  Culture and Community
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 Arts Council of the Central Okanagan 140-1735 Dolphin Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8A6 Email: Click Here. Elke Lange, Executive Director Telephone: 250.861-4123 Produced in association with the Okanagan Institute
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 LATEST ARTS COUNCIL ITEMS |
ARTS COUNCIL
Okanagan Arts Awards A Terrific Celebration
Kelowna. Honoring 25 nominees in a variety of disciplines, the evening featured the Arts Awards
presentations, artist demonstrations and displays, a silent auction in support of the Arts Council, and pre
event and post event receptions.
Hosted by emcee Sandy Dawson, the evening began with a welcome from West Kelowna Mayor Doug
Findlater, followed by an opening prayer and blessing by Westbank First Nations Elder Wilfred Barnes
and a performance of Okanagan Song from Westbank First Nations Drummers. In addition to the awards
presentations, the event also featured performances by harpist Kate Gibson Oswald, pianist Rosalyn
Frantz, dance group Company B, readings by Okanagan Poet Laureate John Lent, and a short film
celebrating the visual artists by Jim Elderton.
“The event was a great success, both in terms of presentations and performances, and by the great show
of support from the community,” said Sharon McCoubrey, President of the Arts Council of the Central
Okanagan. “We wish to congratulate all the nominees and winners, as well as our amazing volunteers and
everyone who supported the event through attendance, sponsorship, and donations to our silent auction.”
2010 Okanagan Arts Awards Winners
Lifetime Achievement: Geert Maas, Kelowna
Literary Arts: Nancy Holmes, Kelowna
Arts Educator: Leroy Wiens, Kelowna
Visual Arts: Gary Pearson, Kelowna
Music: Anna Jacyszyn, Kelowna
Supporter of the Arts: Jody LaFontaine, Lake Country
Dance: Tanya Bakala, Kelowna
Theatre: Louise Sjoquist, Kelowna
ARTS FUNDING CUTS CALL FOR SUPPORT
This letter is coming to you from a task force drawn from concerned central Okanagan arts groups, a list of which is at the end of this email. We are getting in touch to ensure everyone is aware of these potential cuts and funding freezes and we encourage you and your organization to discuss this issue with your supporters, sponsors, donors, board members, artists and members of your local community.
We hope that you will choose to advocate for the arts at this critical time. Let your concerns be heard in a positive fashion, bringing a message of the strong economic and cultural impact the arts have on our communities and the province.
Many provincial arts groups have already expressed their concerns to their MLAs and to other government officials. Good, up-to-date information is available online at http://www.allianceforarts.com.
We ask your support in taking the message of your organization to your local MLA – if at all possible, in a face-to-face meeting, before the House sits again August 25. Clearly these funding issues affect many arts organizations in the province. To get more information on your local MLA, you can go to http://www.leg.bc.ca/MLA.
We feel it is vital to make the business case for continuation of funding - how many dollars does your organization contribute to your local economy; and what the impact is, both financial and cultural on your audiences and artists. The Alliance for Arts and Culture quantifies the provincial impact of the arts at 80,000 jobs and $5.2 billion annually. You need to tell your financial and job story.
You can also encourage your organization to send a letter, and keep sending letters, talking about the impact of proposed funding cuts on your community by writing to pertinent elected officials. Office addresses on each elected official’s web pages.
Arts - Minister Kevin Krueger - Kevin.kruegermla@leg.bc.ca
Gaming - Minister Rich Coleman - rich.colemanmla!@leg.bc.ca
Premier Gordon Campbell - premier@gov.bc.ca
Please forward this email, perhaps with a covering note, to your in-house email list. We know the government needs to hear from the groups and organizations impacted and they especially need to hear from the community itself - including individuals and businesses - that the arts matter to them.
We also ask you to respond to this email - either to the organization which sent it to you - or to ArtsResponseOkanagan@shaw.ca, so that we can measure the reaction to this information and tell all MLAs and others about the ongoing awareness of this issue among BC Arts groups.
Thank you - please react within the next two weeks.
PAK - Professional Performing Arts Alliance of Kelowna: Ballet Kelowna, Chamber Music Kelowna, Community Concerts Kelowna, Okanagan Symphony
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan
Rotary Centre for the Arts
Okanagan Institute
Accolades to Artsco
This letter is to thank you, and those who work with you, for your many hours of work 'behind the curtains', so it seems. We take you for granted, and so I believe your time and efforts need acknowledgment.
Taking all of this a step farther, I believe ARTSCO is the catalyst for art opportunities. But the next step needs to be taken by the artist, if one is serious about promoting their work. There are 'spinoffs' from everything we do. And each time we participate in an event, whether it be Open Studios, community venues or other examples, a step has been taken forward in advancing ourselves as serious professionals. ARTSCO is a good beginning, continuously offering varied opportunity.
