In 2022, we consulted with the arts, culture and heritage community through an online survey and one-on-one interviews. Thank you to everyone who participated! Our board and staff also provided their input—and our consultant neatly wrapped all feedback into a well-thought-out plan that will guide us from 2023 to 2026.
Our vision is to see the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council act as a catalyst to build capacity in the creative ecology so that arts, culture and heritage thrive throughout the region. We do this by assisting those involved in arts, culture and heritage so they can carry out their activities more effectively through support like training, consultation and communication about resources available throughout the region and province.
Our ambitions are as follows:
We are the convenor/connector for the regional cultural sector.
We offer a comprehensive suite of programs and services that strengthen the regional arts community.
The Kootenay region is a source of world-class arts and culture.
We’re so excited about this news that we wanted to share it with you!
The Province is providing $30 million to support B.C.-based events. Through the B.C. Fairs, Festivals and Events fund, the government is providing one-time grants in response to challenges the sector is facing, such as loss of staffing and volunteers, supply-chain issues and a cautious return of audiences. Events between April 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2024, are eligible.
The deadline is March 3, 2023, so submit your application ASAP!
To stay on top of the latest news about arts, culture and heritage in the Kootenays, join us on social media!
You may already track our work through our monthly newsletter (and if you don’t, sign up here). To discover even more about the resources available to individuals and organizations involved in the regional arts, culture and heritage sector, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, too.
Through these accounts, you’ll get timely posts about the opportunities we offer, whether they involve Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance grants, ARTiculate magazine or workshops for arts professionals—with reminders so you don’t miss any deadlines! Heading into summer, we’ll also be posting daily profiles of the fascinating venues you can visit during the Columbia Basin Culture Tour.
In addition, we share important information from organizations throughout the region, province and country, about relevant grants, workshops, toolkits, conferences, applications to get involved in events, and more. Our aim is to help you carry out your arts, culture and heritage activities more effectively.
The brochure provides affordable advertisingfor your festival, community or online event, exhibition, concert, workshop, film series and more! Events taking place from May 2023 to April 2024 are eligible for inclusion.
Why advertise in the Kootenay Festivals & Events Brochure? Every year, 12,000 copies are distributed throughout southeastern BC. The brochure is mailed to hundreds of public outlets, including chambers of commerce, hotels, resorts, festivals, cafés, bookstores, galleries, theatres and arts venues around the Kootenays and Columbia Basin, as well as to tourist info centres from the Okanagan to the Rockies.
NEW PRICING FOR 2023! Purchase your listing by February 27 and receive our early bird pricing of $52 (regular $60: deadline March 10).
All submitted listings receive cross-posting to the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council listings page and ARTiculate magazine event listings. For summer events, purchase your listing by the early bird deadline for inclusion in the Spring/Summer 2023 print issue of ARTiculate.
In the coming months, Columbia Basin Trust will be travelling throughout the Columbia Basin to meet with you, listen to your input and plan together for the future. If you value the work of local artists, we encourage you to participate and speak up about the central role of arts and culture in our region!
The Trust was established in 1995 to support efforts by the people of the Basin to create a legacy of social, economic and environmental well-being in the region. Its activities are guided by the Columbia Basin Management Plan, developed based on public input from residents.
It is now inviting you to share your perspective on how everyone together can realize a better future for the region. Your input will help the Trust develop the next Columbia Basin Management Plan.
At the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council, we will be sharing tools and materials to help you champion arts and culture throughout this process. To keep up to date on these, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
Each year, the public is invited to explore and enjoy studios, galleries, museums, events and more through the free, self-directed Columbia Basin Culture Tour. We invite you to become one of their essential stops!
This year, the tour takes place:
July 29 and 30, 2023
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Register now if you’re an artist, or an organization or venue focused on arts, culture and heritage, anywhere in the Columbia Basin. By having people visit your location and appearing in the tour’s brochure and website, you’ll expand the reach of your cultural practice—and, if applicable, may make some sales!
Space is limited, so don’t delay.
Early bird rate ($50): register by March 31, 2023.
Spring will (soon) be in the air—and so will our spring/summer issue of ARTiculate magazine. We need two things from you:
1: Your content ideas
Send us your pitches: • by Monday, February 6, 2023 (deadline extended!) • to Margaret Tessman, Editor, at [email protected].
We’ll assign the articles to writers, so don’t send completed stories, please. Just send a quick email with the who, what, when, where and why of your idea or news item, and who the contact person is. Also briefly explain why you think this story would be of interest to a broad range of readers.
We’re on the lookout for information about interesting people, timely happenings or community news, with a focus on the arts, culture and heritage of the East and West Kootenays and Columbia Basin.
