2020-2025 Cultural Plan Progress Report Card

syilx Gratitude & Partnership

We acknowledge that our community is located on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the syilx/Okanagan People.

“For syilx people, culture is not separate from the natural world, but rather one living and breathing entity. The methods of our survival have depended on our relationship with the natural world and expressing those relationships and resulting responsibilities through our creativity. The way that syilx people view arts, culture, and heritage is very different from the western perspective. The creative sector of Kelowna, through its Cultural Planning process, must make space for the voice and presence of the syilx people - the rightful caretakers of the lands and waters in which Kelowna is situated. The underlying and all-encompassing spirit that makes Kelowna such a beautiful place to live, work, play, and be, is the very same spirit that has sustained the syilx People since time out of mind.”

―Carrie Terbasket, Weaving Our Collective Threads: Offering a Pathway for Syilx Creativity Within the City of Kelowna, 2019

Get Eventive event strategy engagement (Michael Hintringer)

Culture and Let Culture

by Rawle James

The distant echoes of drums vibe through the valley to the rhythms of change. As its tribal sound entices a dance between light and dark that births a gentle kiss of hope. Our beauty is Okanagan because the land is rich and vibrant. The fires of possible cleanses old perceptions as smoke purifies to awaken our souls to the spirit of those who came before. And as a reminder to the air that binds the village and fuels imagination’s dream.

Seeds of change float upon the four winds as each breath inhaled by the people, carries the unfulfilled promises of our ancestors. And each exhaled breath an inspired piece of our essence for generations to come. An artist vision comes to life as sculptures housed in pillars of black steel. Streets valleyed by two-storied brick buildings facelifted to house the stories of everyday people.

Look around Kelowna, K-town is art in living colour. The spirit of a people blended into the fabric of life. A renaissance of the village ushering balance between days gone by and days to come. Our parks alive with strumming guitar and harmonious melodies, fruitful in unity.

Singers’ sing songs that passions a movement of love that stirs the waters of the mighty Okanagan. The spirit, power and grace of the grizzly bear washes upon the shore to watch over our playful souls.

Inspired words captures her beauty as art imitates life. Our culture is all around.

It’s in the air, in the earth, in the mountains. It lives in our orchards, in our vineyards, in our beaches and in our boardrooms. It can be found in our streets and homes that castle our inner art. It is reflected by numerous and joyous encounters with ogopogo.

From Reid’s hall to carson landing, it’s in the living history of the museum. The uniqueness of Summerhill’s pyramid, to the tranquil roar of Gallagher canyon waterfalls. It’s the sound of laughter on our playgrounds, the cheers of the crowds at the apple bowl. To the many hikes up to Paul’s Tomb and back to ground zero, the Sails.

Kelowna’s story is still being written and we are her authors. We are her living art! The festival that is Kelowna nestled under a big blue sky. Hearts filled with the spirit of the syilx people to draw inspiration from the land and her majestic waters. We are her guardians to her legacy. The keepers of the flame as each step reflects her inner art.

Kelowna awaits with the patience of time as the village collectively composes her next symphony, pens her next poem, sings her next song, dances to her next beat, and reads her next chapter. We are culture’s mosaic! Culture and let Culture.

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Welcome Message from the Cultural Services Manager

Residents and visitors alike know that Kelowna is creative. From theatre and visual art to live music and dance, we are made up of artists that help make our community shine. Even throughout the last few challenging years, the creative community continues to demonstrate an incredible amount of adaptability, moving us toward a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable sector.

As the City’s Cultural Services Manager, I am consistently inspired by Kelowna’s arts leaders, administrators and artists. As you read through their stories in the following pages, I hope you’ll feel inspired too. These stories are what make us who we are; they help us learn from one another so we can work together to achieve our collective vision. By investing strategically, making commitments to space, building capacity, enhancing vitality and building connections, I know the future is bright.

The 2020-2025 Cultural Plan remains a guiding document for cultural development in our community. It is only through the steadfast commitment of artists, cultural organizations, funders, businesses, capacity builders, all levels of government and audiences that we were able to make progress on the 10 goals and 50 strategies of the plan.

As we embark on the second half of the 2020 - 2025 Cultural Plan, we remind our community of our direction forward: we all have a role to play. What’s yours?

―Christine McWillis, Cultural Services Manager

2020–2025 Cultural Plan Vision

The 2020-2025 Cultural Plan is a framework for cultivating an accessible and engaging arts and culture landscape. It is a culmination of efforts from arts, culture and heritage organizations, collectives, artists, key stakeholders, Council, City staff and members of the public over 15 months. This plan was developed by our community, for our community.

Council endorsed the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan on September 16, 2019. The plan sets a shared vision and guiding principles, with ten goals and 50 strategies for accomplishing them. Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, our cultural community has made great strides toward our shared vision. Their efforts will continue to reap the rewards for years to come.

The 2020-2025 Cultural Plan defines culture as:

A porous and flexible concept which includes heritage, the arts, human diversity and many other attributes and practices.

Throughout the plan and this report, the use of the word ’culture’ is intended to be broadly inclusive.

Imagine Kelowna, The Vision to 2040

Almost 4,000 residents helped create Imagine Kelowna, a vision for our community. Adopted in 2018, one of the 14 goals identified by residents is to:

Cultivate an accessible and engaging arts and culture scene. Everyone can find something that interests them to engage in, from grassroots initiatives to professional endeavours.

Full Circle by Sandeep Johal (Uptown Mural Project)

A Culture of Resilience

The bi-annual Cultural Plan Report Card reviews the progress made toward strategic outcomes in the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan. As the first Report Card, this document primarily covers 20202021, a period of unprecedented challenges and uncertainty.

The COVID-19 pandemic covers 90 percent of the reporting period. While cultural groups received less media coverage, their challenges were similar to restaurants and nightclubs. Facilities remained closed for months before opening with restricted capacity and safety plans to protect staff, performers and patrons. Mandated safety restrictions led to the complete cancellation of performance seasons, loss of ticket revenue and the scrapping of critical fundraising events. The ever-evolving nature of the pandemic and subsequent restrictions made it difficult to plan events, performances, programs and rehearsals. The public expressed a renewed appreciation and desire for arts and culture but hesitated to return to facilities, programs and performances.

Further external challenges made COVID-19 struggles that much worse. The summer of 2021 brought a record-breaking heatwave, wildfires, smoke and flooding. In addition, social justice issues came to the fore with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and public recognition of the magnitude of atrocities at Indian Residential Schools.

Throughout this period of turmoil, Kelowna’s arts and culture community continually rose to the challenge, offering programs and initiatives supporting mental health and well-being. This report celebrates the effort, success and resiliency demonstrated by cultural organizations.

Kelowna’s arts and culture community are consistently at the forefront of social leadership, and their commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is commendable. This report shows efforts toward the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, with an understanding that work is just beginning. Inclusivity and accessibility are also key themes, with many groups reviewing processes and programming to ensure that the cultural community is welcoming to everyone.

The Cultural Plan has undoubtedly affected cultural programming and resiliency in Kelowna. We are seeing greater collaboration between groups, broader community outreach and increased governance and strategic planning that leads to long-term sustainability. For some, the Cultural Plan provided a much-needed guiding point during a time of shifting expectations and uncertainty. While the past two years have hampered best-laid plans, the arts and culture community has created and uncovered new opportunities that support the vision for a vibrant Kelowna.

The breadth and scale of Kelowna’s creative sector are impressive. This report does not capture all work and success over the previous two years. Instead, this is an overview of outcomes accomplished by various organizations, projects and initiatives with a particular focus on arts and culture not-for-profits in our community.

