Island arts
Duncan: Arts council scores free use of former community-centre cafe as gallery HQ
Arts leaders are applauding Thursday’s nod by Island Savings Centre bosses allowing the Cowichan Valley Arts Council five years of free use of the old cafe space adjacent to the lobby box office. “I’m thrilled,” Kirsten Schrader, regional arts-and-culture manager, said of the ISC Commission’s ruling. Its decision allowed the arts council a small meeting [...]
Saanich: Arts centre breaks ground at Cedar Hill
Work on the new Cedar Hill Arts Centre officially begins today (Oct. 29), at a ground-breaking ceremony. Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard, Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn and Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong will speak at 1 p.m. at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre. The arts wing expansion on the existing building is intended for art [...]
Ladysmith aims for cultural event
Plans are afoot to bring a popular Celtic music festival to Ladysmith. The Island Celtic Festival, which started on Hornby Island years ago and now travels to other Island communities is coming to Ladysmith in 2011. “I offered this year to do it here,” said Bryan Henderson, a local artist who also has an interest [...]
Courtenay: Art gallery grant bid sidelined
Comox Valley Art Gallery’s request for a $25,000 a year grant has been sidelined by regional district directors. The gallery’s curator/director, Anh Le, made the case for financial help at a meeting of the committee of the whole on Tuesday. She said there had been significant cuts in financial support from the B.C. Arts Council [...]
Victoria: Life found in alley brought to stage, Journals and photos in abandoned suitcase raised privacy issues
Actor/writer James Long was initially squeamish about opening the hard-shell, baby-blue suitcase. He noticed it in 2005, abandoned in an alley near his home on East 14th Street in East Vancouver. “It was mildewy,” he said. “It was ugly. It was dirty.” Fearing the 1970s-era suitcase might also be a repository for dog urine, Long [...]
Courtenay: CVRD directors cool to art gallery funds appeal
Comox Valley Art Gallery staff have appealed to the regional district to open a standalone tax service that would stabilize funding for the gallery’s operations. The gallery — represented by curator Anh Le and financial officer Linda Gooding at Tuesday’s committee of the whole meeting — is requesting $25,000 per year for five years, to [...]
Funding cuts hurt communities: arts group
Cowichan Valley Arts Council president Judy Brayden is inviting the arts community to meet with New Democrat arts and culture critic Spencer Chandra Herbert and Cowichan Valley MLA Bill Routley to tell the pair about the effects of government funding cuts to the arts community. “It’s only an hour,” Brayden said of the Oct. 25 [...]
Ucluelet: Two artists, one community, one country
An art exhibit in Ucluelet this weekend will have local artists Joan Larsen and Ken Kirkby coming together for an unveiling of new work and a re-release of the world’s largest oils-on-canvas painting both in support of the Ucluelet Aquarium. Larsen has been awarded the designation of Premier Pastellist with the Pastel Society of Canada, [...]
Courtenay: Superstar spreading culture
The Sid Williams Theatre Society (SWTS) wishes to share its love for the performing arts and improve the quality of life for all members of the community. Through corporate sponsors, community support from business donors and generous individuals, the society hopes to make its Superstar program a huge success. The Superstar program allows for the [...]
Comox: First Nations gallery celebrating milestone
The I-Hos Gallery, which celebrates its 15th anniversary in the Comox Valley this November, serves some important functions. Besides showcasing native culture to the public, it employs K’ómoks Band members and provides a vehicle for native artists to sell their creations, explains I-Hos manager Ramona Johnson. Before I-Hos existed, Johnson took the resort management course [...]
Courtenay: Local arts group has serious issues to discuss
A meeting Thursday will set the focus for the coming year for the Comox Valley Community Arts Council. But with a lineup of live music headlined by Helen Austin, a photo show by Sarah Kerr, and an exhibition by sculptor Pat Acton, this annual general meeting should prove more fun than most. The group has [...]
Campbell River: A new ‘Guy’ at the Tidemark
There’s a new Guy at the Tidemark Theatre. He’s Guy Lapointe the new manager, and he wants to know what you’d like from your theatre. And that could include more ‘big-name’ acts. “I really see a lot of potential here,” he told the Courier-Islander. “I really think that there should be some risk-taking here, there [...]
Take symphony for a test drive Reduced ticket price, accessible concert presents opportunity for novices to the classics
You’d never buy so much as a pair of shoes without trying them. And you certainly wouldn’t buy a car without giving it a test drive. So why would you buy into a whole new form of entertainment without giving it a try first? Well, the Vancouver Island Symphony has a special deal for you. [...]
Duncan: Fringe Test-drive could lead to bigger things
The Cowichan Fringe delightfully returned as five cutting-edge plays from the global circuit graced Cowichan Theatre’s weekend stage. Each Fringe Revival play drew 30 to 60 viewers as eclectic subjects entertained culture vultures. The kicks continued Saturday night in the Cowichan Fringe (Elks) Club lovingly decorated by faithful volunteers. Fringe Revival sure showed the potential [...]
Courtenay/Comox: Cultural funding reaches Valley
Three Comox Valley institutions are receiving a total of $8,800 in cultural funding from the B.C. government. The Comox Archives and Museum Society gets $5,000, the Sid Williams Theatre Society gets $2,000 and the Comox Valley Pipe Band Society receives $1,800. The money comes from a total of $662,740 in community gaming grants supporting youth [...]
