Press Releases

An Exciting New Creative Arts Space – Eighth & Eight

Wow! A new announcement from the Massey Theatre Society about the future of this important art space in New Westminster! Check out this media release:

Eighth & Eight is an exciting new performing arts and community program being imagined at 735 Eighth Avenue in New Westminster. Eighth & Eight (a transitional name) will make a significant contribution with its impressive size of 35,000 square feet by providing a new home and infrastructure for performing artists and the community.

With space for artists diminishing and becoming almost non-existent, this venue will fill a void desperately needed. The facilityincludes the 1260 seat Massey Theatre, the Plaskett Gallery, a black box presentation space, a dance/music rehearsal hall, and much more.

The Massey Theatre Society (MTS) with its history, accomplishments, and vision, make it the ideal organization to take on the role to manage and create programming. Jessica Schneider, Executive Director of the Massey Theatre, will be at the helm of the creative leadership team. For the past 15 years, Jessica has worked diligently, making the theatre a vibrant and thriving venue. She has also played a major role in being a forerunner in nurturing and promoting diverse voices working with QIBPOC communities providing a platform for a wide variety of organizations and productions.

“With the historic Massey Theatre to build out from,” stated Jessica Schneider, “a new arts space for community members and artists to collaborate, create and imagine a better world together is an incredible opportunity for everyone.”

Not only providing a place for the arts to flourish, the goal is to expand infrastructure and opportunity to diverse voices and communities as never before. The historic Massey Theatre, which opened in 1949 as British Columbia’s largest theatre, will continue to be at the heart of the facility. Over its 73-year history, the theatre has been an influential venue to a vast array of artists to local, provincial, and international performers.

The programming direction includes:

Digital Hub – providing infrastructure for performing artists to engage in the digital arts sector
Indigenous Cultural Development
We are Multitudes Program – for diverse African Heritages
Prismatica – for LGBTQ2iA+ spectrum
Self-Advocate Theatre projects – evolving theatre works
Senior & Youth Programs
Low Income Family Programs
Global Cultural Intersections

Included in the leadership team is multimedia artist Ronnie Dean Harris, Indigenous Cultural Development Director, who guides the increasing opportunities for Indigenous culture and community activations, building on the histories and teachings of the land on which the facility is built. MTS is also currently undergoing the search for a Programming Director, to be announced soon, who will develop and implement the wide range of programs.

The complex will play a vital role in the cultural fabric and vibrancy of not only of New Westminster, but all of Metro Vancouver, British Columbia and beyond, offering services and opportunities for the arts and artists to grow and enrich all our lives and communities.

Engagement and opportunities for input and participation will be emerging in the fall in conjunction with the reopening of the Massey Theatre for large audiences.

For further information visit: eighthandeight.com

Links:

Web: eighthandeight.com
Email: hello@eightandeight.com
Facebook: @eightandeight
Twitter: @eightandeight
Instagram: @eightandeight
Hashtag: #eightandeight

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Media Contact:
Bonnie Allan
604-218-9525
bonnie@bonnieallan.ca

Media Release: Cedar, Sage & Sweetgrass Indigenous Art Group to exhibit at The Gallery at Queen’s Park

Media Release
June 26, 2021
For Immediate Release

Cedar, Sage & Sweetgrass Indigenous Art Group to exhibit at The Gallery at Queen’s Park in July 2021

New Westminster, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present an upcoming group exhibition by the Cedar, Sage and Sweetgrass Indigenous Art Group in The Gallery at Queen’s Park from July 2-25, 2021. The exhibition will feature a variety of Indigenous artworks in various mediums, including work by Kalum Teke Dan (Calgary), Uumati Kisoun (Victoria), and Susan Greig (New Westminster). On Saturday, July 3, there is an Opening Reception from 1 – 2 pm, featuring remarks from Elder Deanna Miller of the Katzie Nation, local dignitaries, and dancing by The Wild Moccasin Dancers. All are welcome to attend.

“As Indigenous Artists, we found that our art was not accepted to be part of shows in some of our community’s art galleries.” said Maryanne Lindberg, CS&SG spokesperson. “In speaking with other Indigenous Artists, we found that they experienced the same situation. We created Cedar Sage & Sweetgrass with the goal of giving Indigenous Artists a forum where they could show their best art, connect and encourage one another.”

The Gallery at Queen’s Park hosts monthly exhibitions that feature a variety of visual arts by a wide range of artists from the Metro Vancouver region. The exhibition program aims to reflect both the cultural and artistic diversity of contemporary art and serve as an educational forum for New Westminster and surrounding communities.

Following the most current Provincial Health Order, the exhibition and Opening reception will follow the Arts Council of New Westminster’s COVID-19 Safety Plan protocols and require masks and contract tracing upon arrival.

For more information about the exhibition, visit acnw.ca/galleryexhibit

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Exhibiting Artists

Kalum Teke Dan, (Feature Artist)
Zachary George (Grandson of Chief Dan George)
Dr. Lana Whiskeyjack
Autumn Whiteway
Jesse Gouchy
Jerry Whitehead
Uumati Kisoun
Susan Greig
Deanna Miller
Pat Calihou, Metis Carver
Maryanne Lindberg

Exhibition Dates: July 2 – July 25, 2021

Open Hours:   Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – 10:00 am to 2:00pm
                        Saturday & Sunday – 11:00am – 4:00 pm

Opening Reception: July 3, 2021 – 1:00pm
                                   featuring dancing by The Wild Moccasin Dancers at 1:30 pm

For more information:
Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director, Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca
@ArtsCouncilNW (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook)
#ArtsNW

About Cedar, Sage, & Sweetgrass Indigenous Art Group
Cedar Sage & Sweetgrass Indigenous Art Group seeks to encourage and promote young Indigenous Artists. That has been accomplished through interaction with our Feature Artist and other accomplished Artists that are in our shows. We have been happy to have all three Indigenous Peoples recognized in Canada – First Nations, Metis, Inuit – represented at most of our shows. Each of our shows has its own uniqueness. The Artists are chosen for that particular show, including a Feature Artist. Some shows include Indigenous entertainment. Others have Indigenous food, wine, coffee, tea. It’s an opportunity to show all wonderful Indigenous things.

About the Arts Council of New Westminster
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing, and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavours. Serving the community for fifty-four years, the ACNW continues to bring innovative new programming to New Westminster

S^yowah guest curator for Expressions of Reclamation 2021

Media Release
June 25, 2021
For Immediate Release

S^yowah guest curator for Expressions of Reclamation 2021

New Westminster, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster is pleased to announce S^yowah as the 2021 guest curator for the Expressions of Reclamation series. S^yowah has spent the past three months developing and curating a showcase series presented this Summer between June and August. Featuring presentations by emerging Indigenous artists engaged in their artist practice, participants are invited to learn how contemporary Indigenous artists express and reclaim their identity through their art. Presented both in-person and through an online livestream, the series will allow for an interactive Q&A session hosted by Indigenous curator S^yowah.

“I’ve noticed that whenever there are words like reconciliation or reclamation, it has to do with land claims,” said S^yowah, ACNW Indigenous Curator, “but I’m interested in artists who use their creativity and artistic expression to reclaim their identity, their place in their nation, to connect to who they are.”

The Expressions of Reclamation series supports the Arts Council of New Westminster’s goal of building strong relations with Indigenous artists and facilitating dialogue, practice, and education between the presenting artists and community members. The series will be developed and delivered by the featured artists and will consist of artist talks, performance art, theoretical or technical seminars, live drawing/painting, collaborative social practice activities, workshops, or performances. Expressions of Reclamation series encourages the integration of the arts into daily life, providing fully hands-on, barrier-free, no-cost art education that promotes intergenerational mentoring opportunities and inclusivity between backgrounds of gender, race, age and ability.

Following the most current Provincial Health Order, events will be a hybrid in-person and online via live stream through the Arts Council of New Westminster’s Facebook page. In-person events will follow COVID-19 Safety Plan protocols and require pre-registration through Eventbrite to ensure proper contract tracing.

Biographies for artists participating in Expressions of Reclamation are available online. For more information about the Expressions of Reclamation series, please visit: acnw.ca/eor

Expressions of Reclamation is supported by the Deux Mille Foundation

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Key Dates:

June 29 @ 6:30 pm – Cameron Peal (one-person theatre show “The Coffee Story”), Centennial Lodge, Queen’s Park
July 24 @ 12:00 pm – Fawnda Bullshields (Lady’s Fancy Shawl dance), Queen’s Park (meet at Centennial Lodge)
July 29 @ 12:00 pm – Elder Christy David (ribbon skirt sewing), Centennial Lodge, Queen’s Park
July 30 @ 6:30 pm – Mitchell Saddleback (standup/poetry), Queen’s Park (meet at Centennial Lodge)
August 12 @ 12:00 pm – Kaija Heitland (fabric design), livestream only completely online from her studio

For photos of S^yowah and the presenting artists, click here

For more information:

Crystal Lan
Cultural Programmer, Arts Council of New Westminster
crystal.lan@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca
@ArtsCouncilNW (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook)
#ArtsNW

About Indigenous Curator S^yowah (Timothy Elijah)

S^yowah (Son/yo/wa) / Tim (he/him/his) is a proud member of the Onyota’aka (Oneida of the Thames First Nation) Nation located outside of London Ontario. He is from a specific Bear Clan family known for their connections to the forests and trees. S^yowah would like to thank the attendees for participating in Reconciliation. S^yowah believes that in order to resolve the conflicts and issues between Indigenous Peoples and Canadians we need to listen, forgive, love and work together as one.

About the Arts Council of New Westminster

Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing, and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavours. Serving the community for 51 years, the ACNW continues to bring innovative new programming to New Westminster

New donation of artworks to the ACNW Permanent Collection

The Arts Council of New Westminster is pleased to have received a donation of artworks by Robert King Courtney to the ACNW Permanent Collection by Sean Courtney. We are excited to share the legacy of Robert’s work with the community of New Westminster and exhibit his artwork at The Gallery at Queen’s Park for future generations to enjoy.

Robert King Courtney was born and raised in New Westminster in 1921 and served in World War 2 with the New Westminster Regiment. Robert exhibited at The Gallery at Queen’s Park in 1990 and participated in the ACNW Art Rental program throughout the 1990s.

For more information about the ACNW artwork donation policy, click here

Garden Gals create a series of paintings in direct response to COVID-19

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Garden Gals create a series of paintings in direct response to COVID-19

A group of women who share a passion for painting and gardening come together to bring messages of positivity to the New Westminster community through Seniors Expressions Through the Arts special projects

July 23, 2020 (New Westminster, BC) —

At a time when no one could predict how long lockdown would be in effect and the world seemed to hold its breath, one woman had a vision of how she might organize efforts to create a mural that would inspire hope. Merril Hall, long-time New Westminster resident and facilitator of local public art projects, was commissioned by the Arts Council of New Westminster to create an art project that could be accomplished within the new parameters of social distancing and eventually become an installation in one of the city’s public spaces. As facilitator of The Garden Gals, a group of active sketchers and painters who share a passion for art in nature and are all avid gardeners, Merill invited the gals to help create a mural project that would depict images that evoke sentiments like thoughtfulness, kindness, and appreciation experienced during these unprecedented times. Creating in isolation, each painter was left to their own devices to choose the color palette and format for their canvas after receiving instructions from Merill that each painting must include a heart and a flower and present an interpretation of the theme, “Positivity During COVID-19”. With titles like, “Hopeful Heart”, “Downside Up”, and “The Window Between Us”, viewers will see a series of paintings that carry the artists’ own powerful messages of how positivity can be witnessed in the world around us, and specifically in the New Westminster community.

The Seniors Expressions through the Arts program run by the Arts Council of New Westminster is a multi-faceted project that aims to foster cultural engagement opportunities for the 55+ community of New West. This mural project came about through recommendations from the program’s advisory committee as a way to memorialize the experiences of living through lockdown due to COVID-19.

Thanks to a partnership with the Anvil Centre, and the window of opportunity afforded by the facility’s closure, the individual paintings will be on temporary display, viewable thorough the Centre’s ground floor windows along Columbia Street August 10 to 27. “This is a unique way to showcase this timely project”, noted Todd Ayotte, Manager of Community Art and Theatres for the City of New Westminster, adding that “plans are currently underway to reactivate the Community Art Gallery at Anvil later in the fall.” Public are encouraged to witness these works but are reminded to keep their distance and be responsible when occupying space on the sidewalk to view them. Following this exhibition, the paintings will be fused together to become an original mural. “If we had all been together, I would have set the color palette, and drawn up the plan. This way, each artist had their own freedom to choose their own way to connect with the theme. We thought of this as patchwork that would only all come together when the canvases were completed. In the end, we all feel incredibly proud of the work we were able to accomplish apart, together.” (Merrill Hall)

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About the Arts Council of New Westminster

Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by artists, audiences, and arts groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavours.

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://www.acnw.ca. We can be reached at info@acnw.ca.

Media Contact:
Olivia Davies, Seniors Expressions Through the Arts, Coordinator
Arts Council of New Westminster
seniors@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca

Media Release: Arts Council of New Westminster exceeds fundraising goal of $35,000, as part of the ‘Friends of the Arts Council #NewWest’ campaign

$10,000 MATCHING DONATION FROM ANONYMOUS DONOR PUSHES CAMPAIGN PAST ITS TARGET

July 13, 2020 (New Westminster, BC) —

Launched on May 5th, the Arts Council of New Westminster’s (ACNW) ‘Friends of Arts Council #NewWest’ campaign has come to an end on July 1^st. With an initial goal of $35,000 in donations, the ACNW Board of Directors are pleased to share that they have exceeded the target. An anonymous donor emerged mid-campaign with a commitment of up to $10,000 in matching donated funds. This pushed the campaign past its goal as the community responded with enthusiasm for the opportunity to double the impact of their gifts. Combined with ongoing support from community members, the City of New Westminster and additional support from the provincial and federal governments, along with the Vancouver Foundation, the ACNW is now able to address the immediate challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The strong support from all sectors shows the importance people place on the arts and the respect for the Arts Council’s role as a valued partner,” ACNW President Robert Crocket. “We are profoundly grateful for the community members and local businesses that contributed to this campaign; these contributions will ensure that the ACNW continues to create community cohesion through facilitating arts and culture in New Westminster. These results will assist the ACNW in promoting innovations that help artists adapt to the ‘new normal’ ahead.”

In the immediate future, the ACNW Board of Directors and staff will review their public programming and be adapting to new health regulations and guidelines. The ACNW’s work is to further allow everybody in the community to experience the arts, by increasing access and diversity and reducing barriers to participation. The ACNW will continuing in-person New West Craft artisan markets at Tipperary Park, produce future episodes of the ArtsNW Podcast featuring stories from local artists, and host the now-monthly New Westminster Cultural Roundtable as a platform for learning, information exchange, and capacity development. With these funds going to programs that support local artists, ACNW programming can be delivered in safe, accessible, and innovative ways. The ACNW will continue to be a valued community partner to artists, arts organizations, the City of New Westminster, and other local agencies and non-profits.

The Friends of Arts Council #NewWest Campaign 2020 set the goal of raising $35,000, representing $1,000 for each year since The Gallery at Queen’s Park was founded in 1985. The ACNW is hopeful that the gallery will be able to re-open to the public in September 2020.

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About the Arts Council of New Westminster

Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by artists, audiences, and arts groups who share an interest in visual, performing, and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavours.