COVID-19 restrictions inspire a Backyard Concert series produced in collaboration with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (Chamber Music Kelowna)

Impact of the Pandemic: A COVID-19 Timeline

The ongoing impact of COVID-19 and audience restrictions remains unknown, but it certainly had an impact on public interactions since 2020. As a sector, we work toward recovery and thriving in the new normal.

MARCH 12, 2020

• Gatherings larger than 250 people prohibited

MARCH 16, 2020

• Gatherings of more than 50 people prohibited

• Municipalities asked to close non-essential community hubs

MARCH 17, 2020

• Public health state of emergency declared

• K-12 schools closed indefinitely

• Physical distancing measures begin

MARCH 27, 2020

• Recommendation to avoid gatherings of any size issued

JUNE 1, 2020

• Schools reopened at reduced capacity

JULY 23, 2020

• All premises that serve food/drinks must close dance floors, and patrons must be seated, must not sing, engage in karaoke or dance

JULY 27, 2020

• 2-metre social distancing is required for all events

• A physical barrier and 3-metre separation is required between musicians/performers/ presenters and the audience

AUGUST 7, 2020

• Event organizers ordered to limit all public gatherings larger than 50 people

OCTOBER 26, 2020

• Karaoke, dancing, jam and open mic sessions are prohibited

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

• All indoor and outdoor events are prohibited

• Non-essential travel strongly discouraged

MARCH 12, 2021

• Outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people permitted

MAY 25, 2021

• Entered Step 1 of BC’s Restart Plan

• Maximum of 10 adults for indoor classes at a recreation centre (dance is prohibited)

• Maximum of 50 people for seated outdoor organized gatherings

JUNE 15, 2021

• Entered Step 2 of BC’s Restart Plan

• Announced lifting of restrictions on nonessential travel within BC

• Maximum of 50 people for indoor seated organized gatherings (e.g., live theatre)

JULY 1, 2021

• Entered Step 3 of BC’s Restart Plan

• Indoor seated organized gatherings limited to 50 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater

• Outdoor organized gatherings limited to 5,000 people or 50% seated capacity, whichever is greater

• Fairs and festivals return to normal

• Return to Canada-wide recreational travel

AUGUST 9, 2021

• Outdoor/Indoor organized gatherings limited to no more than 50 people in the Central Okanagan

AUGUST 23, 2021

• Indoor gatherings limited to no more than 50 people in the Interior Health region

• Outdoor organized gatherings limited to no more than 100 people in the Interior Health region

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

• Proof of vaccination required for people 12+ to enter events, services and businesses (e.g., restaurants, gyms, theatres)

• Interior Health region is not included in provincial event capacity limit increase for organized events with proof of vaccination

OCTOBER 25, 2021

• Interior Health region is not included in provincial capacity limit increase for organized events with proof of vaccination

DECEMBER 1, 2021

• Interior Health COVID-19 regional restrictions on gatherings and events are lifted; provincial orders remain in effect

• Indoor events are now allowed at 100% capacity

• Outdoor events continue to have capacity restrictions of 5,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is greater

DECEMBER 20, 2021

• New Year’s gatherings restricted

DECEMBER 22, 2021

• 50% seated capacity for indoor concerts, theatres, performances

JANUARY 10, 2022

• K–12 students return to in-person learning after extended winter break

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

• Capacity restrictions on organized gatherings and events are lifted; dancing allowed

KEY THEME

Strategic Investments

Foster deliberate investments of time, money and people into demonstrated outcomes.

Goal 1: Increase Contribution of Resources

Goal 2: Understand Our Impact

Generating Revenue Through Knowledge - Chamber Music Kelowna, 2020-2021

In 2020, Chamber Music Kelowna implemented a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to better support communications and fundraising efforts. A stakeholder survey returned 56 responses that have helped the organization understand its community impact. In 2021, Chamber Music Kelowna leveraged its understanding of its audience and community impact to create a successful sponsorship program raising over $19,000 in revenue to help support the expansion of educational and community outreach programs.

GOAL 1

Increase Contribution of Resources

Develop a variety of approaches to increase support for the creative sector’s spaces, capacity, vitality and connections.

City of Kelowna Investment Highlights

Culture is a community asset with benefits far exceeding its financial costs, and the City of Kelowna has a long history of funding and supporting arts and culture.

Professional Operating Grants

$165,000

Allocated Annually

5 ORGANIZATIONS

1. Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art

2. Ballet Kelowna

3. New Vintage Theatre

4. Okanagan Symphony Orchestra

5. Opera Kelowna

Leasehold Operating Support

$1,420,193

Allocated Annually

3 ORGANIZATIONS

1. Kelowna Museums Society

2. Kelowna Art Gallery

3. Rotary Centre for the Arts

$343,745

$419,988

In support of local cultural organizations, the City of Kelowna did not cut any operating grant funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Organizations submitted fewer grant applications in 2021 due to ongoing uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we expect an increase in grant applications as groups can better predict and plan their upcoming programming.

Kelowna Cultural District Walking Tour group viewing the Chief Sʷkncut Monument by Crystal Przybille.

Recovery and Sustainability Program

In 2021, 10 arts organizations were accepted into the Recovery and Sustainability program. This one-time program was designed to help non-profit organizations significantly impacted by lost earned revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selected participants were required to participate in a multi-step process.

1. Planning

Complete a consultant-supported process to develop a ’Recovery and Future Sustainability Plan.’ This process required the organization to review the impact of COVID-19 on the organization, gain a deeper understanding of its current state and develop strategies to overcome current challenges or capitalize on existing opportunities.

2. Approval & Funding

Submit the completed plan for review, at which time funding was released.

3. Implementation

The organization works toward completing the action items in the approved plan.

4. Evaluation & Next Steps

Complete a self-evaluation process approximately 1 year after receipt of funding to share progress, successes and ongoing challenges.

$70,000 was allocated for arts and culture organizations through the Recovery and Sustainability grant, helping them adapt to immediate challenges, build organizational strength and resiliency, and enhance their capacity to develop a broader and more sustainable funding model.

Light Up Kelowna offers an artistic experience despite pandemic restrictions, as seen with The Collective Body, 2021 (Inner Fish Theatre Society)

Valentin Chou & Kelsey Hanna of Ballet Kelowna (Kenny Tai)

Volunteer Highlights

Number of community volunteers to the arts

1,093 2020

VOLUNTEER HOURS *

22,992

23,625

half a million worth of support to local cultural

Valuing Creative Sector Workers

Creative sector workers are historically undervalued, often earning substantially less than peers in the private sector while shouldering excess workloads to ensure operations continue. Kelowna’s arts and culture workers are passionate about their work; however, COVID-19’s impact and increasing cost of living amplify the reality that passion is not enough.

Staffing levels at most organizations are inadequate, magnifying stresses caused by the pandemic and contributing to deteriorating mental health and morale. Many experienced, highly-skilled workers are resigning due to this burnout. Organizations are trying to increase staff wages and create positions to support their teams, but additional funding and revenue sources are needed.

Commitment to Living Wages - Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art

“It is important to note that 2021 had a brutal impact on staff morale. The long ‘COVID winter’ was followed by an unprecedented heat dome, wildfires, floods and destruction. Never before have we seen mental health, burnout and work dissatisfaction issues like this.”

―Executive Director, details redacted for privacy

The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art strongly advocates for all arts and culture professionals, from artists to administrators and beyond. In 2020, the Alternator increased wages for junior staff from $15 to $17 per hour to help address precarious work conditions for emerging artists. Their ultimate goal is to achieve living wages for their team and others in the community.

*Volunteer figures as reported by funding recipients. Some hours are not captured due to differences in reporting from 2020 to 2021.

