by Kallee Lins
Every so often, at the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council we get the itch to abandon the Zoom calls and make some good, old-fashioned, face-to-face connections. That’s why Kallee Lins, our Executive Director, and Lily Andersen, our Grants Officer and Operations Manager, headed in mid-September 2025 to a few communities we don’t often get to visit in person: Cranbrook, Fernie, Invermere and Golden, along with a pit stop in Revelstoke.
Below are some of the key takeaways, compiled by Kallee Lins.
From the shores of Dorothy Lake to former rail stations, sharing from theatre stages and deep inside local galleries, Lily and I had the chance to meet with artists and members of the cultural community over one week this September.
We shared information about Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA) grants, Articulate magazine and articulatemag.ca, the Columbia Basin Culture Tour, research and advocacy projects, and new collaborative initiatives. Even more important, however, was what we heard from painters, fibre artists, chainsaw carvers, glass blowers, dedicated board members and arts administrators.
Stop #1: Cranbrook
Several artists in Cranbrook raised the question of how to support greater arts participation for youth. In a climate in which schools are cutting band programs and shrinking arts classes out of the timetable, how do we ensure that young people have exposure to a wide range of artistic practices and gain an awareness of what professional activity in the arts looks like in a rural region like ours?
These questions take on additional importance in the context of cultural reclamation. At Foundry East Kootenay, cultural lead Smokii Sumac—also a poet, author and interdisciplinary artist—is using the arts as an entry point for Ktunaxa youth to engage with their cultural heritage, and empowering all youth who come through the Foundry’s doors through storytelling.
There’s also an active community in Cranbrook working to build a case for support of the arts. At WKRAC, we strive to support these local initiatives through quality data and fostering collaboration as we build a narrative for the regional value of arts participation and enjoyment. As we continue these conversations across the region, cultural workers are excited by the potential to bring other sectors—from tourism to healthcare—into this work of empowering the arts to support regional economic development. Many of us choose to live in the Columbia Basin because of the creativity of the region; this is a superpower of our community that benefits far more than the arts themselves.
Stop #2: Fernie
In Fernie, the value of a community hub for arts and culture was evident. It’s always a treat to step into a space where most artists in the room are familiar with each other and there’s an ease of sharing experiences, successes and challenges.
These relationships have clearly been nurtured by the diverse programming at The Arts Station. As the cost of maintaining cultural property continues to rise, the value of these collective community spaces does, too. These hubs are not just creation and exhibition spaces—they provide opportunities for the artistic community to come together and share learnings.
I’m grateful for the advice shared by Michael Hepher with emerging artists in the room. He talked about how much he learned from grant applications that were not successful (and the feedback calls afterward). Those experiences provided him with an opportunity to rethink his approach to proposing projects. Now, he tends to hold onto ideas until he can feel clear passion and clarity behind his proposed project. Ensuring that your project aligns with the stated objectives of the funder and the program that you’re applying under is important, too.
Navigating the public granting system in Canada can feel overwhelming for many, so it’s incredible to see established artists keen to mentor those who are still building their practices and profiles.
Stop #3: Invermere
In Invermere, artists shared and celebrated their recent successes. From two regional tours funded by CKCA, Patrick Carrick has seen ever-growing interest in his Rhythm by Nature workshops. Kelsey Van Raay has had a busy year of creating murals, enriching public space in the process, and the ceramics community in Invermere continues to grow. Pottery Playground sees more than 200 students a year taking a turn at its wheels. Meanwhile, the family-owned Bavin Glassworks continues to innovate in glass, painting and photography over two generations.
The question on several minds is how to harness these successes into momentum for the cultural community as a whole.
Stop #4: Golden
In Golden, we were reminded of the power of volunteers. Thelma Brown, a veteran of our CKCA steering committee (she retired from the role in 2024 after 14 years) joined us at the Art Gallery of Golden to share her deep insights into the granting process, alongside our program overview. In our small communities, committed mentors are invaluable.
To hang out with Thelma and Kicking Horse Culture Executive Director Logan Thackray is to witness the evolution of a vibrant arts community that continues to honour the decades of creativity that put Golden on the cultural map. Dozens of volunteers come together every year to support massive community events like Emberfest, celebrating the seasonal cycle of life in the mountains.
Stop #5: Revelstoke
While Revelstoke wasn’t an official stop on the tour, it’s where I’m signing off from, as Lily and I are in town to enjoy Luna Sound tonight. The city is abuzz with the annual festival taking over downtown with installations and performances.
It’s a great way to cap off a week where we heard over and over again how much festivals matter. From the Nelson International Mural Fest to the Steamboat Music Festival in Edgewater and Emberfest in Golden, these events profile local artists, engage volunteers and drive visitors into our communities. We were grateful to support the rollout of $225,000 of funding from Columbia Basin Trust to support community festivals this past year.
As these festivals continue to grow, let’s all keep showing up. We’ll see you out at the stages!