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://www.acnw.ca. We can be reached at info@acnw.ca.

Media Contact:

Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca

Letter to the Editor – Celebrating Leanne Ewen

Dear Editor,

On behalf of myself and all the Board of Directors of the Arts Council of New Westminster, along with staff and volunteers, I want to publicly acknowledge the contribution to our organization that Past-President Leanne Ewen has made over the last ten years. Leanne is that special kind of leader that brings her knowledge and experience as a teacher to every interaction she has with the community. Her efforts guided the Arts Council through many exciting times for the arts in New Westminster and we want to thank her for countless hours and ideas she brought during her time as President.

Beginning as a Board member in 2013, Leanne’s enthusiasm for the arts has always been evident. She started as engaging and thoughtful Board Member that dove right in to developing policy and good governance. Serving as the Vice-President of the Arts Council, Leanne also took on the role of chair of the 2014 LitFest New West organizing committee. Leanne took on the role of President in November 2015, overseeing the first Executive Director change in over 25 years, providing the leadership to develop two strategic plans for the ACNW, and finding the resources this organization has needed to continue to foster the arts in New Westminster. Leanne brought forward the concept of “Bringing Community Together Through the Arts” and in our second strategic plan “Making the Arts Essential”. She understood that the arts are so important to the daily lives of each and every member of our community.

As she is an aspiring harpist, we are thrilled that Leanne will have more time for her own creative pursuits and efforts. We wish her great success in her future as the “ACNW” continues on with a strong foundation she helped build.

Sincerely,

Bob Crockett
President
Arts Council of New Westminster

Arts Council of New Westminster to launch new Cultural Calendar on our website

In asking ourselves as a staff team how we can continue to support our members, artist and the arts community, we quickly realized that we could respond to the calls for a Cultural Calendar that we have heard from the community for many years.

We have now created this online calendar as a resource on our website here: https://artscouncilnewwest.org/events/

You can submit your events to this calendar! Please bookmark this page: https://artscouncilnewwest.org/events/community/add/. When looking on our website, you can find the ‘Add your Events’ section in the menu under ‘Get Involved’.

In order to keep out spam, your events will be vetted by ACNW staff to ensure they are arts-based and central to New Westminster. Please email info@acnw.ca if you have concerns about your listing.

From your submitted events, we will curate a list of top events and activities for the community to enjoy! We will promote these through our social media and e-newsletters going forward

Contact:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244

Media Release: Friends of The Arts Council #NewWest Campaign Receives $10,000 Matching Donation from Anonymous Supporter

May 19, 2020 – New Westminster, BC

In addition to ACNW’s Friends of Arts Council #NewWest Campaign 2020, launched on May 5th to support the continuity of ACNW’s digital programs and services, the ACNW has now received a gracious matching donation up to $10,000 from an anonymous supporter to help the Arts Council reach its $35,000 fundraising goal. New donations received between now and July 1^st will double in value, contributing to the ACNW’s work of virtually delivered programs and sustaining services provided for members and citizens of New Westminster.

“Personally, I miss hearing music on the streets and in our parks” said Bob Crockett, ACNW President. “We don’t know when things will return but we do know life will be different. Your Arts Council is monitoring other cities and working with other organizations to bring back our vibrant arts scene.”

Donations to the Friends of Arts Council #NewWest Campaign 2020 will ensure that ACNW remains an information and resource centre for artistic and cultural projects, while continuing to help make our community a better place to live, work and play. Raised funds will also assist the Arts Council in continuing to host the weekly New Westminster Cultural Roundtables on Thursdays at 3:00pm as a forum for sharing amongst artists, artisans, curators, arts administrators, and citizens. Anybody interested and engaged in the arts and culture sector in New Westminster is welcome, professionally and otherwise.

The Friends of Arts Council #NewWest Campaign 2020 will culminate on July 1^st, Canada Day, with the goal of raising $35,000, representing $1,000 for each year since The Gallery at Queen’s Park was founded in 1985.

To make a donation, visit acnw.ca/donate

In this time of uncertainty and physical distancing, the joy you bring into our lives is more important than ever. Thank you for the gifts you give to our community every single day!
– Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, MLA for New Westminster

We are so grateful for you and for your generous contribution to making this challenging COVID-19 time lighter, enriching, and joy filled for us all. Thank you!
– Anonymous Donor

Thank you for working tirelessly and passionately to bring arts initiatives to New West!
– Lori L. Walker

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About the Arts Council of New Westminster

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://www.acnw.ca. We can be reached at info@acnw.ca.

Media Contact:

Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca

Media Release: Arts Council of New Westminster supports local 55+ community with arts awards

‘Seniors Expressions Through the Arts’ project changes gears to support ten local residents with funding $5,000 for art projects and professional development.

May 17, 2020 (New Westminster, BC) —

In this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has never been more important to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable members of our society. This shift in priorities has triggered changes in the way arts organizations are delivering programming. The Arts Council of New Westminster saw the need to adapt and rapidly redeployed its ‘Seniors Expressions Through the Arts’ project to promote creative expression and professional development for the emerging, mid-career, and senior level artists in New Westminster’s 55+ community.

In late April, the ACNW put out an artist call for a one-time Seniors Arts Awards, allocating $5,000 towards local arts projects. The awards presented an opportunity for arts projects to receive up to $500 in reimbursements for costs related to materials for art projects, technology upgrades, and professional courses offered online encouraged dozens of applicants to apply.

“The opportunity to engage creativity through the pursuit of arts, crafts, design, and learning can help dissolve the boundaries and challenges experienced in isolation.” says Olivia C. Davies, Arts Council of New Westminster Seniors Coordinator. “These arts awards will promote the health and welfare of our senior community by encouraging new creative expression and help ease the financial burden of purchasing non-essential items that help fulfill the artist’s desires to create something beautiful in these difficult times of social distancing.”

A volunteer adjudication committee of 55+ New Westers connected to the arts & culture community was struck to measure the merit of each application and accompanying budget. Ten successful applicants were awarded funds and each of the projects developed with this funding will be considered for public exhibition at The Gallery at Queen’s Park in 2021. Additional online content and virtual exhibition will be available on the Arts Council’s website in early Fall 2020. This initiative is part of the Seniors Expressions Through the Arts project, coordinated by Indigenous arts administrator and choreographer, Olivia C. Davies, and funded through the Government of Canada’s New Horizons For Seniors program.

Award recipients include:
Candace Colmer – series of acrylic paintings and online learning
Carolyn McLaughlin – Batik art fashion designs
Janet Kvammen – Senior’s Weekend Pop Up Show Event with live demos
Jim Keyes – series of acrylic paintings for exhibition and online portfolio upgrades
Lanta Meng – series of oil paintings for exhibition
Lavana La Brey – software and equipment for online teaching and presentations
Lee Down – series of acrylic paintings for exhibition
Melissa Mary Duncan – equipment for online presentations of Fantasy Art practise
Susan Ormsby – series of watercolor paintings for exhibition
Rodrigo Sarrat Cave – printing series of photobooks as teaching tools

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About the Arts Council of New Westminster

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://www.acnw.ca. We can be reached at info@acnw.ca.

Media Contact:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca

Arts Council of New Westminster launching campaign for May 5th global #GivingTuesdayNow

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Arts Council of New Westminster launching campaign for May 5th global #GivingTuesdayNow
FRIENDS OF THE ARTS COUNCIL #NEWWEST CAMPAIGN 2020 TO RAISE $35,000 TO SUPPORT ACNW PROGRAM DELIVERY AND SERVICES

April 26, 2020 (New Westminster, BC) —

In response to having to cancel and postpone numerous events resulting in significant sponsorship and event revenues, the Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW) is launching the Friends of Arts Council #NewWest Campaign 2020 to support the continuity of ACNW’s programs through virtual delivery, along with sustaining services provided for the arts and artists of New Westminster. The campaign will launch on Tuesday, May 5th to coincide with #GivingTuesdayNow – a new global day of giving and unity scheduled as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.

As a lead gift, ACNW President Bob Crockett and his wife, Cathy Crockett, have made a gracious donation in the amount of $2,500. This lead contribution has inspired donations from other ACNW board members and will hopefully inspire donations from community members who value the arts and the work of The Arts Council of New Westminster.

Donations to the Friends of Arts Council #NewWest Campaign 2020 will ensure that ACNW continues to help make our community a better place to live, work and play. Funds from the campaign will allow the ACNW to continue to be an information and resource centre for artistic and cultural projects and deliver adapted programs such as the New West Craft Virtual Market and the ArtsNW Podcast. Raised funds will also assist the Arts Council in continuing to host the community through the weekly New Westminster Cultural Roundtables using ZOOM on Thursdays at 3:00pm as a forum for sharing amongst artists and artisans. These programs provide opportunities for community cohesion through facilitating arts and cultural activities in New Westminster.

“We truly believe that a vibrant local Arts scene is essential to a livable city. The Arts Council has an important role in helping the city reconnect and heal from this pandemic.” says ACNW President Bob Crockett. “We look forward to giving artists back their voices and helping people reconnect through shared experiences. A vibrant, viable arts scene keeps the “New” In New Westminster.”

To make a donation, visit www.acnw.ca/donate

Joining the New West Craft markets this year has been one of the best choices I have made for my business – it allowed me to meet other makers and engage with my community. The fact that the Arts Council of New Westminster, adapted so well to the Covid crisis by making a virtual market for their creators made all the difference. It has allowed me to continue to strengthen the bonds I have made through the market and find new customers while social distancing. I am grateful for their support.
Britt MacDuff, Emerald and Ginger

The Arts Council of New Westminster is a wonderful organization that brings awareness to local artists and provides us with a platform to express ourselves through our work. During this time of uncertainty and a long road with no clear end in sight ahead of us the New West Craft Virtual markets give us local artists a bit of hope. I am so grateful for all the hard work that is put into them as they keep us in the awareness of local consumers in a time where those of us who rely on markets and trade shows for sales are struggling to keep our small businesses afloat.
Paula Godden, The Pirate + The Gypsy Designs

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About the Arts Council of New Westminster

About #GivingTuesdayNow

#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. We invite all Canadians to join us in demonstrating the power of kindness and generosity.

More info: https://givingtuesday.ca/gtnow

Media Contact:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca

ACNW Board of Directors curate Spotify playlist

The Arts Council of New Westminster Board of Directors have spent this first week of social distancing curating a playlist of their favourite songs to self-quarantine to during the spread of COVID-19. They highly suggest you throw this on and enjoy the tunes! Click here to listen on Spotify or listen below:

CALL FOR PROPOSALS – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Artist in Residence 2020

At the Arts Council of New Westminster, we live and work on the unceded, traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the QayQayt (qiqéyt) Nation as well as all Coast Salish Nations.

THE GALLERY AT QUEEN’S PARK
ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2020

The Arts Council of New Westminster aims to have an Artist-in-Residence program that feature a variety of disciplines by a wide range of artists from New Westminster. The Artist-In-Residence program aims to reflect both the cultural and artistic diversity of contemporary art and to serve as an educational forum for the citizens of New Westminster and surrounding communities. This program is open to applications from both established and emerging artists living and/or working in New Westminster. For clarity: this is an artist development program, you do not need to be an established artist. This is a opportunity to develop as an artist, and no previous experience is expected.

The Arts Council wishes to highlight how diverse our community is, and in order to break down any exclusionary barriers and create a platform for marginalized voices, artists on the LGBTQ spectrum, non-binary artists, artists of colour, Indigenous artists, and disabled artists, are strongly encouraged to submit.

Submissions will be received up to 4:00pm on Friday January 31, 2020

Overview:

The ACNW operates a picturesque gallery in the Centennial Lodge, Queen’s Park known as The Gallery at Queen’s Park, which features a wide range of visual arts by local and emerging artists in exhibitions which change monthly.

The ACNW is seeking to provide New Westminster artists and local not-for-profit arts organizations the opportunity to use the Lower Studio space in The Gallery at Queen’s Park free of charge in exchange for a weekly public programming event (2 hours) that engages the community. Collaborations between artists and community groups are welcome.

Selected eligible artists and organizations will have 24-hour non-exclusive access to the Lower Studio space. All successful applicants will be required to be members of the Arts Council of New Westminster.

As a community gallery, the gallery’s opening hours are maintained by volunteer staff, therefore the Artist-in-Residence will be expected to work collaboratively within the operations of the Gallery for the duration of their residency.

Eligibility:

To apply to this Call, you are not required to be a member of the Arts Council of New Westminster.
To be considered for this program, you must live and/or work in New Westminster.
To be in-residence, you must be a current member of the Arts Council of New Westminster at the time of your residency.
Artists whose work has already been exhibited in the gallery are invited to apply, allowing a 3-year interim between applications.

Budget:

The Council does not charge for artist-in-residence program, nor does it pay an artist to participate.
The Gallery at Queen’s Park will pay an honorarium of $75 for public programming during the residency.

How to Apply:

The Gallery Exhibition Selection Committee (GESC) will meet in February to consider applications for the following year. A well-prepared proposal helps in the selection.

To be considered at the next GESC meeting, please submit a completed Application Form (found in the PDF package below):

Applicant’s Background:
For Individual Artists: Artistic practice and objectives with short biography and/or professional artist CV
For Arts Organizations: Organization history including mission statement, years of operation and a brief description of the organization’s current programs and services
Public Programming description:
What the project is about, your plan for public programming in the space (readings, publications, book or zine launches, performances, film screenings, pop-up events, artist talks, performance art, theoretical or technical seminar, live drawing/painting, social practice, workshops, classes, community meetings etc.), and how it will engage/benefit the community
Your requested start date and occupancy period/time frame of use of the Lower Studio
Any proposed collaboration with other artists or groups, if applicable
Contact information (name, mailing address, phone number, email, website)
Please indicate If you are currently an ACNW member

Please include all written material as PDF files and submit via email to info@acnw.ca with “The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Artists in Residence” in the subject line. Please ensure that attachments total less than 5MB.

Deadlines for submission is 4:00pm on January 31, 2020. Proposals received by January 31, 2020 will be reviewed with preliminary decisions announced by February 28, 2020. Following that time, proposals will be accepted and reviewed on a first come, first serve basis. All submissions will be juried by a panel of professional artists, educators, and administrators. Please note: All successful applicants will be required to be members of the Arts Council of New Westminster.

The Selection Process:

The GESC will meet in February 2020 to consider all applications received. All applications will receive a reply by email, stating whether the work has been accepted. If your application has been successful, you will be contacted by telephone, a term length for residency will be confirmed, and a contract will be sent to you. This contract will outline your responsibilities and providing other details and dates. A signed contract is required before the residency can proceed.