THE VALUE OF VOLUNTEERS

GOAL 2

Understand Our Impact

Leverage the value that culture contributes to the community.

Creative Sector Snapshot

1.5 million people per year, or just over 4,000 people per day on average, attend some type of cultural facility or event.

BETWEEN 2020-2021 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF KELOWNA

$339 million

KELOWNA'S CREATIVE SECTOR MORE THAN DOUBLED IN SIZE FROM 2009 TO 2018.

*Some artistic and cultural organizations may be listed under other categories, such as Event Management or Consulting **Figures as cited in the Kelowna Creative Sector Economic Impact Assessment.

60 CITY OF KELOWNA BUSINESS LICENSES UNDER CREATIVE OR PERFORMING ARTS IN 2021

Post Modern Connection performs at Kelowna MapleFest, 2021 (Centre Culturel Francophone de L’Okanagan)

Community Impact

Cool Arts

“I am very grateful that Cool Arts offered classes on Zoom during the pandemic. I am usually a very busy person. I am a Special Olympics athlete. I sail with the Disabled Sailing Association, and I am a student at UBCO in the Steps Forward program. Since COVID happened, I haven’t been able to do any of these programs. All summer long, I did Cool Arts classes every day on Zoom. It was great to have something to look forward to. And I got to ’see’ my friends. I was really missing all my friends.”

―Kassidy Rutledge, Cool Arts Artist, 2020

Stories of Success and Resilience

The Apollo Initiative - Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra, 2021

Concerned about the mental well-being of their young musicians, BC youth orchestra conductors came together to form The Apollo Initiative in 2020. Named for the Greek god of music and healing, The Apollo Initiative used technology to unite over 350 young musicians for a virtual performance. Six youth orchestras took part, including the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The conductors, including Rosemary Thomson of the OSYO, commissioned new music from Juno Award-winning composer Jordan Nobles. Following weeks of rehearsals, students recorded their parts for Apollo. Then Nobles stitched the pieces together to create a collective digital performance.

The world premiere of Apollo was streamed on Youth Mental Health Day (May 7, 2021) and raised more than $10,000 for youth mental health through the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division.

The Apollo Initiative was a response to COVID-19’s devastating impact on the mental wellness of BC youth. It created an exciting, shared musical experience for youth orchestra members in a time of need. But through the process, The Apollo Initiative empowered and inspired all involved and ignited meaningful conversations among students.

“Music has the power to change lives, and each of us has witnessed its ability to strengthen the mental wellbeing of our students. The Apollo Initiative has provided all of us with the opportunity to share that power.”

―Rosemary Thomson, Music Director and Conductor, Okanagan Symphony and the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra

Strings Among the Vines, Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra, 2019

Virtual Programming - Kelowna Museums

In response to COVID-19 restrictions, staff at the Kelowna Museums Society developed several successful virtual programs in 2020.

Virtual Field Studies enabled students and teachers to go on “field trips” while learning remotely. With options for every grade and multiple subjects, the program was “a lifeboat” for teachers trying to engage their students with online learning.

The general public embraced a variety of digital content and virtual programs, from tours and lectures to a family-friendly Instagram Live series. By the end of 2020, Kelowna Museums amassed 3,691 views of their 25 Instagram Live videos and the Winter’s Night Lantern Tour video on YouTube.

Through 37 virtual programs and 253 Virtual Field Studies, KMS did an incredible job of removing barriers and simplifying access to cultural activities for the community in 2020.

Share the Sunshine - Federation of Canadian Artists, 2021

“You guys [Kelowna Museums] are punching above your weight in terms of digital communications. We are impressed.”

―MuseWeb Coordinator

The Central Okanagan Chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists helped create the massive Share the Sunshine project. Artists produced over 406 paintings with personal messages on each canvas to say ‘thank you’ to the ICU health care workers at KGH following protests in September 2021. This project made headlines on Global Okanagan and KelownaNow as an example of how an arts organization can unite a community to care for others via creativity.

As classrooms transition to remote learning, Allison Wardle brings students on a virtual field trip to the museum. (Kelowna Museums Society)

KEY THEME

Spaces

Use new and traditional approaches for enhancing the availability, affordability and accessibility of spaces for culture.

Goal 3: Optimize Existing Spaces

Goal 4: Commit to Developing New Facilities

Laurel Square - Kelowna Museums Society and City of Kelowna, 2020-2021

The City of Kelowna and Kelowna Museums Society collaboratively completed the Laurel Square project in 2021. Located behind the Laurel Packinghouse, the new city park is designed and built to highlight the Okanagan’s rich natural and human heritage. Featuring a pollinator hotel, an indigenous and drought-tolerant garden, an oversized ’Codling Moths and Orchard Ladders’ game, and interactive displays celebrating our agricultural history, Laurel Square is a welcome addition to the Cultural District.

Kelowna Museums staff program the park as an outdoor classroom throughout the warmer months. Families, adults, and school groups are impressed by Laurel Square’s innovation and have expressed their delight at the rich experience it offers. One newcomer remarked, “This is the kind of thing we are starting to see in Europe, but not here!”

Optimize Existing Spaces

Improve the use of existing space and allow for alternative solutions to meet community needs.

Stories of Success and Resilience

In 2020:

• The Okanagan Historical Society completed a governance study of the Father Pandosy Mission.

• Centre Culturel Francophone de l’Okanagan renovated its building, improving accessibility and creating more functional and versatile spaces for programming and rentals.

• BC Old Time Fiddlers adapted to pandemic restrictions by performing outside retirement homes, where seniors could watch and enjoy from their balconies.

Investments and Initiatives - Central Okanagan Heritage Society, 2020-2021

In 2020, investments included:

• $16,000 for Reid Hall roof replacement.

• $13,000 for sealing earth floors in crawl spaces below Benvoulin Heritage Church and McIver House.

• $4,000 to replace an air conditioning unit at Benvoulin Heritage Church, helping maintain humidity levels and preserve the beloved historic site.

In 2021, the organization:

• Worked with City staff and Council to have Benvoulin Heritage Park protected by a Municipal Heritage Designation.

• Completed a professional Heritage Conservation Plan for McDougall House (built in 1886), situated in Guisachan Park.

• Partnered with the Okanagan Master Gardeners to reestablish the gardens at Benvoulin Heritage Park with accurate period plantings.

The Glass Gallery - Kelowna Art Gallery, 2021

The Glass Gallery is a new exhibition space launched in 2021. It celebrates the work of local emerging artists through three featured installations each year. Located adjacent to the main entrance of the Kelowna Art Gallery, visitors can see The Glass Gallery 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

BC Old Time Fiddlers perform for Get Eventive, 2021 (Michael Hintringer)

Improving Audio ExperiencesKelowna Community Theatre & Mary Irwin Theatre, 2021

The Kelowna Community Theatre received a new sound system with Auris Hearing Loop in 2021, improving accessibility and audio quality for performers and audiences.

$22,000 in equipment was repurposed for the Mary Irwin Theatre, a smaller venue better suited to its capabilities. The Rotary Centre for the Arts invested a further $10,000 for the installation and a new digital sound control board.

City of Kelowna Highlights

Heritage Grants Program

The Heritage Grants Program promotes the conservation of heritage buildings by providing building owners with grants covering a portion of their costs for conservation work (up to 50 percent). All work funded by the program must meet the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Heritage-designated buildings are eligible for a maximum of $12,500 per three-year period, and buildings listed on the City of Kelowna’s Heritage Register are eligible for a maximum of $7,500 per three-year period.

The Central Okanagan Heritage Society administers the Heritage Grants Program on behalf of the City of Kelowna.