Thank you for what you do for us. I, for one, am very appreciative, and feel my membership offers high value.
Madelyn Hamilton
Accolades to Artsco...
Hi Elke,
Next week I will be removing my art exhibition from Kelowna Community Theatre. "Too bad the doors are closed to the public, restricting opportunities for viewing", have been the thoughts of many. I don't see it that way. I viewed it as a chance to get my work out there, in front of the public, and in some instances, the 800 person capacity the Theatre will hold. And because I agreed upon that particular venue, provided to me by ARTSCO, a highly successful opportunity came my way.
This letter is to thank you, and those who work with you, for your many hours of work 'behind the curtains', so it seems. We take you for granted, and so I believe your time and efforts need acknowledgment.
Taking all of this a step farther, I believe ARTSCO is the catalyst for art opportunities. But the next step needs to be taken by the artist, if one is serious about promoting their work. There are 'spinoffs' from everything we do. And each time we participate in an event, whether it be Open Studios, community venues or other examples, a step has been taken forward in advancing ourselves as serious professionals. ARTSCO is a good beginning, continuously offering varied opportunity.
Thank you for what you do for us. I, for one, am very appreciative, and feel my membership offers high value.
Madelyn Hamilton
Lifetime Achievement Award Presented to Native Group of Seven
Eight of the twenty-four nominees were presented with an award trophy and honoured for their excellence, dedication and contribution to the arts by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan.
“The decision wasn’t easy. Each of the nominees is a great advocate of the arts in their respective fields. The judging criteria was based on each recipient having reached significant achievements in the chosen award category; and who have made outstanding contributions, and demonstrated leadership in the arts”, explains Rick Davidson, art educator, recipient of the Art Teacher of the year Award from the BC Art Teachers Association and member of the Okanagan Arts Awards Jury Panel.
Winners of the 2008 Okanagan Arts Awards are:
* Music - Denis Letourneau, Vernon
* Media Arts - Jim Elderton, Vernon
* Dance - Tanya Bakala, Kelowna
* Visual Arts - Judith Jurica, Vernon
* Theatre - Shakespeare Kelowna, Kelowna
* Design - Janice Fingado, Kelowna
* Arts Educator - Rhonda Draper, Kelowna
* Lifetime Achievement - Daphne Odjig, Penticton
Penticton resident and Aboriginal artist Daphne Odjig was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement award and a silver necklace executed by Haida jeweller Frank Paulson.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a single honoree each year who has dedicated a lifetime to the arts, or who has made outstanding contributions to the community, and has demonstrated leadership and excellence in the arts.
A respected leader and beloved Elder, Odjig is highly regarded as one of Canada’s prolific artists. An advocate and member of the Group of Seven Native artists, Governor General Michaelle Jean recently appointed her Laureate in the Visual Arts in 2007. A member of the Order of Canada, and a member of the Order of British Columbia, she holds five honorary doctorates.
“Daphne is both an outstanding artist and an honoured role model. As an artist and cultural worker she have greatly enriched the development of contemporary practices in the visual arts in Canada, her name and images are known worldwide. She has instigated revolutionary changes in the concept of contemporary art and the image of artist in Canada, opening doors for generations of outstanding Aboriginal artists to make their mark on the Canadian art stage. A woman of great strength, determination, and graciousness, she has gone out of her way to provide growth opportunities for Aboriginal people throughout the country, and setting the standards for artistic excellence as well as social activism”, says Jann Bailey, Executive Director, Kamloops Art Gallery.
“If my work as an artist has somehow helped to open doors between our people and the non-Native community, then I am glad. I am even more deeply pleased if it has helped encourage the young people that have followed our generation to express their pride in our heritage more openly, more joyfully than I would have ever dared to think possible”, says Odjig
The Okanagan Arts Awards is a annual program designed to celebrate excellence in the arts in the Okanagan and is sponsored in part by Central Okanagan Foundation, Hambleton Galleries, Spirit of BC, Province of British Columbia and Legacies Now, and the Capital News.
The Okanagan Arts Awards is presented by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, and is dedicated to enriching the cultural life in the Okanagan by supporting the development of individual artists, art groups, and organizations through sponsorship of cultural events, education and promoting all art disciplines in the Okanagan.
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan OPEN STUDIOS
Remember! The application deadline is March 1, 2008 Only 13 days left
Donít be the one that is left out!
Open Studios is a valuable marketing tool and an important part of the Okanagan Arts magazine and website. Participation in the Opens Studios will reach over 60,000 people per annum in the Okanagan.
