activities

In response to arts community needs and priorities, the Squamish arts council has initiated several drives,

communication coordination

Thanks to a Squamish Community Foundation Leads Grant, 2005, SAC is partnering with the Hotspot to improve cross community communications through information circulation and technological development in such projects as:

The development of a widely circulated arts community e-list to post events, saclist@sea-to-sky.net
A website which will include a community event,
Research into, and development of, a grant matrix that will outline potential granting bodies, details and dates, and
A comprehensive up to date on-line artist directory.

partnering

SAC builds partnerships with other community groups to promote and develop arts and cultural activities:

With the District of Squamish through the "new SAC space" on Cleveland, and public art initiatives.

With Squamish Nations to build and strengthen cultural connections and communications in our community and in our membership.

With Hotspot to strengthen our capacity to reach out to community groups through information technology and engagement of local youth in arts related training. The partnership is focused on building capacity in both organizations, with the goal of building capacity for the non profit community as a whole.

With our community art organizations through supportive initiatives like the Highway Banner Project.

With the Chamber of Commerce to bring select projects to our arts community such as a Downtown Street Banner Competition. Watch for it!

With Capilano College through the Squamish Arts Continuing Education Series. This pilot program will look at opportunities for local artists to teach and to help promote cultural tourism. Capilano College is a leader in Fine and Applied Arts education and will bring that expertise up the corridor over time as money and facilities permit. Plans for expanded facilities will better support collaborative engagements with the arts and cultural community.

in the community

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: to increase participation in the arts council and thus its ability to develop and implement a community responsive policy.

LOGO CONTEST: SAC encouraged emerging artists across our corridor to participate in our Logo Contest. Of the 18 anonymous entries received, Keith Broad's design was selected.

CPAP SERIES (The Community Presenters Assistance Program is administered by the BC Touring Council to assist non-profit community organizations that present British Columbian and Canadian professional performing arts touring events): In this pilot project SAC collaborated with local art and community groups to bring in 4 touring performers. Bookings were: Janis Janus (in collaboration with Between Shifts), Trent Arterberry and the Funny Stuff Circus, the Arrogant Worms (both with Wild at Art) and the Bhangra Dancers; (presented with the Squamish Sihk community and Squamish Nations.

SQUAMISH FARMERS MARKET 2006: SAC is extending a service to the community through the 2006 coordination of the popular market held downtown on summer Saturdays. Plans include expansing participation of local artisans, performers and Squamish Nation culture.

BUILDING PRESENCE: With the aim of strengthening community connections and exposure for the arts, SAC is beginning to build a presence at existing events such as Test of Metal, Copper and Fire, and Wild at Art (2005/06)

ARTIST COORDINATION AT SPECIAL EVENTS: SAC partnered with the Squamish Nation and the Breakfast Club to help bring R. Trann's spectacular "Art and Soul" to Squamish in October 2005 and to coordinate artist demonstrations for the event.

public art

SAC's public art committee has been working with the District of Squamish develop and implement a district public art policy and program.

Actions and plans include:

a banner competition in partnership with Chambers (in progress 2006),
public art to be included in a residential commercial development downtown (in progress),
Co- hosting a public art competition with Britannia Mining Museum, 2005,
a mapping project to document existing public art in Squamish,
co-ordinating public art bequests and donations,
Squamish The Great Art Doors Project.

Visit our public arts committee page by clicking here ...

we've got space

The arts community identified the need for meeting and rehearsal spaces, storage space, a central box office, a central postings area, accessible arts resource information, a place to gather for social exchange. To provide some of these roles the District of Squamish has recently donated the use of a centrally located building to the non-profit arts community under management of SAC. SAC plans to build on that space to strengthen the presence of the arts community in Squamish.

To inquire about renting space for your group contact Krisztina Egyed - kegyed@telus.net.

arts centre

The District of Squamish is investigating the achievability of a centrally located Art Centre in the near future. This is a long term goal that became very topical this year. SAC has asked to be involved in discussions with the District and players in the conception of a centre that could become a destination and signature for our community .

watch for these!

BANNER PROJECT: SAC is partnering with Howe Sound Performing Arts Association and Visuals to bring an "all purpose" art banner for the Highway. For use by all arts organizations, this opportunity is thanks to the Squamish Community Foundation Leeds Grant 2006.

UPCOMING ART GALLERY: Our up and coming public gallery and meeting room featuring 2 large window spaces will allow for large scale 3-dimensional exhibits, installations, and museum displays of all kinds. Now under construction at 2nd and Main, this exciting opportunity will become one of SAC's core programs.