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Outdoor Banner Exhibition Program - City of Kelowna and UBC Okanagan

The Outdoor Banner Exhibition Program was formed in 2020 to bring more original artwork to the Cultural District while creating opportunities for artists during pandemic-related closures. Through a partnership with the UBC Okanagan Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, 14 original artworks by students, staff and faculty are showcased on light standards in the Cultural District’s Rotary Arts Common and along the Art Walk. The program is ongoing, with new artists and works exhibited each spring.

Commit to Developing New Facilities

Actively plan and seek opportunities for the advancement of new cultural facilities.

City of Kelowna Plans

Cultural Facilities Master Plan

Presented in January 2022, the Cultural Facilities Master Plan expands on the goals and objectives of the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan. The Cultural Facilities Master Plan explores the current use of municipally-owned cultural facilities, their opportunities and challenges, and what is needed to enhance Kelowna’s cultural space moving forward.

The plan includes vital insights for Goal 3: Optimize Existing Spaces and Goal 4: Commit to Developing New Facilities per the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan. Key insights include building capacity within organizations, implementing a prioritization tool, rethinking how community space can be created, investing in existing facilities and embracing innovative approaches.

As noted in the CFMP, the 10-year Capital Plan indicates major P1 investments for the Kelowna Community Campus, Capital News Centre, Mission Activity Centre and numerous parks projects. However, there is a tremendous opportunity to increase access to arts and cultural activities throughout the city by incorporating the needs of the creative sector within these projects. This integrative approach optimizes investment and reflects the guidance in Imagine Kelowna, the 2040 Official Community Plan and the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan.

10-year Capital Plan, 2022-2031

43

12

5

Municipally-owned Cultural Facilities

Organizations Consulted

6 Key Initiatives

City Departments Involved Key Recommendations

45 Action Steps

13

The City of Kelowna’s 10-year Capital Plan has been greatly impacted by factors beyond its control, including rising borrowing costs, labour shortages, supply chain challenges and increased energy costs. The 10-year Capital Plan is updated annually to reflect current realities. Currently, it includes two fully-funded priority 1 (P1) cultural facilities projects and several unfunded priority 2 (P2) projects that directly address the arts and culture community.

Funding Allocation for P1 Cultural Projects in 10-year Capital Plan

• 2020: $1,605,700

• 2021: $5,688,900

• 2022: $5,133,600

Priority 1 (P1) Cultural Projects

Priority 1 (P1) Community Project Opportunities

(P2) Cultural Projects*

*Infrastructure projects that are lower priority and not fully funded are deemed Priority 2 (P2) projects.

New and Upcoming Initiatives

Creative Hub at 350 Doyle

350 Doyle Avenue is the location of the former Kelowna RCMP building in the centre of Kelowna’s Cultural District and a key site per the Civic Precinct Plan (endorsed in 2016). Any development should support the growth of a dynamic Cultural District, including a 6,000 sq. ft. shell space for community use, interfacing with a new civic plaza and ArtWalk extension to Doyle Avenue. Appelt Properties (formerly Rise Developments) was selected to lease and develop the property, a new 25-story mixed-use building dubbed MUSE.

The Creative Hub will be a purpose-built space that supports cross-collaboration between arts and culture groups. The Hub concept delivers an innovative, community-led space for creative production, a new platform for art in the community and will further support public engagement that fosters a rich cultural life in the community.

The City is collaborating with the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmakers, and Creative Okanagan on the Creative Hub project. With support from the project partners, the Alternator has successfully secured funding from the BC Arts Council to support components of the Phase 2 work and to supplement the support provided by the City of Kelowna. It is anticipated that these groups will occupy the Creative Hub space.

Red Bird Brewing

In 2021, Red Bird Brewing completed a substantial renovation and expansion of their popular Richter Street brewery, taking them from a licensed capacity of 99 to 500. Live music formed a crucial part of the expansion, with indoor and outdoor stages now welcoming a bevy of local and touring artists.

KEY THEME Vitality

Animate the community with a blend of programs, services and events that promote artistic excellence and share Kelowna’s history.

Goal 5: Learn from Our Past Goal 6: Boost Vitality at the Street Level

Light Up Kelowna - Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, 2021

The Collective Body - Inner Fish Theatre Society, 2021

The concept for Light Up Kelowna emerged in 2020. This new initiative saw a Cultural District facade transformed as a series of cutting-edge outdoor projections were cast onto exterior windows of the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

Led by ARTSCO in partnership with UBCO’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, the initial iteration of Light Up Kelowna brought art into a new space, removed barriers, transformed the side of a building into a canvas and turned some of the pandemic’s challenges into an opportunity for groundbreaking exhibitions. All Light Up Kelowna screenings are free and open to the public.

The Collective Body was the first piece featured through Light Up Kelowna. A part of the Inner Fish Theatre Society’s fifth annual Living Things Festival in 2021, The Collective Body saw an evocative video collage of diverse bodies projected onto the Rotary Centre for the Arts as a cascade of sensual sound washed over visitors.

The Collective Body was truly a ’COVID-project’ in that it brought dancers, body parts and musicians from across North America together in a unique way. Dancers filmed choreography for discrete body parts and then sent the footage to musicians to create sound elements in response to the imagery. Until a Zoom gathering towards the end of The Collective’s Body’s run, the performers’ only contact with each other was through sound or imagery.

Various pieces with diverse themes have since been featured as a part of the Light Up Kelowna series, and ideas are underway to expand the program to other facilities within the Cultural District.

Tombstone Tours at Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery on Casorso Rd. with Bob Hayes, Okanagan Historical Society (Kelowna Museums Society)

City of Kelowna Highlights

Cultural District Heritage Kiosks

The City of Kelowna worked with Kelowna Museums Society and Sncəwips Heritage Museum to update heritage panels in downtown Kelowna. The new panels better reflect the region’s rich Indigenous history, and community heritage.

Stories of Success and Resilience

Tmix

ʷ

- Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, 2020

In March 2020, the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra presented Tmixʷ , their new commissioned education show curated by Suknaquin-Syilx multidisciplinary artist Cori Derickson along with Summerland composer Anita Perry.

Tmixʷ (the nsyilxcәn word for animals) is based on the captikʷł by Mourning Dove and tells the traditional story of “How Spirit Chief Names the Animal People.” The OSO was joined by syilx, Shuswap and Lil’wat performers and children from three Cultural Immersion schools, performing for 4,000 students throughout the valley. With narration, visual backdrops, traditional songs and new music for orchestra, Tmixʷ demonstrates the profound connection of Indigenous people to all living things.

Three years in the making, Tmixʷ was performed from March 9 to 11, completing its scheduled run the day before the province restricted gatherings due to COVID-19. The show was made possible with support from a Youth Engagement Grant from the BC Arts Council.

Indigenous Programs and PartnershipsKelowna Museums

In 2020, the Kelowna Museums Society presented Our Living Languagesa travelling exhibition from the Royal BC Museum in Victoria that explores the resilience of the languages and cultures of BC’s First Peoples. Kelowna Museums also collaborated with Sncewips Heritage Museum and Syilx Language House to include additional content highlighting the syilx/ Okanagan language.

Kelowna Museums collaborates with syilx Elders and Knowledge Keepers through Wildrose Cultural Traditions to present cultural programming for a broad audience. The popular language course, Nsyilxcən for Everyone, teaches basic vocabulary and its connection to culture and place. Meanwhile, participants attending Na’ʔk’’ulamən classes learn various syilx cultural practices and traditions, from uses for indigenous plants to the significance of the Orange Shirt Story.