Application Tips:

Be sure that all documents include your name, complete contact information; phone number, email address, website and postal code.
Email submissions are preferred. For physical submissions, please phone the gallery at 604-525-3244 for equitable access procedures.
DO NOT send composite images or prepared slideshows
Please test all documents on a PC computer to ensure compatibility

Submit your application via email to: info@acnw.ca

Estimated Timeline:

December 1, 2019
January 31, 2020
Early February
Late February
Early March
March 15^th, 2020 & onward

Call to Proposals Launched
Deadline to submit
Gallery Exhibition Selection Committee meets
Artists contacted
Residency dates confirmed, contracts signed and returned
Residency/Public Programming begins

Contact:
All enquiries should be directed to:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
Phone: 604 525 3244
info@acnw.ca

For more information about The Gallery at Queen’s Park, visit www.acnw.ca/gallery

To download a copy of this Call and Application Form in PDF format, click here

Media Release: The ARTSNW Podcast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ARTSNW, the podcast. A first listen to the art beat of the city.
THE ARTSNW PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS MAKERS AND MOVERS IN THE ROYAL CITY

November, 15 2019 (New Westminster, BC) —

Host Joel Mackenzie (Mainland- a BC History Podcast) dives into the vibrant arts scene on the Fraser River with the debut season of The Arts Council of New Westminster’s ARTSNW Podcast. Join Joel and a who’s who of New Westminster artists, composers, writers, makers, and arbiters as they explore how art is conceived, created, and consumed in today’s culture. Each episode includes onsite interviews in the spaces where our guests work, where Joel encourages them to examine how art effects their perception of the world and their own internal artistic practices. By physically anchoring the artist and their art in the places where they create, an unusual level of intimacy and insight is offered the audience. Find the podcast at http://artsnw.buzzsprout.com.

Brought to you by the Arts Council of New Westminster with the support of 100 Braid St Studios, the City of New Westminster and the BC Arts Council, the podcast gives insight into the way art influences our lives here in the Lower Mainland and the impact of local art on the national and international stage.

The ARTSNW podcast is recorded in the unceded, traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the QayQayt (qiqéyt) Nation as well as all Coast Salish Nations.

About the Arts Council of New Westminster

Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavours.

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://www.acnw.ca. We can be reached at media@acnw.ca, or in person at our offices in The Gallery at Queen’s Park.

Contact
CS Fergusson-Vaux, Marketing &Outreach Coordinator
email: media@acnw.ca
phone: 604 525 3244
website: acnw.ca
press kit: acnw.ca/artsnw

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS DAY CALL FOR ARTISTS – ANONYMOUS SHOW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2019

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – June 2019, 100 Braid St Studios and the Arts Council of New Westminster invite you to take part in the 3^rd annual International Artists Day Anonymous Show on October 25^th 2019. International Artist Day (iAD) was launched in 2004 to honour the contribution artists make to society. With the help of municipal and corporate sponsors artists promote festivals and events designed to increase the visibility of art and its makers in a wide variety of genres from painting, to writing, music, the digital arts, and everything in between.

New Westminster celebrates this day with an Anonymous Art Show which also acts as the largest fundraiser of the year for the Arts Council of New Westminster. We invite you to be one of the well-known and emerging artists to display your talents. With your name only signed only on the back, the nature of the show ensures all art is treated equally, while providing anticipation and exhilaration to the event.

Submit your interest in participating in the show by clicking here and filling out the form on the bottom of the page. We will preview your website and social media channels for examples of your work (you do not need to submit the final work or photos of your work). Once you have been accepted, you may submit one to three 12” x 12” x 1 ½” deep gallery wrapped canvas or wood panel. If you are a textile artist or mixed media artist we are happy to discuss other options.

If you are accepted into the show you will receive an e-mail along with an invoice for the $25 entrance fee.

# # #

If you would like more information about New Westminster’s International Artists Day celebrations, please contact the iAD coordinator Katrina Hilliard at 778.996.1754 or email at iad.100braidststudios@gmail.com.

Contact           Katrina Hilliard
Telephone      778.996.1754
Email                 iad.100braidststudios@gmail.com
Website           100braidststudios.com

Click here to download a PDF of this media release

MEDIA RELEASE: Students films showcased at upcoming screening at the Massey Theatre

May 10, 2019

MEDIA RELEASE: Students films showcased at upcoming screening at the Massey Theatre

The Arts Council of New Westminster along with the Massey Theatre Society, New West Film Fest, and the N Dub Film Club is proud to present The N Dub Film Club Screening on Monday May 27th from 5:00-6:30pm on the big screen at the Massey Theatre. Screening a series of short films created during the current school by New Westminster Secondary Students from grades 10 through 12, the films will cover topics including climate change, mortality, friendship, and a humorous take on student life. Emceed by local author and former CBC personality, JJ Lee, the screening will include a Q&A session with the filmmakers. The event is free to the public to attend, however tax-deductible donations to the Arts Council of New Westminster are welcomed.

The Last Monday at the Movies film series will take place following the screening at 7:00pm, screening ‘Wild Rose’, a story of a musician from Glasgow with dreams of becoming a Nashville star.

Last Monday at the Movies movie series that takes place at the Massey Theatre in New Westminster, B.C. on the last Monday of each month. Last Monday at the Movies is a celebration of independent film showing the best of the Toronto International Film Festival Film Circuit. Now in it’s 17th season, films take place between September through June, excluding December. The films start at 7:00pm and are followed by Last Word, a post-film talk discussing the film’s topic, taking place directly after the film in the Plaskett Gallery.

For more information about films and how to purchase tickets, visit the website: acnw.ca/movies

~30~

About the Arts Council of New Westminster
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.
For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://www.acnw.ca

Contact:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca

MEDIA RELEASE: International Artist Day Anonymous Art Show to benefit local charity

Media Release
August 31, 2018
For Immediate Release

International Artist Day Anonymous Art Show to benefit local charity

New Westminster, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster is pleased to announce that they have been selected by International Artist Day Anonymous Art Show as their charity of choice. Proceeds from sales at the 2^nd Annual Anonymous Art Show on October 25, 2018 will be benefitting the Arts Council of New Westminster’s work of “Bringing Community Together Through the Arts”. Funds will support the Arts Council’s work in the visual arts community, including ongoing programming at The Gallery at Queen’s Park such as the Inter/Action Artist Learning Series and Gallery Session monthly concert series.

Hosted at 100 Braid Street Studios, the International Artist Day Anonymous Art Show will feature over 100 well known and emerging artists exhibiting 12″ x 12″ art on canvas or wood panels, all works are signed only on the back of the piece. The anonymous nature of the show ensures that all the art is treated equally, and that the excitement of the unknown adds a special anticipation and excitement to the event.

The Anonymous Art Show Call for Artists is available online. More information about the International Artist Day Anonymous Art Show, please visit: https://internationalartistsdayyvr.com/

– 30 –

Key Dates:
The Anonymous Art Show Gala Opening 2018
Thursday, October 25, 100 Braid St Studios, 7:00-10:00pm
The Anonymous Art Show Artist Reception
Friday, October 26, 100 Braid St Studios, 7:00-10:00pm
Open Studio Viewing at 100 Braid Street Studios
Friday, October 26, 10:00-6:00pm
Saturday, October 27, 10:00-5:00pm
Sunday, October 28, 10:00-5:00pm

For more information:
Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director, Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca
@ArtsCouncilNW (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook)
#ArtsNW

About International Artist Day

Launched in 2004 to honor the contribution artists make to society, International Artist Day has grown steadily in popularity around the world, and over the last few years has taken on a life of its own. Artists and their supporters in cities everywhere celebrate IAD. With the help of municipal and corporate sponsors they promote festivals and events designed to increase the visibility of art and artists in a wide variety of genres from painting, to writing, music, the digital arts, and everything in between. http://www.internationalartistday.com/

About the Arts Council of New Westminster

Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing, and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors. Serving the community for 51 years, the ACNW continues to bring innovative new programming to New Westminster

MEDIA RELEASE: Arts Council of New Westminster to host two All-Candidates Meetings

Media Release
August 23, 2018
For Immediate Release

Arts Council of New Westminster to host two All-Candidates Meetings

New Westminster, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster will be hosting two All-Candidates meetings at the Centennial Lodge in September 2018. With a focus on the arts, candidates will have the opportunity to meet with local artists from the performing, visual, and literary arts community. Attendees will learn about the candidates’ ideas to develop and sustain the arts and the key role of the arts in our schools and our city. The meeting for Mayor and Council candidates will take place on September 18^th and for School Trustee candidates on September 26^th. Both events start at 7:00pm and run until 9:00pm.

The upcoming All-Candidates meetings are a part of the ACNW’s Arts Vote New West campaign that began on August 12^th, 2018. At the start of this campaign, artists and arts-engaged citizens shared an evening hearing from Brenda Leadlay of the BC Alliance for Arts and Culture on advocacy efforts across British Columbia in advance of the upcoming municipal elections. The evening also included a frank and informative discussion about the state of advocacy and of the Arts in New Westminster.

More information about these All-Candidates meetings and to RSVP, please visit: https://artsvotenewwestallcandidatesmeeting.eventbrite.com

Key Dates:
September 18, 2018 – Mayor and Council Candidates
September 26, 2018 – School Trustee Candidates
Location: Centennial Lodge, Queen’s Park
Time: Doors: 6:30pm, Event: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

For more information:
Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director, Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca
@ArtsCouncilNW (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook)
#ArtsNW

About the Arts Council of New Westminster
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing, and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors. Serving the community for 51 years, the ACNW continues to bring innovative new programming to New Westminster

MEDIA RELEASE: Arts Council announces another summer jampacked with the Arts!

Media Release
May 23rd, 2018
For Immediate Release

Arts Council announces another summer jampacked with the Arts!

New Westminster, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster is excited to announce another summer jampacked with the Arts in New Westminster! There are many events each month from June through September that are certain to make your community feel extra awesome! Don’t miss the return of Music by the River at Westminster Pier Park in July and August, the New West Craft Summer Night Market on the Riverfront Esplanade on July 7th, and the New West Cultural Crawl happening across New Westminster during August 11^th and 12^th. Admission for all these events are, as always, FREE.

2017 was the Arts Council of New Westminster’s busiest year of infusing the arts into the community. 2018 has shaped up to be an even bigger year for showcasing all the amazing talent New Westminster has to offer. We invite you to join us at events throughout New Westminster and at our gallery located in Queen’s Park.

Mark your calendars and come down to Metro Vancouver’s hotspot for community arts, home to numerous award-winning artists. Find out for yourself the reasons why everyone’s talking about New Westminster!

Arts Council of New Westminster
Summer Events 2018

June 2018

New West Craft – June 2 & 16 – River Market Esplanade – Artisan Market, 11am – 4pm
Praxis: Free Alternative Yoga and Figure Drawing – June 20 – Centennial Lodge 7pm
Uptown Unplugged – Sat at Westminster Centre/ Sun at Royal City Centre – Concert Series
Beginning June 2 on to September 9, 12pm – 2pm
ArtsToGo at Queensborough Childrens Festival, June 16 11am – 3pm
National Indigenous People’s Day – June 21 – Westminster Pier Park, 10am – 2pm
NWSS Grad Show Exhibition – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – June 6-24

July 2018

Canada Day – July 1 – Queen’s Park – Community Celebration, 11am – 3pm
Canada Day Celebration – Uptown New West 6^th & 6^th – Uptown Unplugged & ArtsToGo
Music by the River – July 5, 12, 19, 26 – Pier Park – Concert Series, 6 – 8pm
Fridays on Front – July 6, 13, 20, 27 – Front Street – Concert Series 5 – 9pm
Uptown Unplugged – Sat at Westminster Centre/ Sun at Royal City Centre – Concert Series
New West Craft – July 7 & 21 – River Market Esplanade – Artisan Market, 11am – 4pm
New West Craft Summer Night Market – July 7 – River Market / Fraser River Discover Centre Esplanade – 6:00 – 9:30pm – Artisan Market
Inter/action for Tony Durke – July 15 – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Artist Talk 3-4pm
New West Craft at Uptown Live – July 21 – Uptown New West – Artisan Fair 12pm – 9pm
Columbia StrEAT Food Truck Festival – July 28 – 3 stages of entertainment
Tony Durke Exhibition – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – July 1-29

August 2018

Music by the River – Aug 2 & 9 – Pier Park – Concert Series
Fridays on Front – Aug 3, 10, 17, 24 – Front Street – Concert Series
Uptown Unplugged – Sat at Westminster Centre/ Sun at Royal City Centre – Concert Series
New West Craft – Aug 4 & 18 – River Market Esplanade – Artisan Market
New West Cultural Crawl – Aug 10, 11 & 12 – various venues across New Westminster
Performing Arts Pilot Project – Aug 11 – Queen’s Park Bandshell
Inter/action for Lex Ireton – Aug 12 – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Artist Talk 3 – 4pm
Pride Arts Celebration – Aug 13 – Pride Week at Centennial Lodge – Youth Art Exhibition and Poetry Reading
Lex Ireton Exhibition – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Aug 1-26

September 2018

Uptown Unplugged – Sat at Westminster Centre/ Sun at Royal City Centre – Concert Series
New West Craft – Sept 15 – River Market Esplanade – Artisan Market
Inter/action for Suzanne Laird – Sept 16 – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Artist Talk 3 – 4pm
Praxis: Free Alternative Yoga and Figure Drawing – Sept 19 – Centennial Lodge 7 – 8pm
New West Craft at RiverFest – Sept 22 – Fraser River Discovery Centre – Artisan Fair
Suzanne Laird Exhibition – The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Sept 5-30

For more information:
Stephen O’Shea *available for interviews
Executive Director, Arts Council of New Westminster
info@acnw.ca
604 525 3244
www.acnw.ca
@ArtsCouncilNW (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook)
#ArtsNW

About the Arts Council of New Westminster
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors. Celebrating our 50th anniversary, the ACNW continues to bring innovative new programming to New Westminster

Arts Council of New Westminster announce scholarship recipient for 2018

The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to announce Hailey Connor as the 2018 recipient of the ACNW Scholarship through the Douglas College Foundation. Hailey is studying as an actor in the performing arts department at Douglas College. We are excited for Hailey’s future as an actor and look forward to her sharing her artistic talent with the community of New Westminster.

In photo (left to right): Barb Webb, ACNW Secretary; Stephen O’Shea, ACNW Executive Director; Leanne Ewen, ACNW President; Hailey Connor, Scholarship Recipient, Simrit Kainth, ACNW Vice-President; Leslie Murray, ACNW Treasurer; Jane Evans, Manager, Philanthropic Relations, Douglas College Foundation.

CALL FOR MUSICIANS – ACNW Summer Music Program – 2018

Thank you for your interest in our 2018 Summer Music Program. Our Call for Musicians is now closed

Call for Committee Members – The Gallery at Queen’s Park

Interested in making a difference to the New Westminster arts community? Consider volunteering on the Visual Arts Committee or one of its sub-committees.

These committees plan, develop, and facilitate arts activities that engage the public, spark dialogue, and encourage collaboration. Committee members create connections and community through The Gallery at Queen’s Park program. The Visual Arts Committee and its sub-committees also work to improve artists’ networks and build continuity and presence through ongoing involvement in community events.

The Visual Arts Committee are chaired by members of the ACNW board; members are volunteers with professional experience in their fields and are selected through application and interview by a Board appointed committee. Recommended allocations are approved by ACNW’s Board of Directors.

Committee Members must enjoy working and interacting with people and have a positive attitude. Committee members receive no remuneration for their work but may be reimbursed for authorized expenditures made on behalf of ACNW. The ACNW’s committees and juries reflect the diversity of our city and its evolving arts practices. Maximum term: 3 years.

Committees

We are seeking members on the following committees:

1) Visual Arts Committee

2) Installation Sub-Committee

3) Exhibition Selection Sub-Committee

4) Maintenance Sub-Committee

5) Volunteer Sub-Committee

6) Permanent Collection Sub-Committee

Roles and Responsibilities of ANCW Committee Members

Committees support the operations of The Gallery at Queen’s Park program. The committees also broaden and strengthen the Arts Council’s community base. Committee members review program delivery, advise the Board of Directors on the needs of the arts community and general policy matters.

