
We’re Hiring!
Job Posting The Slocan Valley Community Arts Council is looking to hire a part-time contract Administrator (4-6 hours per week). Working under the direction of the SVCAC Board, the Administrator will provide administrative and clerical support with respect to...
Member Grant Deadline extension!
2021 Member Grant Deadline Extension NEW deadline: April 15th, 2021 We know you are busy. We have been too! That's why we've decided to extend our Member Grant application deadline a couple weeks. The new deadline is now April 15th, 2021. Current individual and group...
Stoking the Fire with Pamela Nagley Stevenson
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. I have been a studio potter in the Slocan Valley since 1976, and built my first wood fired kiln here in 2000. That small 16 cu foot kiln was rebuilt into a large two chamber catenary arch...
Art Ski at Whitewater
The melt is on here in the river valley, and we've rounded up the signs from the rail trail this week. But the Art on the Rails exhibition lives on!!! Whitewater Ski Resort is hosting its first-ever Art Ski March 15th-19th. They will be featuring a collection of local...
Thanks for your feedback!
So far, our Art on the Rails outdoor exhibition seems to be a success! We've been getting lots of feedback, and have spoken to many folks on the trail while out checking the signs. Yet we've heard from some friends and followers how it could be even better! So we...
Sculptor Lou Lynn wins Governor General’s Award
The Canada Council for the Arts announced this week that Lou Lynn, Winlaw visual artist and long time Slocan Valley Community Arts Council member, has won the Saidye Bronfman Award, which is the highest distinction handed out in Canada to an artist working in fine...
Art on the Rails: Who Loves Free Art?! Contest details here!
Have you been enjoying the amazing exhibit on the Rails to Trails? We certainly have! Here at the SVCAC love making art accessible for our community so we thought we would put together a little contest for a chance to win some art by our amazing Art on the Rails...
Art on the Rails Exhibition!
It's here! Art on the Rails, our outdoor art exhibition is now on display for the month of February at four locations along the Slocan Valley Rail Trail. Kicking it off with the beautiful snow sculpture of swans at Crescent Valley, you can now view a series of...
‘Winter Guests’ have arrived
If you haven't been out to the valley to see the Trumpeter swans yet, now is the time! A pair of masterfully crafted swans is now on display at the Crescent Valley trailhead opposite Frog Peak Cafe. The large snow sculpture is part of a month-long outdoor Art on the...
Patterns in Nature with Natasha Bogdasavich
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. I grew up in Saskatchewan and then moved to Vancouver when I was 18 to begin a BFA program at Emily Carr University. I then moved to the east side of the country,...
CKCA & CBT Arts & Culture Grants now available
Apply Now! Arts & Culture Funding. Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance, in partnership with Columbia Basin Trust, invites individuals of all artistic disciplines, and arts and cultural groups in the Columbia Basin to apply for project funding. Info and...
Okanagan Authors Hanna Calder & Michael V. Smith Read Virtually January 27th for the Oxygen Art Centre
The focus is on writers from B.C.’s Okanagan Valley for the second Zoom reading event in the 2021 Author Reading Series presented by Nelson, B.C.’s Oxygen Art Centre. Reading from and talking about their work on Wed., Jan. 27 will be Vernon fiction writer and...
Oxygen Adult Education 2021 Art Courses Begin in February
Oxygen Art Centre launches ten new courses scheduled for 2021 with a rich plethora of experiences waiting to be had! Dive into poetry, dabble in painting, cut and paste (old style) with collage, be consumed by colour theory, channel your inner fashion designer,...
Call for Entry: Art on the Rails
Do you miss art like we do? The Slocan Valley Community Arts Council is teaming up with the Slocan Valley Heritage Trail Society this winter to mount an outdoor art exhibition along the rail trail. Designed to showcase our fabulous valley artists, allow for social...
Catching Up With Graham Gillmore
Catching up with Graham about his current work, and asking questions about how 2020 has been for him, he thought it would be best to keep it very simple... The text as he describes is a dialogue between two people, or perhaps him talking to himself. He said, “You are...