“Tmixʷ was a huge learning curve and a beautiful shared experience which offered new friendships and a step toward reconciliation.”

―Okanagan Symphony Society

“It was so encouraging to see all that you have at the museum and your steps toward reconciliation. I was very impressed with your collection and how much of a focus you give to Indigenous communities and your care and consideration in explaining the various parts to us was evidence of a deeper concern for truth and reconciliation.”

―Student, UBC Okanagan

In 2021:

• 450 people visited the Okanagan Heritage Museum on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

• Kelowna Museums was the first museum in BC to sign the new BC Museums Association Repatriation Pledge.

• Kelowna Museums was among the first organizations to commit to the new BC Heritage and Reconciliation Pledge, passed unanimously on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Central Okanagan Heritage Society

“For too long, we have only talked about ’heritage’ from European contact onward; we are committed to being more inclusive and respectful of those who have an equal heritage.”

―Central Okanagan Heritage Society, 2021

Community Impact

Tombstone Tours - Okanagan Historical Society and Kelowna Museums

In 2020, Kelowna Museums and the Okanagan Historical Society offered 17 guided ’Tombstone Tours’ in the Pioneer Section of the Kelowna Memorial Cemetery.

“We had so much fun attending Tombstone Tours this summer that we wanted to share the experience with our friends. To celebrate my wife’s birthday, we booked a private tour with Bob Hayes for ourselves and six of our friends. Everyone loved the tour and was excited to learn about our local history in such a unique and beautiful setting!”

―Vincent Jones, 2020

Dolyna Ukrainian Cultural Society

Founded in 2009, the Dolyna Ukrainian Cultural Society teaches and shares Ukrainian traditions with the community and fosters an important cultural connection for Kelowna’s Ukrainian residents.

“I mention family, and my Ukrainian family, specifically, because one of the greatest gifts of joining Dolyna has been our sense of belonging to a kind of surrogate Ukrainian family.

… I don’t overstate the case when I say that Esmé’s instructors have become honourary aunts and uncles; her classmates are like cousins. Tuesday dance practices are the highlight of Esmé’s week. In the absence of her actual extended, Ukrainian family, she has embraced, and has been embraced by, the Dolyna family.”

―Lisa Grekul, Ph.D., 2020

PEOPLE VISITED THE OKANAGAN HERITAGE MUSEUM ON THE FIRST NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION.

Boost Vitality at the Street Level

Create excitement and activity throughout Kelowna.

Stories of Success and Resilience

Meet me on Bernard, 2021

Meet me on Bernard was started in 2021 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A collaboration between the Downtown Kelowna Association, Tourism Kelowna and the City of Kelowna, Meet me on Bernard sees four blocks of Bernard Avenue open to pedestrian-only traffic from the end of June to the beginning of September. As a result, the streets become animated public spaces featuring art, live music and entertainment and community gathering spaces.

• 7 Parklets

• 7 Augmented Reality Artworks curated by the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art

• 12 “Totally Tubular” art tubes designed by Grade 12 students at Okanagan Mission Secondary

• Performances by local artists and buskers

Central Okanagan Music Strategy - Creative Okanagan, 2020-2021

The Central Okanagan Music Strategy (COMS) has arrived! Released in November 2021, this community-led initiative fosters music sector connection and collaboration across the region, including Kelowna, Lake Country, West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, syilx/Okanagan territory and Peachland.

In spring 2021, COMS brought people together for a virtual gathering called the UpBeat Music Summit. 110+ participants attended nine virtual sessions swapping ideas and sharing thoughts on various topics such as venues, artists, access, inclusion, youth, audiences, partnerships and collaboration.

Ultimately, this connection will help foster community and will help improve the sustainability of the local music industry. COMS has 16 strategic goals and 48 supporting actions for advancing the music sector in the region.

Dances at Home - Ballet Kelowna, 2020

During the shutdown, Ballet Kelowna Artistic Director and CEO Simone Orlando initiated a remote choreographic workshop for the company to keep their audiences engaged and show a greater diversity in the talent of their company members as choreographers themselves. Company member Kurt Werner created for four of the dancers via Zoom while Seiji Suzuki choreographed a solo for Yuka Otsuki in their one-room apartment. The works-in-progress were featured on their Facebook page and led to Ballet Kelowna dancers creating more of their own work to be featured in future live performances.

Sidewalk Serenades - Opera Kelowna, 2020

While the pandemic forced Opera Kelowna to cancel its 2020 planned activities and performances, the professional company was determined to remain active in the community.

Sidewalk Serenades has since been replicated by other Canadian companies and has proven so popular that Opera Kelowna has continued the program despite easing restrictions.

“To provide solace and connection in response to COVID-19, we embarked on our new program, Sidewalk Serenades, safely performing from the sidewalk on all sides of long-term seniors’ residences. We performed over thirty “Serenades” coordinated by a contract administrative position, which were offered free of charge to the residences. We performed for just under thirty residences singing for more than 1200 residents.”

Outdoor Practice in Parks - Kelowna Pipe Band Society, 2020

“Once the weather warmed, our entire band took to practicing in local parks so that we could socially distance and still practice. It also gave the public some entertainment. We chose different areas each week. This helped us keep up the practicing and keep our members together.”

The Kelowna Pipe Band Society is a Grade Four pipe band. It is one of the oldest pipe bands in BC, beginning in 1923 with a small group of playing members and growing to a contingent of nearly 30 playing members today. As the Kelowna Pipe Band Society celebrates its centennial anniversary in 2023, we look forward to their continued growth and impact as they share pipeband music with the community.

Okanagan Comedy Festival, 2021

The Okanagan Comedy Festival had big plans for 2021 following the cancellation of their 2020 festival, including six live recording theatre shows with CBC, plus more than twenty stand-up shows in bars, wineries, golf courses and restaurants throughout the region. Unfortunately, restrictions on gatherings forced the group to scale back their original plans. Still, the Okanagan Comedy Festival was more determined than ever to bring the healing power of laughter to the community.

To help make the festival happen, performers agreed to smaller payment guarantees due to the limited audience size and the number of shows was reduced to 11. Meanwhile, new sponsors came on board to help offset some of the lost revenue. Despite capacity restrictions, some 550 people attended the 2021 Okanagan Comedy Festival, including six shows across Kelowna. Highlights included the live recording of two shows—CBC’s The Debaters with Steve Patterson and Laugh out Loud hosted by Ali Hassan at the Mary Irwin Theatre.

“The most touching thing I witnessed was a small family group out together at our outdoor show at DunnEnzies. The mother was clearly going through cancer treatments but was out bundled in a blanket laughing with her family forgetting her stresses for just a little while. The style of show we provided allowed them to feel safe enough to sit in their bubble and share a laugh.”

Goal

6: Boost Vitality at

Kelowna Buskers

The Kelowna Buskers Program welcomes professional and amateur buskers to perform their “street style” art form, including mime, physical comedy, juggling, puppetry, playing an instrument, or singing.

BUSK STOPS REDUCED FROM 17 TO 10

The Kelowna Buskers program continues to support creative sector development and street-level vitality in the community.

Public Art

2 0 2 1

PERMITS 20 20 17

12 GROUP PERMITS

41 SOLO PERMITS

33 NEW ACTS TO THE PROGRAM 15 ACTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18

84 artworks were included in the City of Kelowna’s public art listings in 2021. An outstanding 14 artworks were added to the listing in 2020 and 2021, due in large part to the efforts of the Uptown Mural Project.

Supported by the Uptown Rutland Business Association, the project aims to beautify the Rutland community, encourage local artistic development, increase walkability within the business improvement area, and inspire youth through contemporary public art.

