENTATION TO NELSON CITY COUNCILKallee Lins and Lily Andersen share grant program updates with Nelson City Council, highlighting recently funded projects and new initiatives. (March 17, Nelson & online) READ MORE ARTIST SOCIALSThese laid-back, no-pressure events are the perfect opportunity to connect with other creatives in the community, share ideas and socialize. (March 26, Revelstoke) READ MORE HELP US BOOST YOUR EVENTS!List your arts, culture and heritage events on our online calendar, so we can help spread the word! READ MORE SEE ALL EVENT LISTINGS HERE Thank you to our funders:

February 2026Artist credit: Kristine McGuintyNEWSBECOME AN ESSENTIAL CULTURE TOUR STOP! Registration is now open to become a venue in the 2026 Columbia Basin Culture Tour. You’ll extend the reach of your cultural practice—and enjoy a fun weekend! READ MORE

APPLY NOW FOR ARTS & CULTURE GRANTS The CKCA granting period is open. Register ASAP for the final online Q&A session on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Application deadlines are Feb. 20 and March 6, 2026, depending on the program. READ MORE FEASIBILITY STUDY UNDER WAY FOR KOOTENAY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS BUILDING Nearly three months have passed since the students and instructors at Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson were informed that Selkirk College would be discontinuing its programs in ceramics, textiles and metal. Here’s an update on what has happened since. READ MORE TOPOGRAPHY OF DANCE IN CANADA WITH SOPHIE DOWIn Dance West Network’s Feb. 10 workshop for dance artists working outside Vancouver, participants will learn how to align their work with available resources and about steps to get their careers even more in motion. READ MORE CAREER OPPORTUNITY WITH HERITAGE BCHeritage BC is seeking a visionary and strategic executive director to lead BC’s province-wide heritage organization into its next chapter. Apply by Feb. 27. READ MOREREAD MORE NEWS STORIES HERE BEHIND THE SCENESQ&A WITH KARMELLE SPENCE-SING, WKRAC STAFF MEMBERTo help arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin thrive, we rely on a dedicated team of board and steering committee members—and great employees! Here, meet Karmelle Spence-Sing, WKRAC Social Media Coordinator / Articulate Circulation & Partnerships. READ MORE FEATURED IN ARTICULATEBACKCOUNTRY INSPIRATION: CARLYLE LODGE ARTIST RETREATIn September 2025, a group of visual artists embarked on a multi-day “artventure” to Carlyle Lodge near Sandon, where each artist was invited to capture plein air paintings, reference photos, natural journals or sketches that would then be developed into bigger studio work. READ MORE EDITORIAL: ART AND NATURE At its best, nature is a healer, an inspiration and a source of joy; at worst, an enemy, a fiend and a source of stress. How do we embrace that dichotomy without giving into despair or ignoring the realities of climate change, resource extraction and human folly? READ MORE ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: THE CIVIC THEATRE’S LONG INTERMISSION At the Civic Theatre in Nelson, the seats are gone, scaffolding fills the room and the familiar rhythm of showtimes has been replaced by silence—but when the theatre opens again, it will be something new and transformed. READ MORE ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: GOLDEN’S EMBERFEST EmberFest is a grassroots, volunteer-powered celebration of low-tech magic and high-spirited creativity. Everyone is invited to step through the portal! READ MOREREAD MORE ARTICULATE STORIES HERE SELECT EVENTS IN THE REGIONUNUSUAL ANGLES: OPEN ADJUDICATED ART EXHIBITCelebrate visual art and the Kootenays at Art Gallery Kimberley. (Opens Feb. 5, Kimberley) READ MORE BALLET JÖRGEN, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAMEnjoy the ballet version of William Shakespeare’s lighthearted, humorous and fun tale of love and often-misguided magic. (Feb. 18, Trail) READ MORE FLAX TO LINEN WORKSHOPExplore the full journey of flax—from plant to fibre to linen—in this hands-on workshop that brings the ancient craft of linen-making to life. (Feb. 21, Argenta) READ MORE A TRIBUTE TO THE SONGWRITERS OF THE 60S & 70S WITH THE PAUL ALLEN DUOCome out for a fun evening of laughter while you reminisce and sing along to classic covers with an artist that lived the era. (Feb. 21, Fauquier) READ MORE HELP US BOOST YOUR EVENTS!List your arts, culture and heritage events on our online calendar, so we can help spread the word! READ MORESEE ALL EVENT LISTINGS HEREThank you to our funders:

