The BC Cultural Crawl is a self-guided tour of community-initiated events: music, theatre and dance performances, visual arts, festivals, museum and heritage exhibitions, culinary arts, community art walks and more.

Your self-guided exploration of supercultural British Columbia begins here. Browse August events, local cultural crawls, and community art walks. Download itineraries, maps and find all of the resources you need to plan your own exploration.

This would be a great time to renew your membership and renew your enthusiasm for the Chilliwack Community Arts Council by volunteering for one of our events or activities.

We hope to see you there!

Yoriko Oki- Accomplished handweaver

Sharmini Wirasekara- Expert beadweaver

Kaarina Talvila- Multitalented fibre artist

Keith Rice Jones- Prolific ceramic artist

Federico Mendez Castro- Skilled woodworker

They’ll draw from their heritage, their influences, their travels and their interests in other cultures to show the effects on craft and community.

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013 — Free
Time: 7:00pm — 8:30pm
Location: Vancouver Public Library Conference / Seminar

The purpose of a Poet Laureate for Nanaimo is to serve as a “people’s” poet and to raise awareness of poetry and the literary arts and the positive impact literature and poetry can have on community life. A Poet Laureate will serve a 3 year term. The Poet Laureate will receive $1,000 annually over the three year term.

Nanaimo’s Poet Laureate will be selected on the basis of the excellence of the poet’s work demonstrated by peer and/or public recognition; publication of at least one book of poetry and other literary work. The poet must live and/or work in the Regional District of Nanaimo and possess the personal qualities and abilities to meet the expectations of the position. They must also possess a good knowledge and understanding of the history and cultural life of Nanaimo.

The selection and appointment process will involve a volunteer selection committee made up of members of the Nanaimo Cultural Committee, peer representatives from literary community (poets, writers– from the Vancouver Island Regional Library) and representatives from the Vancouver Island University, Creative Writing Faculty. Once a poet is selected, they will be recommended to the Parks, Recreation and Culture Commission and City Council for appointment.

Becoming Nanaimo’s first Poet Laureate is an honour and it will be a unique opportunity to promote poetry and the literary arts to all the citizens of Nanaimo.

Nomination forms are available online at http://www.nanaimo.ca . For more information or if you would like the nomination form sent to you please contact Bob Kuhn 250–760-1139 / bob.kuhn@nanaimo.ca

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This is the second year in a row the 30,400 square-foot centre has received the honour, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of Aboriginal businesses and tourism in the province.

“This recognition confirms our ongoing commitment to sharing indigenous culture in a meaningful and authentic ways” said executive director of the SLCC Casey Vanden Heuvel. “Squamish and Lil’wat ambassadors work very hard to bring their cultures to life for our guests and also help revive many cultural traditions of the local First Nations.”

BRANDON BARRETT, Whistler Question, April 10

If you know of any community based not for profit or charitable organizations that could benefit from a $10,000 — $25,000 grant to start a music program or update their existing program then please pass this along to them. Applications are being taken until May 15.

For more information about how to access funding through this program visit: http://musicounts.ca/td-community-music-grants/

Hosted by the Federation of B.C. Writers (FBCW) and Gallery Vertigo, the festival, which runs April 11 to 14,  starts with a book fair followed by three days of workshops given by a lineup of highly accomplished authors and writers, said event organizer Markella Mildenberger, local FBCW representative and editor of the federation’s magazine, Word Works.

The Vernon Writers’ Festival has been the culmination of all the interest shown by both local and visiting writers, however, Mildenberger says it is also an opportunity to highlight the FBCW.

Seven years in the making, Thrive curator Alan Corbishley officially unveiled the festival plan at a press conference in the TRU Culinary Arts building Tuesday morning.

“We’re very, very excited for this culmination of efforts and community relationships,” Corbishley told a host of dignitaries that includes Mayor Peter Milobar, City councillors and members of the arts community.

Jason Hewlett, Daily News, April 2, 2013

Arts organizations can apply for two development grants through the CRD.

Project grants support groups undertaking special, one-time initiatives, as well as developmental or recurring projects. They are available to both established and emerging arts organizations that have been active in the capital region for at least six months. They are not available to arts organizations that already receive annual operating assistance from the CRD. Applicants must be registered not-for-profit societies in B.C.