53

28 BUSKING PERMITS ISSUED

2021

Goal 6: Boost Vitality at the Street Level

The Mural That Inspired Education and Technology

CTQ Consultants approached the UBCO Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies with a unique opportunity; To design and paint a mural on the two-storey wall bordering their downtown Kelowna office. The discussions led to the formation of a new mural course for UBCO Bachelor of Fine Arts students, a first in Canada.

Upstream, a “psychedelic” salmon mural, was completed by UBC Okanagan art instructor David Doody and his students in the summer of 2020.

Meanwhile, Dianne Gray, a GIS Specialist at CTQ, became curious about how many other murals are hidden in plain sight around Kelowna. Dianne volunteered her time and began photographing and logging the city’s murals and their histories. In March 2021, CTQ launched Dianne’s ongoing project muralmap. ca, an ever-growing interactive map of Kelowna’s murals.

Lifted by David Doody & Jeremy Shantz (Uptown Mural Project)

KEY THEME

Capacity

Build on the creative sector’s ability to respond to changing demands and new opportunities.

Goal 7: Support a Viable Creative Sector

BESTi - Building Excellence and Sustainability Together Intensive

BESTi is a 12-month cohort program for not-for-profit organizations in the Central Okanagan. The program provided capacity-building support for eligible organizations, including developing stronger governance, management, administrative systems, financial resources and programs. Participants were awarded a $5,000 grant to help implement their strategy.

BESTi is an exciting initiative jointly offered by the Central Okanagan Foundation, Valley First - a Division of First West Credit Union, Nonprofit Lifecycles Institute, Vantage Point, and the City of Kelowna.

Six organizations received funding, including two from the creative sector.

“The BESTi program has been transformative for Cool Arts because we reflected on the organization’s current structure, set priorities within our capabilities, and at the same time build capacity. With the BESTi support and guidance of our amazing consultant, Weldon Leblanc, we feel empowered, energized, and unstoppable, which ultimately supports our raison d’être—the Artists of Cool Arts!”

―Cool Arts Society

Support a Viable Creative Sector

Enhance administrative, financial, management and governance systems that create a strong foundation for the future.

City of Kelowna Highlights

ROAR Card Toolkit - Recovery, Opportunities and Resilience

The City of Kelowna Cultural Services team performed wellness checks through the pandemic to understand where organizations were struggling or could use additional support. The wellness checks provided much-needed insight into trends, opportunities for providing or advocating for additional supports and aiding the well-being of each organization.

The wellness checks also inspired the development of the ROAR Card Toolkit with support from EQ Development Group. ROAR Card Toolkits are a free resource for non-profit organizations to help stimulate reflection and self-awareness. The cards help guide conversations about how specific circumstances have impacted them, leading the organization to discover what actions might support future resilience.

The cards are divided into four themes:

• Systems and Structure

• Finance and Audits

• People and Processes

• Communications and Connection

The themes and topics were developed based on key areas of concern identified by non-profits during the height of the pandemic. These conversations will support the development of future actions for the organization to build strength and resilience.

Stories of Success and Resilience

Diversity & Inclusion - Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, 2021

In 2021, the Alternator’s Board of Directors underwent diversity and inclusion training to support the creation of a new diversity policy and action plan. The updated approach had an immediate impact. Minor changes to their artist call process resulted in the Alternator receiving requests for accommodations from

Roots & Gardens by Moozhan Ahmadzadegan on display at the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art (Andreas Rutkauskas)

a number of new artists who may not have otherwise applied to the gallery, broadening the gallery’s engagement with a wider group of artistic voices. With support from gallery staff during the submission process, one of these submissions was accepted by the programming committee and exhibited in the gallery in 2022.

EDI Workshop - Kelowna Community Resources, 2020

Kelowna Community Resources (KCR) understands that diversity and inclusion training is critical for our community’s vitality and well-being. In 2020, KCR contracted two local diversity & equity facilitators to create a curriculum for a Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Workshop. A working committee reviewed the program, and it was then rolled out as a pilot workshop at no cost for non-profit arts organizations and community members.

Workshop participants can see the value of diversity and, more importantly, know how to ensure their organizations are creating safe spaces that welcome and value diverse individuals. The curriculum addresses a wide spectrum of diversity, including Indigenous and cultural, gender, sex and diverse abilities perspectives.

“It hit home for me that we have the responsibility and obligation to ensure we create culturally safe and welcoming spaces in our organization - we can’t just be satisfied with saying we are diverse and recruiting diverse people to our team.”

―Workshop participant

• 100% of participant survey respondents felt they had learned something useful

• 60% of respondents felt they were more empowered to enact change in their organization

• 100% of respondents would recommend the workshop to others

“This is really only the start, and it is amazing to have tools like this curriculum to move forward with understanding and respect and to empower both diverse people and their allies to activate change.”

―Kelowna Community Resources

3-year Strategic Plan - Kelowna Art Gallery, 2021

In 2021, the Kelowna Art Gallery Board of Directors undertook a strategic planning session to create a three-year strategic plan spanning January 2022 to December 2024. A tactical plan for staff was also developed, with staff meeting monthly to review achievements and discuss areas for improvement or change. A new vision, mission, values and mandate were also part of the strategic plan visioning. The following key areas of focus were determined in alignment with the City of Kelowna’s 2020-2025 Cultural Plan:

• Supporting the arts and acting as a community conduit to elevate the arts

• Organizational excellence and building our organizational capacity to increase our efficiency and impact

• Community engagement and strengthening our relationships in the community

Artist Ana Luyben launches The Empowered Project in March 2020 in support of women empowerment and the Elizabeth Fry Society’s #SPEAKOUT campaign.

Opportunities to Grow An Urgent Need for Strong Governance and Sustainability

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed fractures in systems of governance and amplified the need to examine organizational sustainability. Even our city’s strongest and most robust organizations struggled; with financial resources, adapting to new technology, messaging, human resources and engaging audiences and supporters.

• Experienced board members with complementary skill sets are needed to assist non-profit organizations in developing and maintaining robust systems and processes for continued success.

• Consistent and diversified funding is an ongoing challenge, made more difficult by inflation and pandemic-related knock-on effects.

• Investment in technology and skills training will help organizations maximize existing resources.

• Volunteers’ value must be fully recognized and celebrated as a critical component of organizational sustainability.

• Financial resources are a pressing concern for all organizations. Funding is not increasing in line with inflation, and there is justifiable concern around funding certainty, particularly concerning potential shifts in provincial and federal granting programs.

The Impact of Critical Loss

As we return to a more stable and predictable world, organizations must reflect on the weaknesses uncovered and magnified over the past few years. While our organizations were largely fortunate in avoiding worst-case pandemic outcomes, the possibility of critical loss was still present.

Most organizations are heavily reliant on a handful of key individuals. These organizations may experience catastrophic consequences if the health of an executive director, board member, volunteer or staff member takes a turn for the worse. There is an urgent need for documentation of policies, procedures and knowledge-sharing, as well as ongoing review and updating of documents.

The shift to work-from-home also brings the potential for critical data loss and digital security threats for organizations across all sectors. Protocols should be created to ensure that data is managed safely and that backups or hard copies of information are regularly reviewed and updated accordingly.

COVID-19 guidance inspires an unusual birthday gathering; a private historical tour at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery. (By Jove Co./Vincent Jones)

Connections

Promote ongoing interactions between people, sectors and disciplines.

Goal 8: Share Our Story

Goal 9: Broaden the Reach

Goal 10: Convene and Connect

Metamorphosis Cabaret - Inspired Word Cafe, 2020

What was the most significant highlight of your project?

“Community building through hardship.”