Committee members:

Attend monthly committee meetings at least six times per year and email the committee chair or event coordinator as needed
Attend and support community events at The Gallery at Queens Park. Responsibilities for each event vary depending on the needs of the organizer/artist.
Recommend changes in programming/governance to the ACNW Board of Directors
Maintain an awareness of the arts community and the changing artistic practices, trends and issues within the discipline
Advise on related matters, including the development of new opportunities/needs in the community
Promote arts events online (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Committee members are viewed as representatives of the Arts Council of New Westminster and should therefore conduct themselves in an appropriately professional manner, respecting their ACNW responsibilities and obligations and following the Ground Rules for Group Deliberations and Consensus Building as approved by the Board January 2016. Time required is approximately 4-6 hours per month.

Criteria for Committee Membership

Committee members must:

Be a member of the Arts Council.
Be knowledgeable and experienced in their respective discipline, either as a professional or volunteer.
Have no real or perceived bias respecting any special interest group while serving as Committee members.
Consider the best interests of the entire community.
Be willing and able to make a significant contribution of time during their tenure.

While the number of formal meetings may not be more than six each year, committee members will need to dedicate of considerable periods of time to review programming, attend events and consult with ACNW staff and other committee members. Time required is approximately 4-6 hours per month.

Benefits

Learn about the various communities in New Westminster; community art practices; local events and artists; and environmental art. Meet and work with lots of great people and for great organization!

How to Apply

To apply for a volunteer role, please send your information to info@acnw.ca Please include your resume and a statement as to why you are interested in the arts and which committee you are interested in.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL – NEW WEST SUMMER SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL

The Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW) Performing Arts Committee has identified the need for a one-day summer performing arts festival to take place in Queens Park Concert Bowl on August 11, 2018. This dynamic, entertaining, new summer event will feature a variety of local performing arts groups and performers, engaging the community with vibrant arts programming and appealing to the different demographics within the community.

This one-day event will feature eight separate performance acts, performing for no-more than 40 minutes. Event organization, marketing, and a stage crew will be provided by the New Westminster Arts Council and the Performing Arts Committee.

We are looking for applications to perform at this exciting new event, by locally-based individuals, groups, or organizations. As the focus of this event is on the performing arts, the Council and Committee are seeking applications from any interested performers in such applicable performance avenues as drama, comedy, song, dance, circus, etc

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Overall proposal suitability: How potentially engaging is this performance
Diversity of the performance
Applicability of the performance for a community event
Viability of proposal
Technical expertise and experience of applicant

Applicants should provide the following information as part of their proposal for consideration:

Description of experience in planning, rehearsing, and performing in the community.
List of how many performers are involved
Detailed description of the performance proposed
Estimated length of performance
Equipment needed for performance (Please see list of venue provided equipment. We will provide additional equipment where possible, but please note we cannot accommodate all additional equipment requirements)

The proposal should be no longer than two pages. Keep information as brief as possible.

The New Westminster Arts Council and Performing Arts Council have established a modest budget for this event. Each performance group will be given a modest honorarium.

Questions about RFP process and eligibility may be directed to Stefanie Swinnard, ACNW Performing Arts Committee Chair at info@acnw.ca

All successful applicants will be required to be members of the Arts Council of New Westminster

Deadline: Please submit your proposal by March 31, 2018 at 5:00 pm. Following that time, proposals may be accepted and reviewed but no guarantees are provided.

Send ONE electronic copy with supporting documentation to info@acnw.ca

All submissions will be juried by a panel of professional artists, educators, and administrators between April 1^st and 30th 2018.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified by April 30^th , 2018

To download the entire RFP document as a PDF, click here

For more info, email info@acnw.ca
www.acnw.ca

Now Hiring: New West Cultural Crawl Coordinator – Canada Summer Jobs

Founded in 1967, the Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW) is a non-profit organization committed to a mission of bringing the arts to the centre of community life. We accomplish our mission through initiatives that focus on arts programming in the community, arts advocacy, and programs that nurture and support our local artists and arts organizations.

The New West Cultural Crawl Coordinator will be responsible for full program delivery. This position will coordinate, administer, and promote the New West Cultural Crawl, which takes place on August 10/11/12, 2018, with the aid of volunteers and potential staff support as available.

Responsibilities:

• Participating in the facilitation and the coordination of New West Cultural Crawl, a free two-day summer arts and culture series throughout New Westminster
• Building long term connections and partnerships with the artists, the arts community, local businesses and service organizations.
• Monitoring and revising organizational structure model, positions, and tasks
• Facilitating volunteer involvement
• Helping plan and facilitate meetings, taking minutes, email meeting notifications
• Volunteer coordination and mediation: Pre-Festival and weekly coordination and scheduling of volunteers as well as assigning and oversight of regular duties
• Collection of data (including attendance records, sales figures, donations, etc)
• Tracking goals, progress, and deadlines
• Onsite day of support

Qualifications:

• An interest in and/or knowledge of Event Management and Promotions
• Completion of one year of post-secondary education
• Computer literacy, experience with multiple social media platforms
• Attention to detail and ability to work independently
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
• Information gathering and information monitoring
• High degree of self-motivation and creative problem solving
• Culturally aware and a love for the Arts
• Available to work weekends and evenings

Timeline: May 7, 2018 to August 24, 2018, Monday to Friday; however, a flexible week may be necessary in order to meet programming needs.
Remuneration: $14.00 per hour, 40 hrs per week
Submit resume and cover letter by email to info@acnw.ca before 5:00pm on April 9, 2018.
Include “NW Cultural Crawl Coordinator – Application” as the subject of your email.

Please note that the staffing of the position and its duration are conditional on the approval of the grant application submitted to the Canada Summer Jobs program. To be considered for this position, students must be between 15-30 years of age at the start of employment, registered as a full-time student during the preceding academic year, intend to return to school on a full-time basis next year, is a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred.

To download a PDF of this job description, click here

ACNW50 Presentation and City of New Westminster Proclamation

New Westminster Mayor Jonathan Cote, ACNW President Leanne Ewen and Executive Director Stephen O’Shea
**Photo Credit: Brad Cavanagh**

Arts Council of New Westminster President Leanne Ewen and Executive Director Stephen O’Shea gave a presentation to Mayor Cote and Council on November 6th, 2017 at New Westminster City Hall. The presentation highlighted the successes of the Arts Council of New Westminster in 2017. At the end of the presentation, Mayor Cote read a Proclamation in celebration of our 50th anniversary.

Join us as we spend November celebrating our 50th anniversary:

50th Anniversary Celebration on November 26, 2017 from 2:30pm – 5:00pm at the Centennial Lodge.
A month long exhibition by celebrated New Westminster artist, Joseph Plaskett, on loan from the New Westminster Public Library
A secret concert at The Gallery at Queen’s Park

Let’s celebrate the future of the Arts Council as we raise a glass to toast the last 50 years of helping elevate the arts in New Westminster!

Arts Council of New Westminster 50th Anniversary Celebration

Come help us celebrate the Arts Council’s 50th anniversary!
Yes, that’s right, the Arts Council has been a part of New Westminster for 50 years. To celebrate this milestone, we want to gather as many people as we can who have been involved with the Arts Council over the years to chat, share stories and celebrate. There will be food, wine and entertainment. Please mark your calendar for our celebrations which will take place Sunday, November 26 right after the AGM.
AGM starts at 1:30. Celebration starts at 2:30.
Hope to see you there!

Let’s celebrate the future of the Arts Council as we raise a glass to toast the last 50 years of helping elevate the Arts in New Westminster.

Sunday, November 26, 2017
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM PST
At the Centennial Lodge

Please RSVP here: http://acnw50.eventbrite.ca/

ACNW 50th Anniversary Celebration Exhibition – Joseph Plaskett – Nov 1-26, 2017

The Arts Council of New Westminster presents:

“ACNW 50th Anniversary Celebration Exhibition”
A selection of Joseph Plaskett’s work, on loan from the Collection of the New Westminster Public Library

Exhibition Dates: November 1-26, 2017
Gallery Hours: Wed 1-8pm, Thurs-Sun 1-5pm
Celebration Reception: Sunday, November 26, 2:30-5pm
RSVP here

Exhibition Statement

The Gallery at Queen’s Park presents a selection of works from the Plaskett Collection on loan from the New Westminster Public Library. This exhibition is in connection with the Arts Council of New Westminster’s 50th Anniversary Celebration during the month of November, 2017.

Also included in the celebration will be other events, including Analog 3.0 held at the River Market, and a secret concert at The Gallery at Queen’s Park on November 29th. Join us for The ACNW 50th Anniversary Celebration Reception at the Centennial Lodge held on November 26th, from 2:30 – 5:00pm.

Artist Bio

Joseph “Joe” Plaskett (12 July 1918 – 21 September 2014) was a Canadian painter. He studied with many prominent Canadian painters like A.Y. Jackson, Jack Shadbolt, Lawren Harris and Jock Macdonald. Plaskett was a pupil of Hans Hofmann in New York and Provincetown in 1947 and 1948.

Plaskett was born in New Westminster, British Columbia in 1918. In 1950, he arrived in Paris where he studied with Fernand Léger, and Jean Lombard, etching and engraving with Stanley William Hayter. He taught intermittently in Canada until 1957. He then settled in Paris where his studio became an informal salon for Canadian painters, writers, poets and filmmakers, interfacing with artists from other countries.

Plaskett studied art in Banff, San Francisco, New York, London and Paris. He lived in Paris from 1951 until shortly before his death when he moved to Suffolk, England. His chosen subjects were always intimate expressions of everyday life – interiors, still life, and portraits of friends and models.

Plaskett continued to paint daily until his death on 21 September 2014 at the age of 96.

More information about Joseph Plaskett:
http://www.joeplaskett.com/
Wikipedia

Click image to see Flickr photo album

Feast on the Fraser – Sept 25 2017 – Taste of Sri Lanka Gallery Long Table

The Arts Council of New Westminster and Emerald Culinary & Catering Club present The Taste of Sri Lanka! This exciting long table dinner includes an innovative sampling of traditional Sri Lankan cuisine. This exclusive dinner wil take place in the recently refurbished ‘The Gallery at Queen’s Park’ amidst works from talented local artist Tajah Olsen. Tickets for this event are priced at $50 (taxes & service fees extra) and include a wine and food pairing.

Feast on the Fraser is an innovative culinary campaign creating signature events in unique spaces that pair food, fun, arts and entertainment within New Westminster, BC. From longtable dinners to cultural tastings there’s an event to suit anyone’s palette. The campaign’s launch event is on September 14, 2017 with events taking place September 22, 2017 – October 1, 2017.

Purchase tickets here

#FeastOnTheFraser | #madeinnewwest | Facebook.com/FeastOnTheFraser

Canada Day Pick-a-Box Silent Auction RESULTS!

A big THANK YOU to everyone that celebrated Canada Day in Queen’s Park on July 1, 2017. We were thrilled to host the Pick-a-Box Silent Auction during the festivities to raise funds for “Arts in Queen’s Park” Grant program.

Special thanks to the City of New Westminster and the Canada Day Organizing Committee for putting together such an amazing event. We are also very grateful to the dedicated volunteers who ensured our event ran smoothly.

Together we raised over $700 with the proceeds going to ACNW programming in Queen’s Park.

We couldn’t have done this event without the help of our amazing community and the local businesses who generously donated to our silent auction. We would like to thank the following amazing folks:

Royal City Musical Theatre
Steel & Oak
Mila & Paige
Royal City Cheer and Parkour
30 Minute Hit
Laughter Zone 101
The Stage New West
Royal City Centre
Patterson Brands
Massey Theatre

LumberJax
Tojo Sticks and Bags
Strong n’ Free
New West Hipster
Vagabond Players
New West Craft
100 Braid Street Studios
Dee Beatie
Allison Baird
Roger and Catherine Lee

Music By The River set to return to Pier Park in July

MEDIA RELEASE:
June 15, 2017

New Westminster, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster is thrilled to be partnering with Alex Jopson (of City to Suburb Real Estate Group) and the City of New Westminster to bring back the Music By The River concert series and arts festival to the award-winning Westminster Pier Park on Thursday nights on July 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2017 from 5-8pm.

This all-ages free experience will be the first of it’s kind with a new additional announcement for this year’s festivities. The Arts Council of New Westminster and City to Suburb Real Estate Group are thrilled to fill Westminster Pier Park with a wide variety of the arts, including live musical performance, two DJ stages, busking performances, artisan vendors, live painting, ribbon dancing, and more. Spend sunny summer evenings at Pier Park enjoying the arts in a scenic setting next to the Fraser River.

NEW this year: The Arts Council of New Westminster is partnering with the City of New Westminster and will be serving Steel and Oak Brewing Co along with Pacific Breeze wine at the Eats at the Pier concession. The entire park will be one massive site-licensed area allowing you to take your drink anywhere within the park. Bring your picnic dinner down to Pier Park and enjoy a drink as you listen to the tunes from Royal City Sound DJ program. Enjoy every aspect of this beautiful park, whether it be the beach volleyball courts, hammocks, grass fields, basketball courts, or breathe taking views of the Fraser River. Be sure to take your drink all the way down to take a selfie with Wow Westminster public art, New Westminster’s Giant W. Make sure to plan your trip to the event, as the park is within a short walk from Columbia and New Westminster Skytrain Stations.

SPECIAL FEATURE: On July 13, the Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present a live performance by Vancouver electronic band I M U R. I M U R (I am you are), is a live electronic act with a hybrid sound influenced by 90’s hip-hop/r&b, electronic, experimental, and soul. The band consists of producer Mikey J Blige on live beat composition and electric guitar, singer-songwriter Jenny Lea on keys, vocals, and looping, and producer/multi-instrumentalist Amine Bouzaher on electric violin and bass. Their debut EP “Slow Dive” (released Aug. 2015), garnered much acclaim from the Vancouver underground scene, and recently landed them #5 in Spotify’s Global Viral Top 50 charts.

Background

With the Arts Council of New Westminster’s commitment to promoting the arts within the community, Music By The River captures the art of live performance for community pleasure while offering local musicians the opportunity to display their talent. Music By The River is made possible by support from the City of New Westminster, Government of Canada, City to Suburb Real Estate Group, Creative BC and the BC Arts Council.

About the Arts Council of New Westminster

About City to Suburb Real Estate Group

Alex Jopson, Deri Jopson & Jerrit Bates make up the City to Suburb Real Estate Group with Sutton Group West Coast Realty. Alex Jopson is a proud resident of New Westminster, and believes as a licensed REALTOR® part of his job is to showcase the cities his team work in. With over 40 years combined award winning years of experience, the City to Suburb Real Estate Group team members are thrilled to partner with The Arts Council of New Westminster showcase the local arts, along with this one of a kind community of New West and the beautiful Pier Park.

CONTACT:
Will Clements, Music Program Coordinator
Arts Council of New Westminster
music@acnw.ca
604-525-3244

OTHER HELPFUL TOOLS:

URLs to link to:
Event web page: http://acnw.ca/music-by-the-river/
FB event: https://www.facebook.com/events/309046702839857
Volunteer application form: http://acnw.ca/volunteer/

Hashtags to use: #MBTR2017 #ArtsNW #citytosuburb #givrontheriver

Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – we are @ArtsCouncilNW @musicbytheriver @citytosuburb

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Buskers Wanted 2017

The Arts Council of New Westminster coordinates busking style performances throughout New Westminster through various programs and events. 2017 will see the return of this program! We are seeking submissions of small musical acts including solos, duos, and full band performances. All genres of music will be considered. Performances will take place Thursdays through Sundays, and will be coordinated by Arts Council staff. A PA system will NOT be provided but electricity is available (Please indicate if you plan to bring your own).