We’re also interested in tips on new releases of books, films and music to include in our “New and Noteworthy” review section.
The next issue will be distributed in April 2023 and covers events through September 2023, so take that into consideration when submitting your ideas.
2: Your events listings
ARTiculate includes listings of local events; this issue will cover items from April to September 2023. To have your event considered for publication, submit it for free by Friday, February 17, 2023, to our online events calendar.
Advertising Ask about our competitive rates to feature your business in this widely read publication, all while helping to support news focusing on our arts, culture and heritage community. ARTiculate is distributed to cultural venues like theatres, bookstores and galleries, as well as to hotels, cafés and many other high-traffic locations. Email to learn more: [email protected].
Writers We are always on the lookout for writers to take on story assignments. Interested? Send us an expression of interest and a brief writing sample and we will reply with a copy of our editorial guidelines. Pssst: We pay our contributors!
NOTE: To continue receiving notifications about calls for ARTiculate content in the future, please make sure to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
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 March 3 or 10, 2023, depending on the program.
CKCA grants—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and overseen 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 www.wkartscouncil.com/ckca-funding. Before applying, applicants are encouraged to view the video on this site and register for a grant-writing workshop. Also note that applications for ALL programs are now submitted online.
Stephanie Fischer, Chair, CKCA “Year after year, I have been impressed by the variety of projects for which applicants seek funding. I encourage artists to apply to CKCA to advance their careers and create new works. I encourage Columbia Basin non-profit organizations, small and large, to apply. They are the anchor and the driver for exhibiting artworks, showcasing live performers on stage, celebrating diversity and Indigenous culture and employing artists to engage people of all ages and abilities. Together they add to the livability, economy and health of communities in the Basin.”
Justine Cohen, Manager, Delivery of Benefits, Columbia Basin Trust “The Trust is pleased to partner with CKCA to support, grow and strengthen arts and culture in Basin communities. Increasing access to arts and culture experiences in the Basin adds to the vibrancy and well-being of the region.”
In December 2022, Kimmortal—a Filipinx artist, musician and writer based in Vancouver—shared a written response to some of the themes that emerged from our recent workshop, Alternative Revenue Streams for LGBTQ2S+ Artists (view the recording here). Read on for a great source of inspiration for “weirdos” and people of all walks of life!
1
I have learned that I don’t need to know the answer to every question and that it is okay to not understand. I can go at my own pace when I am learning. I have learned that my art doesn’t need to speak on everything. I am not a bad person if I don’t check all the boxes and if I don’t know all the answers. I don’t need to capture everything, everywhere, everyone in my work. I have learned that coming from my own experience in my body and spirit is enough. People will project on you. You will try to please every single person. So please grow your self-compassion and self-forgiveness and self-kindness when you inevitably will make mistakes baby. Keep going and do better next time while staying curious about love, liberation, and the gems within your journey.
2
Cultivate a private routine of rest and rejuvenation. Do nothing. Sleep. Stay in bed. Take breaks from creative output, social media. Value private projects that are in the realm of expanding that inner space for just you. Value that just as much as you value your creative tangible output. Seek outlets for reflection and healing. Journaling? Walking? Dancing? Tell not a single soul about it. Know you are worthy of inner peace and deep rest. What do you need to show up as you are fully in this world?
3
Learn about what the circles of support around you can look like. Making your artistic visions reality are exciting but can be stressful if pursued alone. Start with intention when seeking a team around you. Self-managed? Manager(s)? Co-manager(s)? Mentors? Advisors? Life coaches? A sound board made up of trusted artists and friends? The idea is to create a circle that feels exciting and supportive to you and that you can imagine allows you to thrive in the process of creation. You are not a burden for asking for help or to be held accountable to your goals. People also learn for themselves what support can look like for them when you ask for help. Remember to listen for people’s boundaries and capacity levels before working together. Our collaborators won’t always be our friends and our friends won’t always be our collaborators. Appreciate and stay in gratitude for what is given because what a miracle it still is.
My core team is still forming as I type and I know it may change in the future. A lot of the folks in my circle are people I have been in relationship with for years, and others are people who I’ve felt safe around and who’s values resonate with mine. Others I am still in an extended trial period with, testing grounds, and in light communication with. I move with instinct and consult with my best friends. I also consult with my ancestral council—my inner spirit realm accessed through meditation and journaling. Be patient as your circle shrinks, plateaus, grows. From what I’ve learned of the music industry, it is competitive and can feel isolating. To stay sane, I stay true to valuing healing in community over competition, and over industry. Reflect and create relationships and communities that defy white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy.