When the world ground to a halt in March 2020, it seemed as though the Metamorphosis Cabaret wasn’t going to happen. Only six days before the event, the Inspired Word Cafe (IWC) was forced to cancel the entire cabaret, including workshops, flights and accommodations.

For the next six months, IWC re-imagined the Metamorphosis Cabaret as a virtual event. A portion of the budget was reallocated to purchase technical needs such as videography and editing. Workshops were scaled down to help visiting artists manage engagement with participants. The COVID-19 pandemic also brought new partnership opportunities with local organizations, Living Positive Resource Centre and PONY! Cabaret, helping recoup costs and reach new audiences in Kelowna.

In November 2020, Metamorphosis Cabaret welcomed two visiting poets, Tanya Evanson and El Jones, five local performers, a tech team, 60 workshop participants, and 75 cabaret attendees. The shift to virtual programming resulted in Metamorphosis Cabaret welcoming attendees from Saskatchewan, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, Greece and Iran. Guests participated in vibrant real-time chat discussions, expressing awe and admiration for the visiting poets while connecting deeply with one another. “It was an unexpected and lovely condition of the virtual event.”

Marjan, a young woman in Iran, was one of the attendees, joining the cabaret and both workshops after finding the event on Eventbrite. The following month, she woke up at 6:30 a.m. to present at the Inspired Word Cafe’s Virtual Open Mic. The young poet spoke openly about the opportunity to share personal work, a freedom not regularly afforded to her in Iran.

Share Our Story

Celebrate local activities, initiatives and successes with the broader community.

Stories of Success and Resilience Art is what YOU make of it - ARTSCO, 2020

This unique video series was an effort by the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan to support our artistic community through COVID-19. The series is filmed over a two-day session in the Mary Irwin Theatre and introduces us to local artists, sharing their inspiration, process and works. The videos themselves are a powerful visual representation of the impact of COVID-19, shot with the camera focused on the empty theatre with the interviewer and interviewee sitting more than 12 feet apart.

The video series was developed in partnership with the Okanagan Society of Independent Filmmaking, Sage-ing, the Okanagan Institute and the Okanagan Regional Library. Nine videos were created, reaching audience members throughout the Okanagan and the world. By pivoting to digital, ARTSCO embraced the need to diversify its programs to ensure the health and safety of artists and their audience while still creating a connection between them.

An Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Music - Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, 2020

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra celebrated their 60th anniversary in February 2020. The “OSO Diamond Anniversary” concert showcased several stages of OSO development, including current Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra students and OSO professionals. The OSO also welcomed back several OSYO graduates enjoying burgeoning careers in Germany, Toronto, California and Vancouver. The former students joined the concert as soloists and composers. The OSO Diamond Anniversary concert also included three world premieres and honoured Ernst Schneider, one of the Okanagan’s most accomplished composers, by performing one of his works in his 80th year.

The Canadian Music Centre’s (CMC) BC Director, Sean Bickerton, was in attendance to honour Ernst and to award the OSO with the Barbara Pentland Award of Excellence in recognition of their “outstanding contribution to Canadian music.”

Open Mic, 2021 (Inspired Word Cafe)

Media Outreach - Okanagan Historical Society, 2020

In 2020, the Okanagan Historical Society:

• Contributed 52 articles on local history to the Kelowna Daily Courier

• Presented six radio talks, including five with AM 1150 and 1 in Manitoba

Access Tenets - Inspired Word Cafe, 2020

Just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Inspired Word Cafe had undergone a self-audit of its mission and values to see where they could make improvements. A detailed survey revealed that 30% of their literary performers self-identify as a visible minority. This led to a deeper conversation about creating access and respectful spaces for all members of our community, not just the majority of the population. The board and key stakeholders created their Access Tenets that now help to guide the organization as they make strategic and practical decisions around inclusivity and competing modes of accessibility. It ensures that all decisions are made with access as a foregrounded consideration (for minority groups, persons with diverse abilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, etc.) and leaves room for ongoing feedback that allows for shifts and changes as understanding grows. The Access Tenets were presented to the community virtually, as were all their programs over the COVID-19 pandemic, and the response from the community was very positive, with a reported zero drop in audience sizes.

City of Kelowna Highlights

kelowna.ca/culture

Fluctuating and reduced website traffic to the City of Kelowna’s culture page is indicative of the struggles experienced by local creatives and cultural organizations, but early trends in 2022 show returning interest more in line with pre-pandemic numbers.

*Period spanning Jan. 1 - Jun. 7, 2022

Broaden the Reach

Incorporate culture within other sectors as an integral piece.

City of Kelowna Highlights

Representing the Creative Sector in City Plans and Policies

Strategy 9.5 of the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan indicates that the City should “Ensure the needs of the creative sector are appropriately captured in City Plans and Policies.”

2040 Official Community Plan

Kelowna’s creative sector is represented in the City of Kelowna’s 2040 Official Community Plan. Culture is assigned key objectives and strategies in chapters for neighbourhood planning and future land use designation, as well as parks.

City of Kelowna Artist in Residence

The City of Kelowna launched its Artist in Residence program in 2020 to broaden the community’s experience with arts and culture, and stimulate thoughtful conversation on local topics.

The Artist in Residence program advances several goals and strategies outlined in the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan, including the promotion of fair wages, animating community spaces, and promoting social inclusion.

The Artist in Residence receives up to $12,000 in funding and, in return, is expected to actively engage with the community in the context of arts and culture and address the topic of social inclusion through community engagement and the work of art.

2020 Artist in Residence

Artist: Melany Nugent-Noble

Project: When it is necessary to stand still.

Nugent-Noble presented her project ‘When it is necessary to stand still’ over 12 weeks from July 7 to Sept. 30, 2020. The project included the building and programming of 25 distance-detecting light beacons. The beacons changed in colour and intensity, becoming brighter when they were closer together and dimmer when they were further apart. Kelowna residents were invited to sign-up to take the beacon with them as they moved throughout the community for a three-day period.

City of Kelowna Artist in Residence, Melany Nugent-Noble - When it is necessary to stand still., 2020

2021 Artist in Residence

Artist: Lady Dia

Project: The Jam: Using Ubuntu to explore a community-centered approach to discuss and shape the future of a more inclusive Kelowna with our community.

This project - through the philosophy of Ubuntu - used the art of ‘The Jam’ to engage Kelowna in imagining and realizing a more inclusive city by creating more space for a greater diversity of stories and cultural expression in public art spaces. Centring art, Lady Dia created programming for children (ages 5 -12) and youth (ages 13 - 20) to explore lessons from ’The Jam’ and its application in listening to the voices of others and understanding the role of one’s voice in the greater community.

Stories of Success and Resilience

Weaving Together - Cool Arts Society, 2021

The Cool Arts Society and Ponderosa Fibre Arts Guild partnered on Weaving Together, a community project open to the public, artists and volunteers. Participants were shown how to use the wheelchair-accessible Saori Loom and chose their fabric to weave into the collective artwork.

Since the project’s completion, the woven artwork has been displayed at the UBC Okanagan FINA Gallery, the Okanagan Heritage Museum, and the Rotary Centre for the Arts. The colourful and one-of-a-kind artwork is a true reflection of diversity and a testament to what can be created through collaboration.

“One member of Cool Arts was so moved by the experience he had actual tears in his eyes and clearly found a new passion for his creative outlet. Matt has historically focused a lot of his creative energy on animation so his overwhelming positive response to learning how to weave using the loom was both a surprise and delight.”

―Amy Bradshaw

Commitment to Diversity - New Vintage Theatre, 2020

New Vintage Theatre is a leader in promoting diversity on stage and behind the scenes. The professional theatre company’s casting is diverse ethnically, socially, and in gender, as well as being body positive with a wide age range.