Please note: Even if you have been involved in other Open Studios, you will still need to apply on line so that we can up-date your information.
For details on the new Opens Studios and the application details, go to the Open Studios section of the Okanagan Arts website:http://www.okanaganarts.com/openstudios.php
Remember! The deadline is March 1, 2008
Okanagan Arts Awards, February 15th, 2008
Hosted by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan
February 15th, 2008
UBCO Sunroom and Theatre in Kelowna, BC
6:00 pm Meet the Nominees
7:00 pm Awards Ceremony
9:15 pm Reception
Tickets available at Ticketmaster
Website: http://www.ticketmaster.ca
$25, $15 for students with student card
For more information, http://www.okanaganartsawards.com/ href="http://www.okanaganartsawards.com/" target=_blank>www.okanaganartsawards.com
or call 861-4123 or mailto:info@artsco.ca href="mailto:info@artsco.ca" target=_blank>info@artsco.ca
2007 Summary
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan
2007 Summary
This has been an incredibly busy and exciting year for the Arts Council with the publishing of the new “Okanagan Arts” magazine in April, which is now heading for its fourth published issue. The “Okanagan Arts” is also available on line www.okanaganarts.com , which features an extensive Okanagan-wide events calendar “The Agenda”, a spotlight news corner “News, View and Reviews”, a diverse and very colourful Arts Directory and an on-line platform for the Open Studio’s “Welcoming Door”
Huge accolades go to our “Okanagan Arts” Editor,
In conjunction with the “Okanagan Arts” magazine the Arts Council hosted three Open Studios this year. The Open Studios were complemented by the new and in-depth, on-line and comprehensive Arts Directory. The on-line Arts Directory is open to all artists and a special edition of 6000 copies was published and circulated throughout the Okanagan for Arts Council Members.
There has been very strong support for the Literary Arts in our community this year.
First with the publishing of the “Okanagan Arts” magazine, followed by the “Okanagan Institute” whose mission it is to contribute to the quality of creative engagement in the Okanagan through publications and events, such as weekly informal afternoons showcasing the people and ideas featured in “Okanagan Arts”, “Q” and “Okanagan Home” Wheat King published magazines. These literary arts events are collectively sponsored by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Books, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.
To find out more about these great weekly events go to www.okanaganinstitute.com
The Arts Council is also very pleased to have the OWL, Okanagan Writers League join us as a new member. The OWL has, on behalf of the Arts Council, created a regular writers corner in the “eVent”, featuring the works of local published writers.
Accomplishments don’t end here!
The summer focused on the development of the Arts Council’s first formal and complete Annual Report. This thirty-one page document provides the reader with an understanding of the make-up of the organization and outcome effects it has on our community. Annual Reports are available through the Arts Council office.
New marketing tools including a new brochure, a colourful organizational profile were created, which featured and will continue to feature one of our local artists on the cover.
The Arts Council is also very proud to be hosting a new “Okanagan Arts Awards” on February 15, 2008. Working with Arts Councils from all parts of the Okanagan Valley to honour the arts through this new awards program, the awards will acknowledge Okanagan artists or supporting groups or individuals in the categories of music, drama, visual arts, dance, media, design, literary arts, educator and life time achievement.
Nominations will be received until 4:00 p.m. on January 10th, 2008. Awards will be presented at a Celebration and Spirit of BC Showcase at UBCO Kelowna, on February 15th, 2008. Go to www.okanaganartsawards.com for the dates, forms, and all other details. Nomination packages are also available at your local Arts Councils and Libraries.
As you can see it has been an absolutely great year!
From All of us at the Arts Council
Wishing a very happy and safe holiday season and a very PROSPEROUS new year!
Elke Lange
Executive Director
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan
“Call to Artists”
“Call to Artists”
for the
Nordic Art and Photography Exhibit and
March 1st and 2nd, 2008
At the Scandinavian Community Centre
We are interested in works that are by artists of Nordic background
and/or works with a Nordic theme.
So start painting, sculpting and snapping unique pictures!
This exhibit is sponsored by the Scandinavian Cultural Society
We want to see what you are doing and give you our support.
- Sharon Aamodt Dexter, a Nordic folklore artist from the Tacoma area, Washington, will be one of our featured artists. Her beautiful water colours feature Norwegian bunads and the folk costumes of
- For registration forms or info contact: Carolyn Thauberger 778-999-6339 cthauber@interchange.ubc.ca or the Centre at 604 294-2777
THE NEW OKANAGAN ARTS AWARDS
THE NEW OKANAGAN ARTS AWARDS:
The Arts Council of the Central Okanagan is working with Arts Councils from all parts of the Okanagan Valley
