Kootenay Culture will be visible on the horizon thanks to the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA) and the Columbia Basin Trust’s $706,000 funding to support the 2015-16 season.
The funding is supporting over 160 arts, culture and heritage projects across the Basin, including the Columbia Valley’s own artisans Dorothy Blunden, Thelma Brown and Anne Jardine.
“The CKCA Steering Committee was pleased to be able to supply Trust funding to good projects all across the Basin,” said Jacquie Hamilton, CKCA chair. “We hope cultural organizations will start thinking about activities that will be happening between June 2016 and May 2017 and planning their applications now for the next funding cycle.”
The CKCA encourages education, personal growth and informative projects in a creative approach by a juried application process — which included feedback from the community arts councils.
Their aim is to put funding toward a wide variety of projects, including individuals, groups and exhibitions, as well as master classes and heritage capital projects.
Approved projects through this program include visual arts, theatre, music, media and literature.
“Each year, we look forward to seeing the list of projects that will bring such cultural wealth to our region,” said Lynda Lafleur, CBT community liaison. “We have many creative, innovative and hard-working people in the Basin, and it’s their visions and efforts that make our arts, culture and heritage sector so strong.”
For a list of funded projects, visit the CKCA website at basinculture.com or call 1-877-505-7355.
Dorothy Blunden
After residing in the community of Windermere for nearly 20 years, Ms. Blunden has dabbled in a multi-disciplined approach to working creatively.
She has been a member of the Windermere District Historical Society and has served the Windermere Valley Museum for more than 15 years.
Previously, she worked as a teacher; wrote a monthly column for a senior’s magazine; was the CEO of the Golden Age Club in Calgary; and served on the board of directors of Fort Calgary Preservation Society.
Now, she is on the board of directors of the Heritage Federation of Southeastern BC and continues to adapt to the changing world around her by delving into her own genealogy. Ms. Blunden also helps lead a local genealogy group to help other locate their own roots.
Thelma Brown
After completing a business diploma in 1970 and working in a string of managerial as well as bookkeeping opportunities, Ms. Brown began to spread her wings from the Golden area into several
unique arenas.
She began honing the silversmithing, raku and watercolour crafts while pursuing the life of an outdoors enthusiasts in the Columbia Valley. Ms. Brown draws upon cross-country skiing, kayaking, yoga and travelling for personal influences to support these creative endeavours.
Anne Jardine
Even though Ms. Jardine dedicated most of her life to advocating to create powerful art projects, it was retiring to Edgewater from working as a secondary school teacher that pushed her into the passion of creating.
She was heavily involved with the Columbia Valley Arts Council’s efforts to have Pynelogs Cultural Centre formally recognized.
In addition, Ms. Jardine sings alto in Valley Voices and plays viola in a community orchestra in Golden.
She believes visual and performing arts are essential elements of education and human development, which is largely why she delves in several mediums.
Ms. Jardine is a calligrapher, curator, journalist, playwright, producer and director.