4
Only say “yes” to collaborative projects that deeply excite you. Stray away from doing projects out of obligation. Dodge stretching yourself too thin. You do not have to answer to any offer right away. “No” is a welcome answer. For each “no,” you leave space for what excites you. Look forward to “yes” projects where you can be fully present.
Some ideas of questions to ask before getting into a project:
Does the work genuinely excite you? What is your capacity? Does this project align with your values and your desires for growth? Will your energy be reciprocated?
In any work relationship or collaboration, clear communication is key to make sure no one leaves feeling like they wasted their time or is taken advantage of.
Start by asking questions:
What do you want from me and what will I get in return?
What will the project be used for?
What is the turnaround time?
Where and how will I be credited?
Get it in writing:
Clearly lay out expectations through email and phone.
Make sure you are clear about what type of creative input you are giving. There have been issues in the past where my collaborator has also wanted me to help in another aspect of creation. Make sure you choose to do it instead of slowly getting roped into it.
Do your research:
Before working with an artist or company, do your research, through their social following and/or website. Who and how big is their audience? Do you want to be professionally associated with them/their brand? It is not selfish to think about what you are getting out of a project.
Have clear boundaries with your time and energy, especially how much time you are willing to give for what you are getting.
Many layers of emotions: As someone who deals with neurodivergence and social anxiety, it can be extremely uncomfortable and vulnerable for me at any stage of my artistry so I make sure to prepare as much as I can. Friends, a therapist and my own rituals hold me down. In the release process of art, you can feel many things at once. When I have put my art out into the world or after I get off stage, I have felt joy, discomfort, happiness, depression. I thought there was something wrong with me but I am slowly learning to accept how there are many emotions at once. Seek support/grow rituals that can support you around the release process.
6
Organization/admin hacks!: Sometimes this artistic career just feels like a bunch of fuckin admin work! Lol! But we gotta do it. Organizing my life in a way that works for me allows me to thrive as an artist. Get yourself motivated to do that shit. I bought myself a comfy ass chair to get excited about sitting at my desk. I set an alarm to do at least 30 min each day to label, arrange and organize my files, both digital and physical. On my computer: audio files, folders for different art projects. Keeping good records of income and expenses for my taxes, receipts. It will all pay off in the end. I customize through colour coding and having cool retro icons. I reward myself with a coffee or reading in my book when I get that done. Whatever you need to do to, know where all your shit is. Do that!
7
Be cool with your untrainedness cos there’s a lot of potential play and inventiveness there that trained people want. Focus on your skills and dope perks. Comparing yourself to others is not the way to go. We all do it on this endless scroll. A great podcast that looks into the psychology of comparing yourself to others is right here.
8
Remember to play. Are you having fun? Are you tickled? Are you excited about what you are making? You might be on the right path. Does it feel like obligation, a task to check off, boring? Yikes. Keep inspiration close to you—expose yourself to the work that pumps you up or makes your head bob. I would also recommend seeing an art therapist to help you out if you are feeling that creative stagnancy.
9
What is meant for you will not pass you by. It is never too late. No need to rush even though you are convinced other people are ahead of the game. It’s not a race. It’s very personal to you. Trust your process, it is beautiful!
10
Imagine and write down what a successful career as an artist means to you. I had a conversation with my friend Superknova about what success means to us in our careers and she said something that really stuck with me that she learned via Ari Herstand:
“I’m not Starbucks. I’m not in every single state and I’m not a chain. I’m that one awesome café in the corner that people feel safe at and feel good in.”
I am obsessed with this metaphor because it made me excited for the niche space I occupy as a weirdo queer nb filipinx artist. I don’t have to live up to this singular road to success as a musician who achieves thousands of seats stadium status or has huge teams behind them. For now, I am smiling just thinking about having a long career, selling out 150–200 seat venues, making art that excites me, making portals that give a glimpse of liberation and hold space for queer spiritual deepening, and where I can be a part of making weirdos feel less alone.
These grants—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and overseen by the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council—are available for all art disciplines, for both individuals and arts and culture organizations in the Columbia Basin.
To learn more about these grants and how to apply, attend one of our FREE grant-writing workshops.
The first available session will include an explanation of all CKCA programs, plus a short period for questions and answers:
The subsequent events are primarily for questions and discussion. Before the event, we’ll send you the following link to a video about the programs; we ask you to watch this before you attend the session, as this information will only be covered briefly. Then come to the session with your questions. The sessions all take place online through Zoom, at noon Pacific / 1 p.m. Mountain.
If you have questions about your specific project, rather than the programs themselves, contact us directly instead of asking them during a session.
The upcoming application period for CKCA grants opens January 16, 2023, with deadlines on March 3 or 10, 2023, depending on the program. So get ready now: register for a grant-writing workshop!
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