Today, August 1st, marks the first day of a new chapter for Kootenay School of the Arts.
We still have a few administrative hoops to jump through in the coming weeks, but we are closer than we’ve ever been!
As we step into this new era, we want to say thank you to [@selkirkcollege](https://www.instagram.com/selkirkcollege/) for its stewardship of the programs over the past 20 years, for keeping the lights on, the wheels turning, and supporting those generations of artists through their learning. So many of which are out there making, and thriving.
Now it’s the community’s turn.
Kootenay School of the Arts Society is small team with big passion, taking on a bold dream. Like any startup, it’s a tenuous beginning with a ton of moving parts.
We’ve already raised $55,000 toward our startup campaign, which means we are more than halfway to the goal we hope to reach before September programming begins. That is an incredible start, and every donation, every share, and every conversation helps bring us closer.
We need your help to make it happen.
If you wandered the streets during ArtWalk this summer…
If you squeezed your way through the crowds at MarketFest last weekend…
If your home is filled with handmade ceramics, textiles, furniture, jewelry….
Then you already know what this community is built on and why it matters.
Nelson has a history of coming together for the things that make this place uniquely ours. We have a knack for showing up for causes that make our town wonderfully, stubbornly itself.
We’ve protected heritage storefronts instead of replacing them. We’ve supported our farmers’ market through every move and growing pain. We rallied to find Cowboy! This community knows kindness and has fought for the independent businesses, galleries, festivals, and creative spaces that give our downtown, and our entire region, its character.
If you believe that creativity belongs here, that artists, makers and future generations deserve a place to learn and grow. We are asking you to support us now. Our immediate need for financial support will help us write the next chapter.
Please Donate. Share. Spread the word. Be part of keeping the arts thriving in the Kootenays.