Happy New Year! Don’t forget to renew your membership
Wishing all our SVCAC members and valley residents a happy and prosperous New Year ahead! With each new year comes the potential of new possibilities, and this year perhaps a pivot towards new creative directions for many. We recognize that 2020 was challenging on...
Call for Muralists and Walls: Nelson International Mural Festival 2021
The Nelson and District Arts Council (NDAC) is excited to announce that artist and building owner applications for the Nelson International Mural Festival are now live. NDAC is thrilled to be presenting the fourth annual mural festival in collaboration with the City...
Creative Collaborations with Seathra Bell
Textile artist, curator and educator Seathra Bell shares more about her creative practise creating and working with natural dyes that she makes from local plants. Learn more about her process and a creative collaboration she worked on through the summer months during...
A look into Bryn Stevenson’s Majestic Mountain Paintings
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. Born and raised in the Slocan Valley, I love and appreciate the beauty of the West Kootenays. Every since I was a little boy hiking with my dad, I have felt the desire to capture and share the...
Author reading – November 18th
AUTHOR READING SERIES Home & Away Featuring local and visiting B.C. writers at Oxygen Art Centre Co-presented with Elephant Mountain Literary Festival Author Reading Series Timothy Taylor & Fletcher FitzGibbon Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:00 PM Zoom Free/ by...
Discovering Soulful Motion with Shauna Robertson
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. I am a lifelong artist and Kootenay resident for 25 years. I’ve studied several art disciplines; performance art, fine art and functional art. In 1999 I was introduced to world dance practices. I fell...
Cam Stewart’s Handbuilt Ceramics
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. My name is Cameron Stewart, I am a potter and a residential masonry contractor living in Passmore and working throughout the West Kootenay. I moved to the Slocan Valley from Vancouver Island via...
Thank you Peter Vogelaar!
Peter Vogelaar is well known in the Slocan Valley. He and his partner Lesley Mayfield have championed the arts for nearly 30 years in the Slocan, and they have been at it as artists for even longer. We are sad to say goodbye to Peter this year, as he will be stepping...
Work cycles with sculptor Lou Lynn
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. My name is Lou Lynn. I’m a sculptor, working in glass and bronze. My studio is located on our property in Winlaw. My work has an implied reference to once-familiar tools or functional objects, and are...
2020 Annual General Meeting
We invite you to join us for our 2020 SVCAC Annual General Meeting. This year's meeting will be via ZOOM, September 14th, 7:00 pm. 1. Welcome and call to order 2. Agenda review and approval 3. Minutes of the 2019 AGM 4. Treasurer’s Report – 2019 Financial...
Maker & Educator Robin DuPont
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. I am a ceramic artist, kiln builder and educator. My studio practice in the Slocan valley involves firing multiple atmospheric kilns to high temperatures in order to achieve unique surfaces on the work....
Mosaics and more with Rabi’a!
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. "I started late in life (60) as and artist then doors open end..tools were introduced and I haven’t slowed down yet..started with mosaics, then I carved rocks for a while..played with mirror...started...
Author Leesa Dean shares about writing during the pandemic.
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. My name is Leesa Dean and I am a writer living in Krestova with my artist husband, Matty Kakes, and our daughter. My first book, Waiting for the Cyclone, was published in 2016 and my poetry chapbook The...
Slocan Valley Musician Rhoneil is working on her fourth release.
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. I'm an artist that works with elements of the non-human world, like landscape and ancestors, to create experimental music. I use trance practices, ritual, and ceremony, as part of my process. I moved to...
Meet Visual Artist Matty Kakes
Tell us a little about yourself, your work and your art practice. My name is Matty Kakes. I’m a visual artist living with my family in Pass Creek. I mostly paint murals and street art, but occasionally I’ll play around with canvases, found objects, doodling and...
Creativity Continues!
We are amongst the many small non-profit organizations that have been impacted by COVID-19, and have spent the last few months monitoring and wondering how to move forward through these dynamic and unprecedented times. The pandemic has had a sudden and substantial...
