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Reclaiming Culture
THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS
» Thursday 3 September 2009 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing ideas
and people in the Okanagan creative economy. Join us as Sharon McCoubrey of UBCO and the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Tracie Ward of the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Paul Crawford of the Penticton Art Gallery, Lynne Hossay of the Vernon Community Arts Centre, and Anna Jacyszyn of the Black Box Jazz Cafe discuss the threats and opportunities for the arts in the Okanagan.
» $2 at the door. Refreshments are available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
Are the Arts on the Edge of Extinction?
Who will be this century's crusaders for the Arts? The first art manifesto of the 20th century was introduced by the Futurists in Italy in 1909. In it Marinetti, a fierce believer in the role of the arts, expressed a passionate loathing of everything old, especially political and artistic tradition. He and his followers shaped the Arts environment in the twentieth century. 100 years later it is time to time to cry out once again?
In 2005, Vancouver author Max Wyman wrote The Defiant Imagination: Why Culture Matters. In it he asserted, "I am more convinced than ever that we need a new cultural contract between government and society, a contract that places culture firmly in its crucial role as a catalyst for economic prosperity, social health and national identity, a contract that will help develop a nation of vision, innovation and generosity." Throughout the book, Wyman articulately developed the reasons behind this conviction, as well as the implications that would result from inaction. His predictions are emerging.
On Thursday, September 3rd at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café presents Reclaiming Culture: The Future of the Arts . Join us as Sharon McCoubrey of UBCO and the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, Tracie Ward of the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Paul Crawford of the Penticton Art Gallery, Lynne Hossay of the Vernon Community Arts Centre, and Anna Jacyszyn of the Black Box Jazz Cafe discuss the threats and opportunities for the arts in the Okanagan.
Potential cuts to arts funding is a current threat in BC. This session will look at the Arts and what they mean to us as individuals, and as a community. How can we work together to define a new future for the Arts and how we administer and support them.
Our panel of Okanagan arts insiders will discuss how to market the arts in the political, economic and cultural climate of 2009. How can we create this century's arts crusaders? With pending cutbacks, a still flagging economy and a community that might at times seem unreponsive, it's time to really look at coming together to build a secure future for Arts in the Okanagan.
The time is now to consider a unified proposal for how artists, arts organisations, businesses, the media, goverment and funding agencies can work together to define a future for the arts. Panelists will be:
 Sharon McCoubrey is an Associate Professor in the Faulty of Education at UBC Okanagan, with a specialty in art education. She serves as Director of International Affairs. She is currently Past-President of the Canadian Society for Education through Art (CSEA) and has been on the British Columbia Art Teachers' Association (BCATA) Executive for 20 years. She is currently President of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan. She serves on the UBC Okanagan Senate, and is Coordinator of the Overseas Student Teaching Exchange with Australia. Sharon also Chairs the Lake Country Public Art Commission, President of the Lake Country Art Gallery Society, and is in her 11th year as Chairperson of Lake Country ArtWalk. Dr. McCoubrey obtained her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education Degrees from the University of Victoria and her Doctorate Degree from UBC, all in art education. When possible, Sharon spends treasured time in her watercolour studio, or in the peaceful gardens on their organic orchard in Lake Country, BC.
 Tracie Ward has been the Executive Director at the Rotary Centre for the Arts since June 2005. At the time of Tracie's arrival, the building had been open for 3 years. Over the past four years Tracie has played a significant role in stabilizing the utilization of the facility and developing accessible youth and community programming. With more than 20 years of arts management experience, Tracie Ward has an extensive background in programming, management, fundraising and development expertise for non-profit organizations. Tracie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Visual Art and a Bachelor of Education Degree from the University of Regina. As the Executive Director at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Tracie hopes to ensure that the arts remain accessible to all segments of the community and visitors to Kelowna. Commenting on this initiative Tracie said, "Art is for everyone. We need to encourage people of all ages and social standing to participate in the arts to ensure we have future creators and audiences. The arts allow all of us to access the world through a unique window that opens our minds to many alternative perspectives."
 Paul Crawford is the current Director/Curator of the Penticton Art Gallery having arrived in the Okanagan in the fall of 2006. Previously he was the Director / Curator at the Grand Forks Art Gallery from 2002 - 2006. He is also known across the province as a writer, social historian, art consultant and past private gallery owner. His love of art has led him to amass a collection of over 1500 works mainly featuring the work of Canadian artists. Paul Crawford is the founder of the International One Minute Play Festival and a co-producer of the annual ArtsWells Festival. He currently sits on the board of Island Mountain Arts in Wells, BC and has been recently invited to sit on the board of the Joe Plaskett Foundation.
 Lynne Hossay has been involved in the arts for 30 years. She has been a practicing artist in BC and Alberta and received her BFA from the University of Calgary. She has been in the Okanagan for the past 8 years as the Executive Director of the Vernon Community Arts Centre.
 Anna Jacyszyn has a professional music background which began in dance music. A backing vocalist in England for Yazz, Marshall Jefferson, and Cher - but her one love was jazz. Hearing her voice, you can hear traces of Julie London mixed with the graspyness of Billie Holliday. Her talent and looks have been her passport to perform at social events in front of Royalty and Elite Society around the world. Although Anna continues to travel back and forth to Asia, Europe & India, she has recently made Kelowna her base to be closer to her family and Canadian roots. She currently is performing at the Black Box Jazz Cafe at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Reclaiming Culture: The Future of the Arts takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 105th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007.
Express 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, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, poet and professor John Lent, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and others from a wide range of creative fields.
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that has 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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