There is no fee to apply for the music program. However, Artists chosen to participate in the music program are required to be members of The Arts Council of New Westminster. Membership fees can be paid in person at The Gallery at Queen’s Park, via the mail, or via Paypal on our website. Individual memberships are $20. Student/Senior memberships are $15.

Participants of the music program will be paid an honorarium for their performance.

To register, please fill out this following form at: http://artscouncilnewwest.org/buskers/
All inquires, email music@acnw.ca

Analog Pop-Up Vinyl Shop April 22nd, 2017

Analog: Pop Up Vinyl Shop returns to New West on Record Store Day

On Saturday, April 22nd from 2-5pm, indie and electronic record labels from across Metro Vancouver will descend upon New Westminster for a day of live music, beer, food and of course crate digging.

First launched by Steel & Oak Brewing Co. in the fall of 2016, the spring edition of Analog: Pop Up Vinyl Shop will be popping up at 52 6th Street on the corner of Sixth St. and Carnarvon from 2-5 pm in the heart of downtown New West.

“As soon as the first edition ended we received so many emails and phone calls asking when volume two was going to be held,” says Steel & Oak co-owner Jorden Foss. “So, Stephen from the Arts Council of New West and I started to think about what a second edition might look like and with record store day coming up we thought we’d create our own pop-up shop for the day.”

Joining Steel & Oak and the Arts Council will be Indie Labels Northern Electric, Scrape and File Under: Music. New for this edition will be some of the region’s electronic music labels including; Pacific Rhythm, Normals Welcome, Heart to Heart and Hybridity Records. Music Madhouse Records will also be on hand for those in the mood for some classic releases or a rare press or two.

An afternoon of vinyl shopping and sipping craft beer wouldn’t be complete without local music. The Arts Council Stage will feature live performances by Amanda Silvera, Mr. Rust and a DJ spinning some classic hip-hop to close out the afternoon.

“We’re super excited for the live performances! Vinyl remains the best way to listen to music and we’re excited to be celebrating that with our pals at Steel & Oak,” says Stephen O’Shea of the Arts Council.

New this year will be an after party at Old Crow Coffee put on by Social Medium a quarterly electronic music social. Running from 6-10 pm, the night will feature local electronic music artists HARGOW and DJs Mutes Ito and Rob Hay. “We’re excited to have these amazing labels down for the fair and to provide the chance for people to come together through a shared love of music – and of course vinyl.”

Analog: Pop Up Vinyl Shop hits 52 Sixth St. on Record Store Day, April 22nd from 2-5pm.

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Contact:
Jorden Foss (Jorden@steelandoak.ca)
Stephen O’Shea (info@acnw.ca)

For more information on:
Steel & Oak (http://steelandoak.ca)
The Arts Council (http://acnw.ca)

About Amanda Silvera

Amanda silvera fits firmly in her own unique category. Her new album, Syncing, is a captivating and moving debut that heralds the arrival of a gifted and significant new talent, one whose music feels familiar in the best possible way, while striking out on its own territory.

Born January 12th 1989 in Richmond British Columbia, to hard working jamaican parents (Catherine Silvera) & ( Richard Silvera ) Amanda Silvera adopted prestige traits, characteristics and morals that would soon evolve her into a leader with primal instincts and beliefs of some day influencing the world through her music. Amanda was most comfortable alone often times, she found herself most at peace in the company of music. At home, Amanda’s parents relationship was on the rocks and Amanda’s head phones were her portal and escape from raised voices and scary thoughts.

Amanda grew up feeling alienated from the rest of the world in so many ways; her looks were quite distinguishable from her peers, her accent was unique and her cultural roots were looked at as different by most kids her age. Amanda’s true passion springs from writing, in her own words she can “visit other worlds through stories”. Through these tough times amanda turned to her inspiration which at the time derived from her grandmother Tess. No matter the distance between the two, amanda and her grandmother kept communication through letters in forms of stories and poems. Tess was everything that amanda wanted to be when she grew up, an accredited artist writer, teacher, designer, a talk show radio host but most importantly an inspiration to many.

Amanda’s grandmother was unfortunately murdered when Amanda was in grade four, the last letter she received from her grandmother said to never give up on her dreams and to give to this world more than one can take from it. These words were held onto dearly and now live through amanda’s actions and persuasion to the achieving her goals and dreams. Shortly after amanda found peace when she joined the choir and met Mrs. Manceneli. The choir brought her closer to understand her true lifes mission; it was the first place where she understood that the voice inside of her needed to be share.

During her grade nine year, Amanda’s’ parents divorced, Amanda soon after dropped out of school which kept her available to care for her younger sibling, who was also trying to cope with this change of worlds. rebelling against life as they knew it, so began whirlwind of challenges that would muse most of her songs to come. Amanda created a small recording space at home and soon upgraded to her friends ‘home studio’; this studio consisted of a microphone, a pop block made of her friends mothers stocking, in a closet still filled with clothing that had a doubling purpose of insulating the booth.; “that closet was my happy place”. This truly became her sanctuary, her home was broken but her dream was whole. Amanda pushed desperately, determined to prove the world wrong, to prove that dreams really do come true.

Amanda returned to school the following year, graduating 6 months early and with honors. With school out of the way, and a renewed outlook on life, the pieces began to fall into place for amanda. Entering a wide variety of showcases around her city with acts like Brian Mcknight, Bobby Valentino, Ginuwine, SWV, Tony Toni Tone, Jeremih, and Too Short earned her some much needed exposure and the notoriety to begin playing bigger shows for a highly increasing audience. Still recording continuously, Amanda began to receive requests from abroad to write, record and collaborate. from the UK, to Tokyo Japan.

committed to her first solo album which she is proud to called “syncing”. Amanda along with her motivated team of experts put nearly everything they had into creating an album that would be worth sharing but most importantly an album that will move people and connect them through our own reflections of darkness, healing and conquering.

Amanda Silvera is beyond ready to introduce a new style r&b & Soul music that far surpasses the expectations of its genre. Her new age approach and incredible looks make her the ideal candidate for just about any show. When you see amanda playing her songs, you will see passion, pain, and true inspiration. She performs her songs precisely the way she’s always wanted, created a fully realized album that is the culmination of where she’s been and where she’s going, and one that is sure to win her notoriety that is demanded by the depth and quality of her music.

Contact:

http://www.amandasilvera.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/AmandaSilveraMusic

2017 LitFest New West

Celebrated authors, the Pop This! Podcast, LitCafés, storytelling and kids’ programming set for 7^th Annual LitFest New West.

New Westminster, BC– Showcasing BC’s vibrant talent, the 7^th annual LitFest New West returns with an exciting mix of featured author events, literary cafés, children’s programming, writing workshops, a community exhibition, and a special literary marketplace running March 31 – April 2, 2017 throughout New Westminster. LitFest New West brings together “Readers, Writers, Community” for three days of celebrating New Westminster’s literary arts community.

Events will take place at venues throughout the city with a special kick off at New Westminster Public Library at 7:00 – 9:30 pm on Friday March 31, 2017. Broadcaster Lisa Christiansen and author Andrea Warner launch the three-day event with a special live recording of their popular Pop This! Podcast (two women talking about everything pop culture). They’ll be joined by New Westminster resident, fashion columnist, and memoirist JJ Lee, along with a cash bar to help words go down as smooth as ice.

“We are bringing this year’s events directly into popular venues in the community to showcase some of the talented creative writers in the city,” said Janice Bannister, chair of the organizing committee. “Events take place where local residents already socialize by bringing authors, readers, and writers into some of New Westminster’s favourite spots: The Heritage Grill, Judge Begbie’s Tavern, and Waffle House to name a few.”

Saturday’s featured evening event, Read Aloud: An Evening of Stories, takes place at Anvil Theatres (5:00 – 7:00 pm) featuring a presentation of New Westminster’s newest Poet Laureate, Alan Hill, the unveiling of the winners of the 2017 LitFest New West short story contest, and readings by acclaimed local authors including:

Aislinn Hunter – Winner of the 2015 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, New York Times Editor’s Choice winner for her book, The World Before Us.

Nasreen Pejvack – Author of Amity, Finalist for the 2016 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and activist who moved to Canada from Iran in the mid-1980s.

Catherine Owen – New West resident, author of 13 collections of poetry and prose and Dear Ghost, her 2017 collection of poetry.

Carleigh Baker – Cree-Metis/Icelandic writer whose first memoir, Bad Endings, (Anvil Press, 2017), is available now. She writes book reviews for the Globe Mail and has been published in a variety of local literary journals.

LitFest New West is proud to be expanding in 2017 with the addition of children’s programming. Workshops will be lead by children’s author/illustrator Lee Edward Fondi and New Westminster police officer and children’s author Grayson Smith. Both authors will be at River Market on Saturday, April 1 alongside the annual LitFest New West Literary Marketplace presented by New West Craft.

The festival will be rounded out with a variety of workshops and events happening throughout the community featuring readings by local authors and poets. New West Writers Critique hosting a Critique Session at The Gallery at Queen’s Park on Sunday April 2^nd. Royal City Literary Arts Society bring their Wordplay and In Their Words series that might just ignite your own muse. Lastly, enjoy pairings of visual and literary arts at the Anvil Centre’s Community Arts Space featuring 18 artists from April 1^st to June 2^nd. Exhibition opening on April 1^st from 3:00pm – 5:00pm at the Anvil Centre includes readings by authors and cash bar.

For more information, tickets to the opening event at New Westminster Public Library, and workshop registration visit the website: litfestnewwest.com

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About LitFest New West
LitFest New West is New Westminster’s annual literary arts festival. Originally started in 2009 as The Royal City Book Festival, Litfest celebrates the written word. Presented by The Arts Council of New Westminster, Royal City Literary Arts Society, New Westminster Public Library and New West Writers, Litfest New West features readings, interviews, workshops, performances, talks, and poetry for the enjoyment of readers and writers alike.

For more information about Litfest New West, visit http://litfestnewwest.com

About the Arts Council of New Westminster
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is a community arts organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts and foster support for those engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://www.acnw.ca

Contact:
Gulshan Josan, Media Coordinator
Arts Council of New Westminster
media@acnw.ca | 604 525 3244 | www.acnw.ca

Now Hiring: Music Program Coordinator – Canada Summer Jobs

The Music Program Coordinator will be responsible for full program delivery. This position will coordinate, administer, and promote the Music by the River/Uptown Unplugged Music program. The program takes place at locations throughout New Westminster during the summer of 2017, with the aid of volunteers and staff support as available.

Responsibilities:

Participating in the facilitation and the coordination of Music By the River, Uptown Unplugged, Fridays on Front and other music events throughout New Westminster
Building long term connections and partnerships with the artists, the arts community, local businesses and service organizations.
Facilitating volunteer involvement
Helping plan and facilitate meetings, taking minutes, email meeting notifications
Collection of data (including attendance records, community engagement, etc)
Tracking goals, progress, and deadlines
Onsite day of support

Qualifications:

An interest in and/or knowledge of Event Management and Promotions
Completion of one year of post-secondary education
Computer literacy, experience with multiple social media platforms
Attention to detail and ability to work independently
Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
Information gathering and information monitoring
High degree of self-motivation and creative problem solving
Culturally aware and a love for the Arts
Available to work weekends and evenings
Valid Class 5 Driver’s License for the Province of British Columbia

Timeline: May 8, 2017 to August 25, 2017, Wednesday to Sunday; however, a flexible week may be necessary in order to meet programming needs.
Remuneration: $13.00 per hour, 35 hrs per week
Submit resume and cover letter by email to info@acnw.ca before 5:00pm on April 7, 2017.
Include “Music Program Coordinator – Application” as the subject of your email.

To download a PDF of this job description, click here

Now Hiring: New West Cultural Crawl Coordinator – Canada Summer Jobs

The New West Cultural Crawl Coordinator will be responsible for full program delivery. This position will coordinate, administer, and promote the New West Cultural Crawl, which takes place on August 11/12/13, 2017, with the aid of volunteers and potential staff support as available.

Responsibilities:

Participating in the facilitation and the coordination of New West Cultural Crawl, a free two-day summer arts and culture series throughout New Westminster
Building long term connections and partnerships with the artists, the arts community, local businesses and service organizations.
Monitoring and revising organizational structure model, positions, and tasks
Facilitating volunteer involvement
Helping plan and facilitate meetings, taking minutes, email meeting notifications
Volunteer coordination and mediation: Pre-Festival and weekly coordination and scheduling of volunteers as well as assigning and oversight of regular duties
Collection of data (including attendance records, sales figures, donations, etc)
Tracking goals, progress, and deadlines
Onsite day of support

Qualifications:

An interest in and/or knowledge of Event Management and Promotions
Completion of one year of post-secondary education
Computer literacy, experience with multiple social media platforms
Attention to detail and ability to work independently
Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
Information gathering and information monitoring
High degree of self-motivation and creative problem solving
Culturally aware and a love for the Arts
Available to work weekends and evenings

Timeline: May 8, 2017 to August 25, 2017, Monday to Friday; however, a flexible week may be necessary in order to meet programming needs.
Remuneration: $13.00 per hour, 35 hrs per week
Submit resume and cover letter by email to info@acnw.ca before 5:00pm on April 7, 2017.
Include “NW Cultural Crawl Coordinator – Application” as the subject of your email.

To download a PDF of this job description, click here

CALL FOR ARTISTS: Royal City Farmers Market – Pop Up Exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
New Westminster, January 05, 2017

The Arts Council of New Westminster in partnership with Royal City Farmers Market is now inviting all visual artists from Metro Vancouver to submit applications for a group exhibition during the Annual General Meeting and Conference of the 2017 British Columbia Association of Farmers Markets. The exhibition is to take place on Friday, March 3, 2017 until Sunday March 5, 2017 in a pop-up exhibition in New Westminster, BC. The theme of the exhibition is “Farmer’s Markets”.

If you are an artist from Metro Vancouver and are interested in being considered for this group exhibition on Friday, March 3/4/5, 2017, your submission must reach the ACNW Exhibition Selection Committee on or before February 1, 2017.

Include in your application:

A selection of 8-10 good quality digital images of proposed work you wish to exhibit. Digital images should be jpg format; each image should be at least 800 x 600 pixels. Images should be clearly labelled with your Name, the Title of Work, Size and Medium. (artist_title_size_medium.jpg)
Contact information (mailing address, phone number, email, website)
An Artist Statement giving your aims and objectives as an artist in relation to your work.
A Curriculum Vitae (3 pages max.) to establish a better understanding of your background and experience.

Submissions will be accepted by email only. Please include all written material as PDF files and submit via email to info@artscouncilnewwest.org with “Gallery Exhibition Submission – Farmers Market” in the subject line. Please ensure that attachments total less than 10MB.

Contact:
Stephen O’Shea

Executive Director
604.525.3244
info@acnw.ca
www.acnw.ca

A very successful Sing a-Long Sound of Music Fundraiser

Our sincerest thanks goes out to everyone who made this year’s Sing a-Long Sound of Music fundraiser such a great success. We are proud to partner with Royal City Musical Theatre for this event and we want to thank the Massey Theatre for hosting us.

We are grateful to all those who came out, dressed up in costume, and sang along to every single note! You are the ones who truly made it a successful afternoon. After we counted everything up, we’re proud to announce we’ve raised $6,500 for our two organizations. These funds will go a long way in supporting our future programming and services! Thank you again for your support.