CKCA: APPLY NOW & JOIN US FOR A Q&A SESSION Do you have an idea for a project that focuses on arts and culture? Grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance could help. Apply by February 20, 2026, or March 6, 2026, depending on the program. Q&A sessions run online from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4; register now!Informational videos about each program are coming soon; follow us on Facebookor Instagram to learn when they’re posted.READ MORE

PLAN AHEAD FOR CULTURE TOUR It’s time to start thinking about a warm summer weekend: the 2026 Culture Tour. Check out our new registration discount for WKRAC members and read our questions and tips to consider what your venue might be like. \ MAKE THIS YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION As the new year begins, it’s a great time to resolve to get even more in touch with what’s happening in arts, culture and heritage around the Columbia Basin. How? Follow us on social media!  INSTAGRAMFACEBOOKWANTED: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CURATOR VISAC Gallery in Trail is seeking an Executive Director and Curator to provide overall operational leadership, make day-to-day decisions and do long-term planning and execution of all aspects of operation. Apply by Jan. 15.  READ MOREREAD MORE NEWS STORIES HEREBEHIND THE SCENESQ&A WITH DAVE RONALD, CKCA STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERTo help arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin thrive, we rely on a dedicated team of board and steering committee members. Here, meet Dave Ronald, CKCA Steering Committee Member.  READ MOREFEATURED IN ARTICULATEARTICULATE 2026 IS HERE!We’re excited to present the second annual edition of Articulate magazine! It’s your choice how to enjoy it:Pick up your print copy in one of hundreds of locations.Read the articles online.Read the issue in pdf format. SMALL TOWN SYNCHRONICITY: A MOVING CONTEMPLATION OF LIFE Be sure to check out the cover story about Nelson actor/producer Hiromoto Ida’s production of Vacant Lot, described by Ida as “Romeo and Juliet for seniors.”   READ MORESOPHIE BARBARICS AND ACACIA SCHACHTE: WORLD-CLASS TALENT DANCES INTO NELSONCanada’s Acacia Schachte and Hungary’s Sophie Barbarics are bringing the skills they’ve honed in multiple countries to audiences in Nelson and area and, especially, to students eager to learn.  READ MOREONLINE EXCLUSIVE: MICHAEL HEPHER: BUSY HANDS, CALM MINDSMichael Hepher is a full-time artist, printmaker and writer living and working in Fernie. Every other month, he’ll be contributing his thoughts about life as a rural artist and the cultural scene in the East Kootenay. Check out his first column for us.  READ MOREREAD MORE ARTICULATE STORIES HERESELECT EVENTS IN THE REGIONTHE KING OF SANDON BY GREG NESTEROFF BOOK LAUNCHThe King of Sandon: Murder, Myth, and the Man Behind B.C.’s Greatest Ghost Town is a full-length biography of John Morgan Harris, a mining magnate with a secret past and a complicated legacy. (Jan. 13, Nelson)  READ MORESLOCAN WINTER CARNIVALBy donation at Expo Park in Slocan, this event includes performers like Hannah Claire and Animus Roving Fire Spinning, plus activities like a snowman-building competition and a biochar workshop. (Jan. 17, Slocan)  READ MORECREATIVE WRITING FOUR-WEEK COURSEDive deep into the fundamentals of storytelling, whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills. (Starting Jan. 21, Revelstoke)  READ MOREWORKSHOP: MÉTIS-STYLE BEADED LEATHER MITTENSLearn to bead and hand sew a pair of beautiful Métis/Indigenous-style mittens. Some experience hand and machine sewing is helpful, but enthusiasm will work too! (Starting Jan. 31, Fernie) READ MOREHELP US BOOST YOUR EVENTS!List your arts, culture and heritage events on our online calendar, so we can help spread the word!  READ MORESEE ALL EVENT LISTINGS HEREThank you to our funders:

APPLY NOW FOR ARTS AND CULTURE GRANTS January 12, 2026 [FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: COLUMBIA BASIN] People and organizations in the Columbia Basin that would like to pursue arts and culture projects are invited to apply for grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA). The application period is now open, with deadlines on February 20 or March 6, 2026, depending on the program. CKCA 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 Basin. To learn more, visit wkartscouncil.com/ckca-funding. Before applying, applicants are encouraged to read full guidelines on the site and register for a question-and-answer session. Applications for all programs are submitted online.   Denise Baughan, Chair, CKCA “Arts and culture play a vital role in strengthening our communities. The CKCA board is deeply grateful to Columbia Basin Trust for its continued support of the arts, and we look forward to reviewing this year’s grant submissions. It is always inspiring to see the remarkable talent that exists throughout the Basin.” Christine Nichol, Manager, Delivery of Benefits, Columbia Basin Trust “Arts and culture help people connect to place, to one another, and to the stories that shape our region. Through CKCA programs, artists and organizations are creating opportunities for communities across the Basin to come together, express themselves, and celebrate local talent. We’re proud to support this work and to partner with the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council in ensuring arts and culture continue to thrive throughout the Columbia Basin.”   MEDIA CONTACT Lily Andersen Grants Officer / Operations Manager admin@wkartscouncil.com  250-352-2421

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December 2025Artist credit: Lori BodykNEWSJOIN US FOR A CKCA Q&A SESSION Do you have an idea for a project that focuses on arts and culture? To learn more about grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance, attend one of our online Q&A sessions. The program’s next intake opens January 12, 2026. READ MORE

TODAY IS GIVING TUESDAYOn this special day (or any day), donate to WKRAC. By directing your contribution to Articulate magazine, you’ll be helping us maximize the coverage and reach of the best of what’s going on in arts, culture and heritage around the Columbia Basin. Monthly or one-time donations are welcome, of any amount—and we issue charitable receipts. DONATE NOWWE LOVE OUR MEMBERS! In recognition of the people and organizations that support us by becoming WKRAC members, we have implemented a new online member directory. Here are the folks that have opted in so far. READ MORECALL FOR ARTISTS Apply by Dec. 12 for this opportunity, in which Basin artists are paired with newcomers to Canada. You will then use your chosen medium to depict the unique challenges, triumphs and realities of the migration process. READ MOREREAD MORE NEWS STORIES HERE BEHIND THE SCENESQ&A WITH ELAINE WIGLE, CKCA STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERTo help arts, culture and heritage in the Columbia Basin thrive, we rely on a dedicated team of board and steering committee members. Here, meet Elaine Wigle, CKCA Steering Committee Member. READ MORE FEATURED IN ARTICULATEACTSAFE: CREATING SAFELY Behind every creation in the arts and entertainment industry in British Columbia lies an essential foundation: safety. How can your organization proceed while prioritizing safe practices? Doryan Mash from Actsafe Safety Association provides advice. READ MORE HOW ART AND COMMUNITY RECOVERY INTERSECT Deb Borsos is both a pastel artist and a community recovery specialist. We caught up with her for a conversation about how she views the interplay between creative work and the task of community recovery. READ MOREREAD MORE ARTICULATE STORIES HERE SELECT EVENTS IN THE REGIONSTUDIO CONNEXION WINTER GROUP SHOWArt gifts are the type of presents that keep on giving. Discover fine artworks by more than 35 talented artists from across Canada. (ongoing to Dec. 23, Nakusp) READ MORE BASICS OF ANIMAL ILLUSTRATION: AGES 11–14Learn the basics of drawing from real life, taking inspiration from shelter animals and BC SPCA alumni. (Dec. 6, Castlegar) READ MORE IN RECENT MEMORY: NEW WORK FROM RECENT TRAVELSA one-day exhibit and sale of new pastel landscapes from travels over the last year by artist Deb Borsos of Argenta. (Dec. 6, Kaslo) READ MORE SALMO ARTVENTURE EXHIBITION & COMPETITIONThis show features painters, metal artists, wood artists, illustrators, glass artists, photographers and textile artists all vying for this year’s crown. (Jan. 10, Salmo) READ MORE HELP US BOOST YOUR EVENTS!List your arts, culture and heritage events on our online calendar, so we can help spread the word! READ MORESEE ALL EVENT LISTINGS HERE Thank you to our funders:FacebookInstagramWebsiteForward to a FriendCopyright © 2025 West Kootenay Regional Arts Council, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: West Kootenay Regional Arts CouncilPO Box 103Nelson, BC V1L 5P7CanadaAdd us to your address book 250-352-2421 / admin@wkartscouncil.com Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.