SVCAC Announcement & Invitation
Try for a minute to imagine the Slocan Valley without its rich artisan culture. What would our colourful, eclectic valley community be without house concerts, murals, ice sculptures, not to mention studio tours, literary readings, theatre productions. A horrible...
2020 Member Grant Applications now available!
The Slocan Valley Community Arts Council (SVCAC) is now accepting applications for the 2020 Member Grants cycle. Note the granting process has changed recently. Please read the Project Guidelines carefully before applying. [button...
Grant Writing 101 – Slocan Valley Rec workshop
Grant Writing 101 Are you a member of a non-profit group struggling to get a handle on applying for grants? This interactive workshop will include the basics of how the granting process works, real-life examples, tips and tricks for good applications, and a chance for...
Renew your membership today!
Don't delay! Renew your annual Slocan Valley Community Arts Council membership today. We now have an easy form on our website: https://slocanvalleyarts.ca/membership/ and you can now pay through e-transfer! With member grant opportunities just around the corner, we...
Vallican Whole presents: Unscriptured – Travis Bernhardt
Award-winning improvisor/comedian Travis Bernhardt is bringing "Unscriptured" to the Vallican Whole, Saturday January 18th. Doors are at 7pm, show at 7:30. Unscriptured is an improvised church service, from a religion made up on the spot! Travis transforms into...
CKCA and the Trust announce 2020-21 programs
ARTS AND CULTURE GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE Columbia Basin – Artists in all disciplines—as well as arts and culture organizations—are invited to apply for funding through the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA), which delivers the Arts and Culture Program on behalf...
2020 Memberships now available!
2020 Membership in the Slocan Valley Community Arts Council is now open to any individual or organization that supports the mandate of the council, specifically: “To increase and broaden the opportunities for residents of the Slocan Valley and area to enjoy and...
Vallican Whole Community Choir Seasonal Sing-along
The Vallican Whole Community Choir is hosting their annual Seasonal Sing-along & Concert with special guests: The Family of Friends Choir and some members of the RhythmDance Drum Orchestra. Sunday, December 15th 3:00 pm Vallican Whole Community Centre (3762 Little...
Free Grant Writing Workshops
Columbia Basin– Want to learn more about how to apply for arts and culture grants delivered by the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance? Attend a free workshop with Krista Patterson, who will share how to apply and what to expect from the application process....
Member Grant Update
The Slocan Valley Community Arts Council is currently in the process of re-vamping and improving our member grants program. We anticipate that the 2020 application forms will be available in March of 2020, with cheques for successful applicants being presented at the...
Acrylic Pouring Workshop
Slocan Valley Recreation Commission presents: Come and Pour your heart out! with Sherry Heyliger November 14th, 6 - 9 pm Vallican Whole Community Centre "Acrylic Pouring is a simple and fun way to create beautiful art." For more information or to register: rdck.ca or...
Castlegar Sculpture Walk – Call for Entries
Castlegar Sculpture Walk is now accepting submissions for next year’s program, which will open in May 2020. The deadline for applications is October 31st, 5pm PST. They encourage all artists to apply online, however if you require a hardcopy application form please...
Call for Submissions: Life in the Kootenays
The Rossland Council for Arts and Culture (RCAC) will be presenting a juried visual art exhibition entitled, Life in the Kootenays.Submissions to the exhibition should be an artist’s representation of living and working in the Kootenays. The juried exhibition will be...
Animal Brides Series – Exhibition by Lisa Heisler
Board member Lisa Heisler is exhibiting her work this month (September) at Mama Sita's in Winlaw. Animal Brides - Mythic Imagination is a series of Lisa's artwork created with the assistance of a Slocan Valley Community Arts Council member grant. ANIMAL BRIDES -...
Copper Etching Workshop
In celebration of BC Culture Days, the SVCAC is co-presenting a workshop with Slocan Valley Recreation. Learn the basics of copper etching with artist Marty Ryan. In this full day workshop, Marty will guide you through creating a finished piece (ornament, bracelet or...
On the Table – a conversation about arts and culture!