We would like to extend a special thank you to all those individuals and businesses who generously donated items for our silent auction.

100 Braid Street
Align Entertainment
Bead For Life
BurgerHeaven
Custom Realty Services
Goddess Within You
Fighting Chance Productions
Foreman’s Integra Tire Auto Centre
Inn at the Quay
James Productions
Key West Ford
Laughter Zone 101
Luli Designs
LumberJax
Massey Theatre
McKellar Martin Publishing
Music Box New West
New West Craft
New Westminster Public Library
River Market
Royal City Centre
Steel and Oak
Sticks and Bag
The Rhythm Room
The Stage New West
Van Dop Gallery
Vancouver Circus School
Wallis Harrison
Wendy Schmidt
Wild Rice
Working Silver

New Arts Council of New Westminster Logo

Say Hello to the NEW Arts Council of New Westminster logo!

acnw_logo_col-1000px

AGM NOTICE 2016

ACNW The Arts Council of New Westminster
Annual General Meeting
will be on Sunday, November 20th 2016.

Venue: Centennial Lodge in Queen’s Park
Time: 2 – 3 pm

After our formal AGM, please plan to stay for a wine and cheese social (3pm to 4pm).

Please share this invitation with others, as the meeting is open to the public. If you have any questions, would like more information, or are interested in joining the Board of Directors, contact Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director at info@acnw.ca

We looking forward to seeing and hearing from you.

Steel & Oak Brewing Co. has partnered with the Arts Council of New Westminster to bring Analog: Pop Up Vinyl Shop to the Royal City!

Steel & Oak Brewing Co. has partnered with the Arts Council of New Westminster to bring Analog: Pop Up Vinyl Shop to the Royal City!

On Sunday, October 23^rd from 12-4pm, indie record labels from across Metro Vancouver will descend upon Steel & Oak Brewing Co. for a day of live music, beer, food and of course vinyl!

“At Steel & Oak we like to think that we have the best vinyl collection in the beer industry so partnering with the Arts Council to bring local indie acts and labels to our brewery for a day of vinyl shopping seemed like the perfect fit,” says Steel & Oak co-owner Jorden Foss.

Indie labels La Ti Da Records, Northern Electric, Scrape Records, and New West’s own Bully’s Studios will be set up in the brewery with crates of records showcasing BC’s local talent for visitors to peruse.

Music Madhouse Records and Highlife Records will also be on hand for those in the mood for some classic releases or a rare press or two.

An afternoon of vinyl shopping wouldn’t be complete without local music! On the Arts Council Stage there will be live performances by Sarah Wheeler, 2-Bit Horse with special guest Jimmy Roy, and a DJ set by Dale Davies.

“We’re super excited for the live performances; it’s not every day you play in the back of a brewery! Vinyl remains the best way to listen to music and we’re excited to be celebrating that with our pals at Steel & Oak,” says Stephen O’Shea of the Arts Council.

Analog: Pop Up Vinyl Shop hits Steel & Oak on October 23^rd from 12-4pm!

Contact:
Jorden Foss (Jorden@steelandoak.ca)
Stephen O’Shea (stephen.oshea@acnw.ca)

For more information on:
Steel & Oak (http://steelandoak.ca)
The Arts Council (http://acnw.ca)

Artists explore the complexities of the human form

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2016

Artists explore the complexities of the human form in As You Are at The Gallery at Queen’s Park

New Westminster, British Columbia – July 26, 2016 – Starting August 3, 2016, The Gallery at Queen’s Park will be hosting, As You Are, a new exhibition featuring artists Cara Bain and Gillian Wright. The show runs until August 28. Both artists foster a passion for creating art based from human faces and expression. Creating genuine human connection through an exploration of the human body is the central theme of this show.

“This body of work explores the idea that every person is a creation that overflows with endless depth and beauty,” says Bain. “Rather than projecting onto my subjects a heady and complex concept of my own creation, my aim is to capture something about the identity or expression of each individual in a given moment.”

In addition to the New West Cultural Crawl weekend, Bain and Wright will be at The Gallery at Queen’s Park every Saturday and Sunday to meet with visitors and discuss their work.

ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER:
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts at all levels of government and to foster support for anyone engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.

LISTING INFORMATION ~ As You Are
Dates: August 3rd – 28th, 2016
Time: Wednesday 1pm – 8pm
Thursday – Sunday 1pm – 5pm
Address: The Gallery at Queen’s Park, 3rd Ave, New Westminster, BC V3M 1V2
Website: http://acnw.ca/galleryexhibit

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For further information, please contact:
Kat Vedah, Gallery Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
gallery@acnw.ca
604-525-3244

POP-UP EXHIBITION: Royal City Manor – July 27 – 31, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 11, 2016

POP-UP EXHIBITION AT THE GALLERY AT QUEEN’S PARK SHOWCASES HOW ART CAN HELP BREAK DOWN BARRIERS CAUSED BY DEMENTIA

THE EXHIBITION HOPES TO SPARK POSITIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF PRACTISING ART FOR THOSE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA

New Westminster, British Columbia – July 11, 2016 – The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to support Royal City Manor as they break boundaries with their pop-up art exhibition at The Gallery at Queen’s Park. An opening reception will be held from 6 – 8 pm on July 27, 2016, and members of the public are encouraged to attend. The exhibit runs from July 27 to July 31, 2016.

Royal City Manor Breaks Barriers Through Art features works from the residents at Royal City Manor, all of whom are living with dementia. Following the City of New Westminster’s efforts to increase public awareness about dementia, the Arts Council of New Westminster, along with Royal City Manor, hope to increase positive discussion around the disorder. Showcasing the talents that people living with dementia continue to have and foster allows a focus on more than just the artists’ struggles.

“Some of our exhibitors are lifelong artists and some are just discovering art for the first time,” explains Arts Council of New Westminster Executive Director, Stephen O’Shea. “The positive health benefits of practicing art can improve moods, assist with depression and anxiety. It’s said that art can even help improve some cognitive abilities.”

The Arts Council of New Westminster strives to be an inclusive organization, offering programing and shows for all New Westminster residents.

LISTING INFORMATION
Royal City Manor Breaks Barriers Through Art
Dates: July 27- 31, 2016
Time: Wednesday 1pm – 8pm Thursday – Sunday 1pm – 5pm
Opening Reception: July 27, 2016, from 6pm – 8pm

Address: The Gallery at Queen’s Park 3rd Ave, New Westminster, BC V3M 1V2
Website: http://www.acnw.ca/galleryexhibit

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For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Kaila Butler, Summer Promotions Coordinator The Arts Council of New Westminster

THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER
PO Box 16003, New Westminster, BC V3M 6V6
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244
media@acnw.ca

The Gallery at Queen’s Park – Call for Artists 2017

The Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW) is now inviting artists to submit applications for solo or duo exhibitions during the 2017 calendar year.

The ACNW operates a picturesque gallery in Queen’s Park known as The Gallery at Queen’s Park, which features a wide range of visual arts by local and emerging artists in exhibitions which change monthly. If you are an artist and are interested in being considered for the period from January 2017 to December 2017, your submission must reach the Gallery Exhibition Selection Committee (GESC) before August 31st 2016.

Submission by email only. To be considered at the next GESC meeting, please submit the following:

A selection of 8-10 digital images of proposed work you wish to exhibit. Digital images should be jpg format at 150 dpi; each image should be a maximum of 800 x 600 pixels. Image files should be clearly labelled with your Name, the Title of Work, Size in inches and Medium. Example: Artist-Title-Size-Medium.jpg
Contact information (mailing address, phone number, email, website).
An Artist Statement giving your aims and objectives as an artist in relation to your work.
A Curriculum Vitae (3 pages max.) to establish a better understanding of your background and experience.

Please include all written material as PDF files and submit via email to info@artscouncilnewwest.org with “Gallery Exhibition Submission” in the subject line. Please ensure that attachments total less than 5MB.

For more information on how to apply for an exhibition, please refer to the Exhibition Appliation package.
Any other inquires can be made by phone 604-525-3244 or by email: info [at] artscouncilnewwest [dot] org

New Exhibitions Heart of the Forest and Lost Wax and Art in Bronze Can Be Found in the Heart of Queen’s Park this July

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2016

New Exhibitions Heart of the Forest and Lost Wax and Art in Bronze Can Be Found in the Heart of Queen’s Park this July

New Westminster, British Columbia – June 23, 2016–Two new exhibitions showcasing three artists will be on display at The Gallery at Queen’s Park starting July 1, 2016. Heart of the Forest, featuring Judy Villett and Terry Aske, focuses on a portrayal of passion and connection to the forest through quilting, and Lost Wax and Art in Bronze, by Robert Matza, showcases a high degree of craftsmanship in bronze sculpture. These shows run from July 1- 24, 2016.

Both quilters use a variety of techniques from traditional to modern to create realistic and abstract pieces. Award-winning works from both Villett and Aske have exhibited internationally and been published in art books and magazines.

Born and raised in Vienna, Austria, sculptor Matza’s passion for art was quelled during the war. This love was reawakened after moving to Canada in the 60s. Matza participated in his first art symposium in 1982 and has exhibited all over the Lower Mainland since.

The opening reception for Heart of the Forest and Lost Wax and Art in Bronze will be on July 6, 2016 from 6pm – 8pm, and there will be artist’s talks by Villett and Aske on July 17, 2016, starting at 1pm.

ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER:

Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts at all levels of government and to foster support for anyone engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.

LISTING INFORMATION

Heart of the Forest and Lost Wax and Art in Bronze
Dates: July 1- 24, 2016
Time: Wednesday 1pm – 8pm, Thursday – Sunday 1pm – 5pm
Opening Reception: July 6, 2016, from 6pm – 8pm
Artist’s Talk: July 17, 2016 ~ Judy Villett 1pm – 2pm, Terry Aske 2pm – 3pm
Address: The Gallery at Queen’s Park, 3rd Ave, New Westminster, BC V3M 1V2
Website: http://artscouncilnewwest.org/category/gallery-exhibit/

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For further information, please contact:

Kat Vedah, Gallery Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
gallery@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

Guild Turns Wood into Art

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild
It’s Our Turn: The Art of the Turned Wooden Form
Exhibition Dates: June 1 – 26, 2016
Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 1, 6 – 8pm
Artists’ Demos:
Saturday, June 4, 1 – 5pm and
Saturday, June 18, 1 – 5pm
(at the Queen’s Park Bandshell)
Gallery Hours: Wednesday, 1 – 8pm; Thursday to Sunday, 1 – 5pm

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC (May 20, 2016) — The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present It’s Our Turn: The Art of the Turned Wooden Form, a group exhibition by the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild. The exhibition is on display in The Gallery at Queen’s Park from June 1 – 26, 2016. Join us for the Opening Reception on Wednesday, June 1, from 6pm – 8pm.

What all woodturners, or turners, have in common is the love of wood and transforming this simple material into a work of art. They are people unified by their passion “to just make stuff” and happy to share their creative experiences with others. On Saturday, June 4^th and June 18^th, from 1 – 5pm, Woodturners Guild members will bring the art of woodturning to the community by holding Artist Demonstrations at the Queen’s Park Bandshell where they will teach basic skills on a wide variety of turning topics.

For full exhibition details, please visit: http://artscouncilnewwest.org

For more about the Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild, visit: http://www.gvwg.ca/

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ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER:

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org

CONTACT:

Katarzyna Vedah
Gallery Coordinator – The Gallery at Queen’s Park
The Arts Council of New Westminster
gallery@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

CALL FOR ARTISTS – RiverFest 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
New Westminster, May 24, 2016

The Arts Council of New Westminster in partnership with the Fraser River Discover Centre is now inviting all visual artists from Metro Vancouver to submit applications for a group exhibition during the opening night of the 2016 edition of RiverFest. The exhibition is to take place on Friday, September 23, 2016 in the rotunda and lobby at the Fraser River Discover Centre in New Westminster, BC. The theme of the exhibition is the working river and its natural environment.

If you are an artist from Metro Vancouver and are interested in being considered for this group exhibition on Friday, September 23, 2016, your submission must reach the Gallery Exhibition Selection Committee (GESC) on or before June 30, 2016.

In general, you will be asked to submit:

A selection of 8-10 good quality digital images of proposed work you wish to exhibit. Digital images should be jpg format; each image should be at least 800 x 600 pixels. Images should be clearly labelled with your Name, the Title of Work, Size and Medium.
Contact information (mailing address, phone number, email, website)
An Artist Statement giving your aims and objectives as an artist in relation to your work.
A Curriculum Vitae (3 pages max.) to establish a better understanding of your background and experience.

Submissions will be accepted by email only. Please include all written material as PDF files and submit via email to info@artscouncilnewwest.org with “Gallery Exhibition Submission” in the subject line. Please ensure that attachments total less than 10MB

Contact:
Stephen O’Shea
604.525.3244
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
www.artscouncilnewwest.org

Artist Explores Creation From Destruction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HighPower: Unfolding Beauty from Destruction Exhibition
Dates: May 4 – 29, 2016
Opening Reception: Wednesday, May 4, 6-8pm
Artist’s Talk (as part of Litfest New West): Sunday, May 15, 2-3pm
After Talk Celebration: Sunday, May 15, 3-5pm
Gallery Hours: Wednesday, 1 – 8pm Thursday to Sunday, 1 – 5pm

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC (April 19, 2016) — The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present HighPower: Unfolding Beauty from Destruction, a solo exhibition by local artist Kathleen Forsythe, on display in The Gallery at Queen’s Park from May 4 – 29, 2016. Join us for the Opening Reception on Wednesday, May 4, from 6pm to 8pm.

In HighPower, Forsythe explores new media with a series of deconstructed images she composed using an iPad. The exhibition features digitally composed abstract expressionist paintings printed on metal and acrylic, inspired by the debris from explosions at the High Power Lab at BC Hydro’s R&D division in Surrey.

As part of Litfest New West, Forsythe will be presenting a Sunday afternoon artist talk in the Gallery entitled ‘Journeys to the Lands of New: A Multi-Media Talk on the Imagination’ on Sunday, May 15, at 2pm. The artist talk will be followed by a wine and cheese celebration at Centennial Lodge from 3pm to 5pm.

For full exhibition details, please visit: http://artscouncilnewwest.org
For more information about the artist, visit: www.kathleenforsythe.com

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ABOUT LITFEST NEW WEST: LitFest New West is New Westminster’s annual literary arts festival. Originally started in 2009 as The Royal City Book Festival, Litfest celebrates the written word. Presented by The Arts Council of New Westminster, Royal City Literary Arts Society, New Westminster Public Library and Douglas College, Litfest New West features readings, interviews, workshops, performances, talks, and poetry for the enjoyment of readers and writers alike.
For more information about Litfest New West, visit http://litfestnewwest.com

ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER: Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts at all levels of government and to foster support for anyone engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.

For more information about The Arts Council of New Westminster, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org
CONTACT: Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

LitFest New West 2016

April 8, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Arts Council of New Westminster, New Westminster Public Library, Douglas College and the Royal City Literary Arts Society are excited to present the 2016 edition of LitFest NewWest.

For the past five years, the Arts Council of New Westminster, the Royal City Literary Arts Society, Douglas College and the New Westminster Public Library have partnered together to produce LitFest New West—a celebration of readers and writers. LitFest New West was born out of the love of words and the desire to share that love with the community. There is a vibrant literary scene in New Westminster, and this festival celebrates and promotes it.