On July 1, 2020, New Vintage Theatre released a statement supporting Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) against racism. The statement includes strategies to move the mandate forward, including hiring more BIPOC artists as directors, playwrights and actors.

Almost Spring Gallery Show - Federation of Canadian Artists, 2021

In February 2021, the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) Central Okanagan Chapter teamed up with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Kelowna & District, to hold their “Almost Spring Gallery”

show. This show raised $2,500 for mental health initiatives in our community during a time when mental health was a particularly pressing issue due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With the isolation that came with social distancing, especially in the middle of winter, FCA’s goal was to inspire the community to experience the benefits of creativity to our well-being during tough times.

Arts for Social Change - Global Citizen Events, 2021

Created by Global Citizen Events, the Arts for Social Change exhibition project invited artists to submit work inspired by the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Artists of all ages, cultural backgrounds and experience levels took part in the juried show, showcasing the power of art to inspire social change and encourage community action.

• 38 artworks

• 42 artists

• 6 public exhibit locations (Rutland Library, Downtown Library, Orchard Park Shopping Centre, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Metro Community, Rotary Centre for the Arts)

RCA Youth Arts Council - Rotary Centre for the Arts, 2021

The Rotary Centre for the Arts created a new RCA Youth Arts Council in spring 2021. The council is a “unique opportunity for creative teens to share their ideas for art class offerings, performances, and youth events and to gain leadership skills while shaping youth presence in the Kelowna arts scene.”

The RCA Youth Arts Council is comprised of ten members, aged 13-19. The volunteer council meets monthly to organize projects and events, brainstorm ideas for implementing youth programming, and plan fundraisers to support the Council’s projects.

Yoothspohk - Inspired Word Cafe, 2021

In 2021, Inspired Word Cafe launched Yoothspohk, a youth mentorship program delivered through middle and high schools in the Central Okanagan Public Schools. Poets, storytellers and writers from the region presented workshops for students with programming in French and English. Students learned about poetry, performance, story, and audio/video literary creation and were invited to participate in a youth showcase at the end of the program.

SCHOOLS CLASSES

PARTICIPANTS

Yoothspohk was an “enormous undertaking and exceptional success” that brought educational arts opportunities to students and created employment for six art practitioners during a tough economic time. Additional funding was secured through Simon Fraser University, ArtStarts, and a new sponsorship agreement with Valley First - a Division of First West Credit Union.

Inspired Word Cafe looks forward to growing Yoothspohk and reaching more students over the years to come.

“I loved this Yoothspohk program through and through. There are so many different joys in giving young people tools to articulate their experiences, which isn’t just about making, but helping them set creative intention, helping them discover what they care most about, helping them articulate their feelings in new ways, and giving them more tools to improve the work they already know how to make. The video element is particularly empowering, because we’re embodying their stories too. They live these creative moments in the retelling, which gives them a venue to share of themselves. That film moment, in turn, also provides young makers with a reflective piece, where they can see their making objectively, from the outside, as a spectator. That, as all artists come to know, is a priceless instructional tool.”

―Michael V. Smith, Interdisciplinary Artist

Community Impact

In Motion - Ballet Kelowna

“My name is Brandon Redford, and I am from the Treaty 8 territory of Northern Alberta. I am Aboriginal and grew up on my reserve, which is known as the Driftpile Cree Nation. There are not many opportunities for sport on my reserve as it is very isolated from nearby communities. The sports that were available during my formative years were usually hockey and baseball, but I did not resonate with these activities.

I can’t remember the exact moment my curiosity for Ballet began or even how I was introduced to the idea of it, but for a long time, while I was growing up, it was something I felt I really needed to try. It was a struggle trying to find time, the funds or a local class near my reserve, so eventually, I gave up the idea. Then in January 2016, I heard about Ballet Kelowna’s In Motion program. They had a class for adults who had never taken Ballet before, and I knew I had to at least give it a try. Since that first class, I have never looked back. I have kept up my practice consistently since that day and have even taken adult Ballet classes in other cities such as Sydney, AU, Montreal, Edmonton and Vancouver. I am so grateful to Ballet Kelowna for bringing such an amazing opportunity for adult ballet dancers to the city. It has provided me with a passion to follow and helped me to ignite a spark in my soul that I know will last a lifetime.”

―Brandon Redford

Kelowna City Concert Band

When Graeme Douglas joined the Kelowna City Concert Band in 2005 at just 14 years old, he found a deep sense of community. The over 100-year-old band is one of few that do not require auditions to join or restrict section sizes. These policies create a vibrant community of people with diverse backgrounds and varying skill levels where members feel safe to “fail with encouragement instead of criticism.”

“At an impressionable age, I was shown I was valued, even amongst people far more experienced and talented than I was then. Furthermore, the band’s members took a direct and personal interest in my life, helping form the person I am today. Now, as a section leader and the person coordinating communication and membership, I am privileged to steward the same welcome and invitational spirit I was offered then. I am delighted when others feel at home to be their whole selves, struggle with difficult material, and experience the joy of committing themselves to the shared pursuit of musical accomplishment.”

―Graeme Douglas, Trombone Section Leader

GOAL 10

Convene and Connect

Stories of Success and Resilience

Arts & Culture Roundtable - Arts Council of the Central Okanagan

Many arts and culture organizations supported one another through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arts and Culture Roundtable, facilitated by ARTSCO, became a lightning rod for effective communication. Arts and culture attendees share triumphs and challenges and connect with one another.

Before the pandemic, arts and cultural organizations met once per quarter for the Arts & Culture Roundtable. In March 2020, ARTSCO quickly shifted to a monthly and later 8-week schedule. The 2-hour Zoom meetings average 25-30 participants from the Central Okanagan and Arts Councils from Vernon to Penticton. The information shared amongst stakeholders and leaders in local arts and culture groups brought those important organizations closer. Topics of discussion include improving communications and engaging the public in a unified manner.

Feedback from the participants has been positive, with particular comments on the facilitation style. ARTSCO has created an environment where people feel “heard” - managing the Roundtables with respect, professionalism and an optimistic perspective that supports our cultural community’s health and sustainability.

Kelowna International Fringe Festival - New Vintage Theatre, 2021

Following the success of its inaugural year in 2019, the Kelowna International Fringe Festival returned in 2021 under new leadership. Under the experienced direction of New Vintage Theatre, the 2nd Kelowna International Fringe Festival welcomed new performers, new venues and new communities as they expanded to Lake Country and West Kelowna in addition to Kelowna’s Cultural District.

18

77 volunteers PERFORMERS/ COMPANIES

77 volunteers

668 FESTIVAL ATTENDEES

2,416 TICKETS SOLD

100% OF TICKET SALES GO DIRECTLY TO THE PERFORMERS

Bring the creative sector together for dialogue, exchange and action.

The Laurel Packinghouse (By Jove Co./Valaura Jones)

Outdoor Banner Exhibition along the Kelowna Art Walk, 2022 (By Jove Co./Valaura Jones)

Moving Forward

Despite immense challenges over the past few years, Kelowna’s arts and culture community has made impressive progress on the goals set out in the 2020-2025 Cultural Plan.

The pandemic forced every organization to abandon, adapt or postpone plans and programs developed to address the Cultural Plan. The full ramifications of these adaptations are still unknown and may continue to impact the cultural sector for years to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult, but it’s also brought new opportunities and perspectives. Our community is reminded of the role that art and culture play in our lives and society; it connects, soothes, entertains and sustains us. Culture is necessary to a flourishing life and indispensable to a vibrant and thriving community that residents are proud to call home.