The West Kootenay Regional Arts Council will be hosting an On the Table event on Thursday, September 26, focusing on conversation about arts and culture in the Kootenays. This event is free and open to the public, see further details and RSVP:...
Columbia Basin Culture Tour – August 10 & 11, 2019
Columbia Basin Culture Tour – August 10 & 11, 2019 a project of the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance Slocan Valley – Taking place August 10 & 11 from 10 am - 5 pm, the Columbia Basin Culture Tour allows you to explore artists' studios, museums, art...
Summer Breeze Music and Art Party
The 2nd Annual Summer Breeze Music and Art Party July 13th - Mama Sita's in Winlaw Free All ages event featuring: Live Music, Dance and Theatre Performances Visual Artist Displays and Live Art Created to the Live Music Face Painting ~ Paint Pouring ~ Community Art...
Creative Spark Columbia Basin Grants
Creative Spark Columbia Basin grants NOW offers 100% coverage for projects, up to $2,000. The artist's project must engage young people (ages 5-18) and focus on arts-based learning in any artistic discipline. Creative Spark Columbia Basin enables both professional and...
Fernie Mural Project – Call to Columbia Basin Artists
The Fernie and District Arts Council has been awarded a Public Art Grant by the Columbia Basin Trust and has released a call out to artists in the basin to submit entries. The theme of the mural is "to reflect Fernie's heritage, culture, hopes, dreams and...
Arrow Lakes Fine Arts Guild Artwalk
Headed north this weekend? Arrow Lakes Fine Arts Guild (ALFA) invites you to our Opening Night Celebration to kick off this year's Art Walk in downtown Nakusp BC! The event begins at 4:30 pm Friday night - July 21st and is being held at the Nakusp Heritage Nursery....
Oh What A Feeling!!
Our thanks to all the vendors, performers, families and community members that came out to our Whole Arts & Culture Faire at the Vallican Whole on June 15th, 2019. The sun shone bright and we welcomed more than 300 people that day to enjoy the incredible artworks,...
Performer Line Up Announced for Whole Arts & Culture Faire
The Slocan Valley Community Arts Council is preparing to celebrate the vibrant and growing arts scene at its first annual Whole Arts & Culture Faire at The Vallican Whole Community Centre in the Slocan Valley. (3762 Little Slocan South Road, Winlaw, BC). This...
New series of collage paintings by Natasha Smith
Another one of our new board members is exhibiting her works this month! Studio Connexion Gallery in Nakusp is showcasing Natasha Smith's new series of collage paintings June 11-29th, 2019. "Mapping Landscape" Join Natasha for the opening reception, Friday June 14th 5...
Castlegar Art Walk
The Castlegar Art Walk is coming up fast. This year marks the 23rd annual event and runs June 17th - September 28th at various venues throughout Castlegar. Join participating artists for an Opening Reception on June 13th, 6:30 pm at the Kootenay Gallery. Our newest...
We’re now on Instagram!
We are now on Instagram! Search us up at #slocanvalleyarts and give us a ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️!
Calling All Volunteers!
We are getting close to our inaugural Whole Arts & Culture Event, happening in under two weeks at the Vallican Whole. June 15th will be a fun-filled day from 10 am - 5 pm full of art, music, performance and valley kinship. We are still looking for some helping...
Slocan Valley Community Council elects new board!
We are excited to announce our new board, elected at last night's AGM. The SVCAC welcomes new board members Roxanne MacKay, Sherry Heyliger, Natasha Smith and Lisa Heisler. Returning members include Lance Hall, Eden DuPont, Peter Vogelaar, Lynne Alexander. Thank you...
Spring Extravaganza Concert
Did you know that the Slocan Valley Community Arts Council supports group members too! Come out to the Vallican Whole this Sunday, June 2nd for a delightful joint concert by two of our group members: The Slocan Valley Community Band and the Vallican Whole Community...

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The SVCAC recognizes that we carry out our work on the unceded traditional territory of the Indigenous peoples of this region.
We acknowledge and raise our hands with gratitude to the ancestors and keepers of the land.