The festival will be taking place May 13th19th

2016 in various venues across New Westminster, British Columbia.

The theme for this year is Diverse/City and we are celebrating that theme with three specific events:

a two month exhibit (April 4th – June 3rd) at the Community Art Space at the Anvil Centre. Opening reception April 15th 5:00 – 7:00pm. http://sched.co/6fuk
a Multilingual Poetry event at the Aboriginal Gathering Space at Douglas College on Saturday May 14th 2:00 – 4:00pm http://sched.co/5rAa
a Cross Cultural Communication Workshop at Century house on Wednesday May 18th. This will be an interactive, conversational workshop relying on stories from participants.

On Saturday May 14th at Douglas College we will be hosting a literary marketplace featuring local authors and vendors, author workshops, author readings(featuring Ujjal Dosanjh at 4:30pm and Grant Lawrence at 5:30pm) and wrapping up with a singer/songwriter panel discussion on the art of songwriting.

Please get in touch with any questions and find below some information on our opening night of the Diverse/City art exhibit at the Anvil Centre and two of our featured authors.

Thank you!
Mike Gittens
Festival Manager
LitFestNewWest.com
778.888.0300

OPENING NIGHT: Anvil Centre April 15, 2016 5:00 – 7:00pm
LitFest NewWest has partnered with the City of New Westminster’s Arts Services to present an exhibition by local artists and writers. Each artist has been paired up with a writer to create work that is inspired by a text based piece. The exhibition reflects on the themes of diversity, inclusiveness and social dialogue. http://anvilcentre.com/events/diversecity /

The Diverse/City exhibition will take place at the Community Art Space on April 4 – June 3 with an opening reception on April 15, from 5:00 – 7:00pm.
Cliff Blank Lilija Valis
Elena Zhukova Janet Kvammen
Eryne Bea Donahue Gayle Mavor
Gillian Wright Franci Louann
Julia Schoennagel James Felton
Mardell Rampton Candice James
Shantala Singh Donna Ross
Katherine Freund Bryan Vogler
Tony Durke Eden Fine Day

Ujjal Dosanjh Author
Reading 4:30pm
Laura C Muir Theatre @ Douglas College LitFest
NewWest
Journey After Midnight

A beautifully written and evocative memoir of one of Canada’s most distinguished politicians.

A midnight’s child of poor rural India, Ujjal Dosanjh emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1964 at the age of eighteen, and spent nearly four years making crayons, car parts and shunting trains while he attended night school and learned English by listening to BBC Radio. He moved to Canada in 1968, to the west coast, where he pulled lumber in a sawmill for a few years, eventually earning a B.A from Simon Fraser University in 1973 and then his law degree from the University of British Columbia three years later. He practiced law for many years, and was a social justice advocate who fought for the rights of farm and domestic workers. After many years as a Member of the Legislative Assembly he became Attorney General and then Premier of British Columbia, the first person of Indian descent to hold these offices anywhere in the country. This is a deeply personal and thoughtful memoir of Dosanjh’s journey from his beloved India to the upper echelons of Canadian politics, a story that is both wise and compelling, about a man passionate about social justice and democratic process who continues to rail against injustice and corruption wherever it is happening
in the world. http://figure1pub.com/project/journeyaftermidnight/

Grant Lawrence Author
Reading 5:30pm
Laura C Muir Theatre @ Douglas College LitFest
NewWest

In the fall of 2013, Grant Lawrence released his second book, The Lonely End of the Rink: Confessions of a Reluctant Goalie.The new memoir is Grant’s official follow up to his bestselling debut Adventures in Solitude. The new book is fittingly divided into three “periods”, each one chronicling a different, tumultuous time in Grant’s conflicted relationship with the game of hockey, and his reluctant position as goaltender. Each “period”
is also backdropped by the Vancouver Canucks‘ three failed attempts to win the Stanley Cup in 1982, 1994, and 2011. The title is from a song by the Tragically Hip. http://grantlawrence.ca/writing The book debuted at #3 on the Canadian National Nonfiction Paperback Bestsellers List, hit #1 on the BC Bestsellers List, and won the BC Book Prize for the 2014 Book of the Year

Call for Committee Members – Canada 150 / ACNW 50

Interested in making a difference to the New Westminster arts community? Consider volunteering on a committee with the Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW).

These committees plan, develop, and facilitate arts activities that engage the public, spark dialogue, and encourage collaboration. Committee members create connections and community through the arts, promote the ACNW at public events, and or seek out new arts events to recommend to the ACNW board. Committees also work to improve artists’ networks and build continuity and presence through ongoing involvement in community events.

We are seeking members on the following committees:

Special project: Canada 150/ACNW 50 (2 year term) – The focus of this committee is to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Canada and the 50th anniversary of the ACNW.

For more information about this Call, click here

How to Apply
To apply for a volunteer role, please send your information to info@artscouncilnewwest.org Please include your resume and a statement as to why you are interested in the arts and which committee you are interested in.
Submission deadline: May 1 2016

Music By The River Returns – Call For Musicians

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2016

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW) is excited to announce the return of Music By The River. In 2015, the ACNW coordinated busking style performances by selected musicians down on the riverfront boardwalk of New Westminster next to River Market. 2016 sees a return of this program starting April 1.

The ACNW is currently seeking submissions of solo and duo performers. All genres of music will be considered. Participants of Music By The River are required to be ACNW members and will be paid a $25 honorarium for a 2-hour performance which will take place on weekends at River Market.

For further details on the program, or for enquiries to participate, please contact: music@artscouncilnewwest.org or visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org/music-by-the-river/

ABOUT MUSIC BY THE RIVER:

With The Arts Council of New Westminster’s commitment to promoting the arts within the community, Music By The River captures the art of live performance for community pleasure while offering local musicians the opportunity to display their talent. Music By The River is presented in partnership with the City of New Westminster, River Market, Music Box New West, and the Music Department at New Westminster Secondary School.

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ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER:

For more information about the Arts Council, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org

CONTACT:

Susan Bernal, Program Coordinator
Music by the River
The Arts Council of New Westminster
http://artscouncilnewwest.org/music-by-the-river/
music@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

ARTOVATIONS Continues with ‘Taxes For Creatives’ Workshop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2016

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster in partnership with 100 Braid Street Studios and the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce present ‘Taxes for Creatives: Kick the Starving Artist Myth to the Curb’ – the next professional development workshop in the Artovations series, helping artists and creatives to integrate business, marketing and sales knowledge into their art practice. The workshop will take place on Thursday, April 7, 2016, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm (PST) at 100 Braid St Studios & Gallery in New Westminster.

The evening will feature artist and Tax Coach Yawen W. Omego who believes doing taxes should be fun and playful. To help creatives crush the myth of the starving artist mindset, she will share 7 ways to save on tax such as income splitting, sharing medical expenses, investing in yourself, creating eligible business expenses, and more. There will be a Q & A session held after the presentation, so artists are encouraged to bring a pen and paper for notes.

Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $25 per person; reduced rates when two people attend together; a reduced rate is also available for New Westminster Chamber of Commerce members, The Arts Council of New Westminster members, and New West Artists Society members. Please call 778-886-5391 to receive your promotional discount code.
To register, please visit http://100braidststudios.com/classes

ABOUT YAWEN W. OMEGO:
Yawen started out as a concert pianist, composer, music director, interdisciplinary performer and collaborative musician in music, theatre and dance. In 2010 she started a new subject of study and a new career path to balance her right and left brain, Finance and Accounting. In 2012 she passed the CMA National Entrance Exam. She recently created Harmonic Accounting 101: Integral Financial Wellness to help artists create wealth by crushing the myth of the great starving artist mindset and providing simple yet effective financial education to create a balance between income and expenses, between left and right brains, and between the spiritual and material.
To learn more about Yawen please visit her website at https://www.yawen.ca/

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ABOUT 100 BRAID ST STUDIOS:
100 Braid St Studios is an inclusive working art studio for New Westminster and Lower Mainland artists that allows visitors to be inspired artistically and to learn from the artists practicing in the studio. Studio artists produce fine art & craft in the form of paintings, sculpture, fiber, jewellery making, photography, and mixed media.

For more information about the 100 Braid St Studios, visit http://100braidststudios.com

ABOUT THE NEW WESTMINSTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
The New Westminster Chamber of Commerce is a non-partisan business organization that exists to meet the needs of the business community. The Chamber is a catalyst for business people to work together to create a strong and vibrant economy and enhance the quality of life in our community. The Chamber reduces barriers to business, opens new markets for business, provides a cohesive business network and provides programs and services which have a positive impact on your bottom line.

For more information about the Chamber, visit http://newwestchamber.com

ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER:
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization with numerous member groups and individual members, who all share an interest in various artistic endeavors, from the visual and performing arts to the literary arts and community activities. Its main goals are to advocate for the arts at all levels of government, and foster support for artistic and cultural endeavors in the community.

For more information about the Arts Council, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org

CONTACT:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

The Arts Council of New Westminster presents Danielle Bobier and Curtis Grahauer at The Gallery at Queen’s Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2016

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC — The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present upcoming exhibitions by Danielle Bobier and Curtis Grahauer in The Gallery at Queen’s Park from April 6 – 30, 2016. Join us for the Opening Reception on Wednesday, April 6, from 6 – 8pm. All are welcome to attend. Gallery hours are: Wednesday, 1pm-8pm; and Thursday to Sunday, 1pm-5pm.

Danielle Bobier is an interdisciplinary artist from New Westminster who works primarily in the field of print media and painting. She received a Fine Arts Diploma from Langara College where she was awarded the 2012 Painting Studio Award. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) at Emily Carr University and is set to graduate in May 2016. Her exhibit is titled: Satellite Fabulations: Speculative Topographies in the Anthropocene.

Curtis Grahauer lives and works in Vancouver, and recently completed his MFA in Interdisciplinary Studies at Simon Fraser University. His research focuses on the way landscape is shaped by intertwining forces of human activity, such as economics, recreation and agriculture. His exhibit is titled: A Dark Shape on the Horizon.

With monthly Gallery exhibitions, The Arts Council of New Westminster aims to offer a platform for local visual artists to present their artistic talents. Through exhibits such as this, we are able to enrich our community with the gift of the arts and provide an avenue to express artistic talent.

For further details, please visit us at http://artscouncilnewwest.org

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ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER:

For more information about the Arts Council, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org

CONTACT:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

Spring has Sprung in Pop-Up Exhibition featuring the Garden Gals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2016

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC — The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present

The Glory of the Garden, a Pop-Up exhibition featuring the work of the Garden Gals from March 30 – April 3, 2016, in The Gallery at Queen’s Park. Join us for the Opening Reception on Wednesday, March 30 from 6 – 8pm. All are welcome to attend.

The Garden Gals are an active art group of sketchers and painters with a passion for art in nature. They are a subgroup of the long standing New Westminster Horticulture Society (NWHS) established in 1934. Ten years ago NWHS members held a drawing session in a member’s garden and there was sufficient interest to start a subgroup which later developed the show name of ‘Garden Gals’. The core values of the group is to celebrate the glory of the garden through art and to promote an appreciation of nature and urban green space by sharing their visions through paintings.

The Glory of the Garden features the art of Linda Cant, Susan Tamkin, Terry Rammell, Silvana McNulty, Carolyn McLaughlin, Marjorie Pauch, Brenda Fairfax and Merril Hall.

For full exhibition details, please visit: http://artscouncilnewwest.org

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ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER:

For more information about the Arts Council, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org

CONTACT:
Stephen Carl O’Shea, Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

The Arts Council of New Westminster presents Local Musician, Eden Fine Day, in Upcoming Gallery Sessions.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 9, 2016
NEW WESTMINSTER, BC — The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present Eden Fine Day in its March installment of Gallery Sessions – an all ages monthly music event to support and showcase local talent. Eden Fine Day will be performing on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at 7:00pm – 8:00pm in The Gallery at Queen’s Park. All are welcome to attend. The event is by donation ($0-7 suggested).

Fine Day’s unique style as a pop/rock, singer-songwriter is complimented by her Aboriginal heritage and hometown roots in Vancouver, BC. As a third generation survivor of the Indian Residential School system, Fine Day’s performances are ‘straight from the heart,’ often evoking wit and passion along with an expansive musical range. On March 23, Fine Day’s performance will have a solo electric emphasis.

With the monthly Gallery Sessions, The Arts Council of New Westminster aims to offer a platform for local artists to present their musical talents. Through programs such as this, we are able to enrich our community with the gift of the arts and provide an avenue to express artistic talent along with an appreciation for artistic pursuits.

For further details please contact info@artscouncilnewwest.org or visit us online: http://artscouncilnewwest.org

ABOUT EDEN FINE DAY: Eden Fine Day is a singer, songwriter and guitar player from the Sweetgrass First Nation in Saskatchewan. Fine Day was raised in Vancouver, BC and spent over 10 years in Santa Cruz, California, where she first started writing and performing with her first band. At the age of 29, Fine Day returned to Vancouver to start Vancougar, an all girl band that went on to win CiTR’s Shindig! in 2004. The band has two studio albums, Losin’ It! (2005) and Canadian Tuxedo(2008), both of which were critically acclaimed.

ABOUT THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NEW WESTMINSTER: Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts at all levels of government and to foster support for anyone engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.

For more information about the Arts Council, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org

CONTACT:
Stephen Carl O’Shea, Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org 604-525-3244

Free ‘ArtsToGo’ Workshops for Children and their Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2016

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC — The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present
its free monthly series of ‘ArtsToGo’ workshops for children and their families. Come out
this March to three New Westminster locations and enjoy an interactive and hands-on
arts experience at Royal City Centre on Sunday, March 6 from noon to 3pm; Lord Kelvin
Elementary on Wednesday, March 9 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm; and Queen’s Park for an
‘Easter in Queen’s Park’ workshop on Sunday, March 27 from 11am to 3pm.

ABOUT ARTSTOGO:
ArtsToGo is an arts education program for children and their families, run by The Arts
Council of New Westminster as a hands-on, barrier-free and no-cost initiative at various
locations throughout the City of New Westminster. The program is multi-disciplinary in
scope and features a wide range of workshop leaders trained in the visual, literary and
performing arts. Each monthly workshop gives children and their families an opportunity
to work with local artists as they focus on a different art project designed to fit with the
theme of the event, and create their very own interpretation of the project to take home.
ArtsToGo workshops are currently held at the following New Westminster locations:

Lord Kelvin Elementary – workshops take place in the elementary school gymnasium
on Wednesday evenings on March 9, April 27, May 25 and June 22 from 6:30pm to
7:30pm.

Royal City Centre – workshops take place on the 1st Sunday of the month on March 6,
April 3, May 8, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2 and November 6 from
noon to 3pm.

Queen’s Park – this ‘Easter in Queen’s Park’ workshop takes place on Sunday, March
27 from 11am to 3pm.

For more information about the ArtsToGo program, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org,
email info@artscouncilnewwest.org or call 604.525.3244.

Artovations, workshop series presents the business of art

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 29, 2016

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC— The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to be partnering with 100 Braid Street Studios and the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce to present: Artovations, a professional developments series for artists and creatives to integrate business, marketing and sales knowledge with their art. The first workshop of 2016 takes place on Thursday, March 10 from 7:00pm-8:30pm (PST) at 100 Braid St Studios & Gallery in New Westminster.

