It boils down to strength in numbers, says the president of Squamish Arts Council.
The Sea to Sky Corridor is known throughout B.C. and globally as a place to climb, bike and hike. But when it comes to arts and culture, it’s not on the map, said Michelle Neilson. That’s about to change.
“We want to create a bigger voice,” Neilson told The Squamish Chief.
The arts councils from Squamish, Bowen Island, Lions Bay, Whistler and Pemberton have pooled together to form the Sea to Sky Arts Council Collective. The organization’s goal is to support artists and cultural events within each community and elevate awareness of the region’s vibrant and diverse culture, Neilson noted. “It allows us to work better as a team and learn from each other.”
The new structure also opens the door to provincial funding that can only be accessed by collaborative organizations – and it pools resources, Neilson said.
Over the past several years, there has been a significant increase in efforts to diversify the corridor’s economy by building culture, Whistler Arts Council executive director Doti Niedermayer said in a news release. Each community has established events, from the Squamish Valley Music Festival to Art in the Park on Bowen Island. By combining individual efforts, the arts councils encourage residents and visitors to explore the entire region,
“When seen as a whole, it’s worth staying in the region an extra day or so, just to take it in,” she said.
Until Sept. 8, the collective is hosting an online scavenger hunt to promote its new website. Participants will have to search each of the five arts council’s websites to find clues regarding arts and culture events in the corridor. Participants will be eligible to win prizes from each of the communities. The winner will be chosen by a random draw on Sept. 9.
For more information visit www.seatoskyarts.ca.
