The mission of the Okanagan Institute
is to contribute to
the quality of creative engagement in the Okanagan through publications and events.
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The Story So Far
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION THE VALUE OF IDEAS
» Thursday 3 July 2008 | 4:30 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing the people and ideas featured in Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Join us as we celebrate our first year of critical and creative insight and discussion on topics and issues of import to the community. Hosts: Robert MacDonald & Karin Wilson.
» This is a free event. Refreshments will be available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
The Institute Celebrates a Year of Expression
We invite enquiring minds in the Okanagan to come together this week to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Okanagan Institute's Express program.
One year ago, the Okanagan Institute launched its popular Thursday afternoon Express series which feature members of the region's diverse cultural community talking about subjects as far ranging as growth and development, to artistic and creative expression, spirituality and the impact of the green movement on the building industry.
The Story So Far takes place 4:30 pm Thursday, July 3, at the Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard St. in Kelowna.
"We're hoping people will come out for an old-fashioned prairie-style social where they can mingle and remind each other of what we've heard, seen, learned and accomplished in the last year," said Institute founder and director Robert MacDonald.
When the Express series started, there was no precedent for a café-style event with a regional flavour. MacDonald decided to pursue his vision regardless, wary it may not survive. But survive it has, now having hosted 47 events over the course of the last year.
 More than 70 presenters from throughout the Okanagan region and beyond have taken time to share their expertise. We've played host to visual artists, jewellery designers, musicians, animators, architects and designers. We've heard from university professors and professional story tellers. We've examined architecture, home building, interior décor and green design. Some of the most distinguished writers in our province - Harold Rhenisch, Sterling Haynes, Don Gayton, Ralph Milton, Jack Whyte - have read from and discussed their works. We've generated and invigorated discussion on food security, the future of our water, and the future of development.
"What we've learned in the last year is that people in the Okanagan really want to talk about what is happening here without any political agenda. They want to hear new ideas, and they want to meet the people behind those ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. That's what we've done. And that's what we plan to keep doing in bigger and better ways."
The Institute invites everyone who has ever attended or participated in the events to join the celebration, and the general public is welcome as well.
 As part of the event, the Institute will be releasing a preview edition of our progress report - The Value of Ideas - outlining our progress to date, the programs and projects we're currently involved with or developing, and our plans for the coming year.
"We want people to know that we're here to stay and what we're thinking about for the future. Our weekly Express series will continue, and we plan to expand on that with more robust quarterly events designed to continue our goal of stimulating inquiring minds. We also intend to continue publishing literary chapbooks, have an exciting new community arts monograph at the printer right now, and are developing a number of other projects that further our mission," he said. "Our main objective is to reveal and enhance the expression of creativity and critical engagement in this valley. We're pleased with what we've accomplished so far, and wanted to celebrate that with a social occasion."
The Story So Far is a free event, and takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 47th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007. Since that time, the series has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, architect Jim Meiklejohn, and others from a variety of creative fields.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Okanagan Institute at the Bohemian Café A hearty feast of lectures, presentations, workshops and showcases celebrating our culture and community. Produced by the Okanagan Institute in association with Wheat King Publishing magazines: Okanagan Arts and Okanagan Home. Express is sponsored in part by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Wood Lake Publishing, UBCO-FCCS, and in support of Project Literacy Kelowna.
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that have gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
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