The evening will feature artist April Lacheur presenting “Getting Your Art Our There”. April will share multiple ways for artists to gain exposure for their art, along with discussing the importance of building your ‘artist brand.’ April will also discuss her own successes and challenges to help artists decide which sales avenues fit their creative career. There will be a Q &A session held after her presentation, so artists are encouraged to bring a pen and paper for notes.

Pre-registration is required and can be done on the 100 Braid St Studios website on the “Classes” page. Tickets are $25 for the workshop; Arts Council of New Westminster and New Westminster Chamber of Commerce members will receive a discount.

For more information about Artovations, please contact:

Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604.525.3244

Royal Flush Fundraiser Results

Royal Flush - Event Photo - Feb 23 2016 - web A big THANK YOU to all the folks who came out and attended our Royal Flush: Let’s go all in for the Arts! Fundraiser on Tuesday February 23^rd. We are grateful to Match Eatery and Public House at the Starlight Casino for partnering with us on the event and serving their fantastic burgers and beers. Special thanks also to Tetsuomi Anzai, Wes Koopmans, Danielle Bobier and Pierre Kaufman for putting their artistic talents on display. We are also very grateful to the dedicated volunteers who ensured our event ran smoothly.

Together we raised $3,250 with the proceeds from the event going to bolster the delivery of our outreach and education programs, including ArtsToGo and LitFest NewWest.

We couldn’t have done this event without the help of our amazing community and the local businesses who generously donated to our silent auction. We would like to thank the following amazing folks:

100 Braid Street Studios
Burger Heaven
The Chop Shop
Devi Arts Collective
Richard Lee and Hennisea Hoy
Mid Century Modern Home
Gathered Roots Acupuncture
Head to Toes Spa
Pink Door Design Lab
Trevor Hargreaves
Art A La Carte
Vagabond Players
Steel and Oak
River’s Reach Pub
David Worrall
Marianne Janzen
Rick Carswell
Judy Darcy,MLA
Lafflines Comedy Club
Neil Douglas Guitar Shop
Red Tiger Martial Arts
Laughter Zone 101
Pacific Breeze Winery
Spud Shack
Massey Theatre Society
Katarzyna Vedah
Dynamic Fitness
Royal City Farmers Market
River Market
Antigone Dixon-Warren
Schnoo and the Pachooch
The Wine Factory
Heritage Wellness Centre
Rain City Juicery

We look forward to holding this event next year!

New West Cultural Crawl Invites Artists to Participate in its 13th Year

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC (February 23, 2016) – The Van Dop Gallery in partnership with The Arts Council of New Westminster proudly presents the 13th Annual New West Cultural Crawl on August 13 & 14, 2016 – a fun and interactive two-day event that celebrates New Westminster’s creative character, diversity and unique cultural background. The New West Cultural Crawl Invitation to Participate is now open – artists, venues or volunteers interested in taking part in this year’s upcoming Cultural Crawl are invited to contact info@newwestculturalcrawl.com or sign up at www.newwestculturalcrawl.com before the March 31, 2016, deadline.

Each August, people from surrounding regions, travel to New Westminster for an authentic experience by visiting local artists, galleries, studios, museums, restaurants and other diverse cultural attractions located throughout the area. New Westminster is one of 70 communities in the BC Cultural Crawl, a province wide celebration of each community’s inimitable cultural footprint. New Westminster is a city with 155 years of rich history and distinctive culture. The crawl is about bridging the gap between viewer and artist to cultivate an appreciation of the arts and experience the joy of communities intersecting as one.

There is much to explore in the contemporary New Westminster and the chance to discover up and coming and professional talent. On August 13th and 14th, come visit dozens of open studios and local artists featuring their work and explore the cultural and heritage destinations in our very walkable city.

In the 13 years we have held this event we are proud to say that it has grown into a great community occasion. In 2003 it was a one day “Art Walk” event with 8 venues, a handful of artists and less than 400 visitors. The Cultural Crawl has now grown to over 25 venues and 60 featured artists and it attracts over 3000 visitors. We are pleased with the amount of involvement by everyone in the community and we look forward to watching the crawl grow even further.

Be a part of the creative energy that exists throughout our city and savour our historical heritage. Come be inspired and join in the celebration of New Westminster’s vibrant culture.

For details about the 13th Annual New Westminster Cultural Crawl, please visit www.newwestculturalcrawl.com

For more information about participating in the upcoming Cultural Crawl or to co-ordinate interviews, contact: Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director The Arts Council of New Westminster info@artscouncilnewwest.org 604-525-3244

THE NEW WESTMINSTER CULTURAL ROUNDTABLE

The Arts Council of New Westminster in partnership with the Alliance for Arts + Culture and the City of New Westminster is proud to present

THE NEW WESTMINSTER CULTURAL ROUNDTABLE
We will be meeting once per month in an effort to break down the silos in the arts community of New Westminster and work to create an action plan to further integrate the arts into the daily lives of the community of New Westminster.This series is a recurring event in 2016 designed to bring together people with an interest in and a passion for the arts. Our purpose is to support the arts community in New Westminster and integrate the arts even deeper into our city’s culture. This event is free and open to everyone. Let’s work together to bring community together through the arts.

To register, please go to http://artscouncilnewwest.org/new-westminster-cultural-roundtable/

NEXT EVENT: Wednesday, March 9, 2016, 7 – 9pm

Location:
The Gallery at Queen’s Park (annexed to the Centennial Lodge), Queen’s Park, New Westminster
(For directions – http://artscouncilnewwest.org/contact-us/)

Contact:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
http://artscouncilnewwest.org
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604.525.3244

Art Gets Squared in Gallery Exhibition

After Birth_Janet_Kvammen 300px - web FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 15, 2016

ART SQUARED:
New West Artists

Exhibition Dates:
March 2 – 27, 2016

Opening Reception:
Wednesday, March 2, 2016, 6 – 8pm

NEW 2016 GALLERY HOURS:
Wednesday: 1 – 8pm
Thursday – Sunday: 1 – 5pm
Monday – Tuesday: Closed

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC – The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present Art Squared, a group exhibition of square artworks by members of New West Artists showcased in The Gallery at Queen’s Park. The exhibition and sale runs from March 2 – 27, 2016, and features 12” x 12” works in a variety of mediums which will be on sale for $100 apiece. Join us for the Opening Reception on Wednesday, March 2, from 6 to 8pm.

ABOUT NEW WEST ARTISTS:

New West Artists is an inclusive, non-profit society endeavouring to inspire, encourage, and celebrate visual artists through connection, education, and promotion. New West Artists welcomes visual artists of all levels, from hobby artists to full-time professional veterans, from anywhere.

For exhibition details, please visit: http://artscouncilnewwest.org
For the Artist’s Website, visit: www.newwestartists.com

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Royal Flush: Let’s go all in for the Arts! Fundraiser – February 23 2016

The Arts Council of New Westminster presents:

Royal Flush: Let’s go all in for the Arts! Fundraiser
MATCH Eatery & Public House
350 Gifford Street New Westminster, BC
February 23rd 2016
6pm – 10pm

Tickets go on sale February 8 2016, get your tickets below:

ACNW Satellite Galleries in New Westminster

The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to showcase artists Susan L. Greig and Tony Durke in its Satellite Galleries.

Susan L. Greig
February 1 to March 31, 2016
Community Arts Space at the New Westminster Vancity Community Branch
511 Sixth St, New Westminster

Tony Durke
February 1 to April 30, 2016
Seniors Services Society
750 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster

Satellite Gallery Exhibitions are organized by The Arts Council of New Westminster in partnership with local businesses and community organizations, giving artists an opportunity to showcase their talent in alternative venues throughout the City of New Westminster.

For more information about the Satellite Gallery program, please contact:

Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604.525.3244
The Arts Council of New Westminster
http://artscouncilnewwest.org

Robert Fee Combines Art and Music in New Westminster Gallery Exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2016

HAPPENSTANCE:
A Solo Exhibition by Artist Robert Fee
Exhibition Dates:
February 3 – 28, 2016
Gallery Hours:
Wednesday, 1 – 8pm
Thursday to Sunday, 1 – 5pm
Opening Reception: Wednesday, February 3, 2016, 6 – 8pm
Artist Jazz Concerts: February 7, 14 & 21, 2 – 3pm

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC — The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present Happenstance, a solo exhibition by local artist Robert Fee from February 3 to 28, 2016, in The Gallery at Queen’s Park.

Robert Fee is an artist and musician living in New Westminster, originally hailing from the Okanagan. After completing an Art Degree, Fee spent 5 years playing jazz and blues in clubs all over B.C. He made the move to Vancouver in the late 90’s, first studying jazz at Capilano College and then completing a Bachelor of Art Education.

Robert Fee approaches painting in a similar way to jazz improvisation. The idea of creating a solo, starting from basic structures and developing them in new and unexpected ways could also describe how he works with paint.

As a complement to the visual artwork on display, Fee will be presenting a Sunday afternoon series of live jazz duos at The Gallery at Queen’s Park on February 7, 14, and 21, from 2 – 3pm.

For full exhibition details, please visit: http://artscouncilnewwest.org

For the Artist’s Website, visit: www.robertfee.com

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About The Arts Council of New Westminster:

For more information about the Arts Council, visit http://artscouncilnewwest.org

Contact:
Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

2016 Gallery Hours

The Arts Council of New Westminster has changed the operating hours of The Gallery at Queen’s Park in 2016. The new gallery hours will be as follows:

Wednesday: 1pm – 8pm
Thursday: 1pm – 5pm
Friday: 1pm – 5pm
Saturday: 1pm – 5pm
Sunday: 1pm – 5pm
Monday/Tuesday: Closed

The Gallery is no longer open on Tuesdays. Instead The Gallery at Queen’s Park will be open later on Wednesday evenings to allow an opportunity for members of the community of New Westminster to visit the gallery after the work day.

Should you have any feedback, please email us here

LitFest NewWest 2016 – Call for Workshops Proposals

Call for Workshop Proposals
Deadline for submissions: February 15, 2016

We are seeking proposals for exciting interactive workshops for LitFest NewWest 2016, an annual literary arts festival presented by The Arts Council of New Westminster, Royal City Literary Arts Society, New Westminster Public Library and Douglas College. Workshops will be selected by a jury comprised of members from the Royal City Literary Arts Society and The Arts Council of New Westminster. Workshops will be scheduled in one hour and fifteen minute slots at Douglas College between 10am and 5pm on May 14 2016.

Proposals should be centred on writing and/or reading as they relate to the following subjects:

Panel discussions
Current events
Editing
Food & beverage
Genre (e.g. mystery, humour, fantasy)
Memoir & history
Poetry
Reading (the art of)
Song writing
Spirituality
Storytelling
Travel
The business of writing (e.g. publishing, social media, fundraising)
Minority perspectives & approaches to the craft
Children’s literature (e.g. writing, presenting)

Please include the following when submitting a proposal:

Title
Presenter’s name, brief bio, and relevant CV (may include references, testimonials, or video clips)
Workshop description (max 500 words). Please emphasize audience participation and interaction
Workshop objectives and relevance
Equipment needed
Marketing suggestions and insights
How you heard about the call for workshop proposals

Presenters will receive an honorarium for their work. To submit, or to seek more information, please email info@artscouncilnewwest.org with the subject line “LitFest NewWest 2016 Proposal”.

Deadline: February 15, 2016

For more information go to litfestnewwest.com
Download Call for Workshops Proposals here

ACNW Permanent Collection – December 14 – January 31

The Arts Council of New Westminster presents
“ACNW Permanent Collection”
by Various Artists
December 14 to January 31
Viewing is available by appointment only

To book an appointment, please email us here or all 604 525 3244

Lifetime Membership Recipient – Andrée St Martin & Rick Carswell

Rick Andree - Lifetime Membership - November 2015 The Arts Council of New Westminster
is proud to announce:

Andrée St Martin and Rick Carswell

have been awarded Lifetime Membership at our AGM on November 22nd 2015.

Since 1967 only six have been awarded. The recipients are well known in the arts community of New Westminster and are iconic figures in the arts.

Honourary Life Member: Any person recommended by the Board of Directors who has been approved at an Annual General Meeting of the Society by unanimous vote. An Honourary Life Member shall be exempt from payment of any dues or assessments, but shall be eligible to vote and to hold office.

Local painter explores the boundaries of space and time in new exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local painter explores the boundaries of space and time in new exhibition

New Westminster, British Columbia (November 2, 2015) — The Arts Council of New Westminster is capping off a wildly successful year with its final solo exhibition featuring the surreal, abstract works of local painter Pepe Hidalgo. Brushstrokes in History/Pinceladas en la Historia will be on display from November 10 to December 13, 2015, Tuesday through Sunday 1–5 p.m. at The Gallery at Queen’s Park. The artist’s reception will be held Sunday, November 15, 2–4 p.m. and is open to the public.

Hidalgo recently moved to New Westminster and has become a welcome member of the local arts community. Growing up in Madrid, Spain, Hidalgo’s appreciation for art was nurtured by frequent visits to the Museo del Prado; the dark, dramatic works of Francisco Goya inspiring him to pick up a brush himself. His early work was heavily influenced by the Impressionists, but Hidalgo’s style evolved into something truly extraordinary during his studies in Madrid and the Netherlands. He began to explore form, colour and perspective through the lense of Abstract Expressionism and Surrealism. He now juxtaposes elements from all three movements into his paintings.

“My art invokes the ever ineffable nature of time and the equally mysterious way that the past, in art and in the rest of life, can push its way forward into the present moment,” said Hidalgo.

Each one of Hidalgo’s paintings has a distinct element present; a string acts like an umbilical cord, essentially uniting him with the rest of the universe. The cord allows Hidalgo to travel back and forth through time, supporting his weight as it pulls him back into reality.

“Standing in front of each painting I encounter a moment in time created within the world depicted on the canvas,” said Hidalgo. “Each depicts (and thus constructs) a world with a unique space-time that is definitely separate from the one which the viewer primarily inhabits. Some of these spatial moments are more penetrable than others. They present moments of leisure or rest, moments when time slows or even stops, sometimes briefly, at others permanently.”

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About The Arts Council of New Westminster
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization built by individuals and member groups who share an interest in visual, performing and literary arts. The Arts Council’s role in the community is to advocate for the arts at all levels of government and to foster support for anyone engaging in artistic and cultural endeavors.

BACKGROUNDER
The Arts Council of New Westminster

This past year has been a transformative one for The Arts Council of New Westminster. The majority of the board has changed hands. Its members are reinvigorating the organization and leading the way is the new executive director, Stephen O’Shea. O’Shea, the bassist for the Abbotsford new-wave band You Say Party, took the helm earlier this year when Andrée St. Martin retired after 28 years.

The Arts Council was founded in 1967. It serves as a resource of information about the arts community in New Westminster and fosters relationships between individual artists, member groups and the community itself.

New Westminster is a thriving city of more than 65,000 residents. Development, particularly along the Fraser River, is creating fantastic opportunities for businesses and residents alike. Condominiums and storefronts are opening their doors in the Brewery District and along Columbia Street and new faces are popping up all over the city’s art and music scene. This rapid growth is the foundation of the Arts Council’s strategic planning process and is setting out the groundwork for its vision for the next three to five years.

Several new initiatives have taken place this year, most notably the renaming of The Gallery at Queen’s Park. The Gallery serves as a cultural hub within the community; a home for local artists of all backgrounds and mediums to showcase their talents. The pop-up exhibition series, which kicked off this past summer in partnership with New West Pride, has been hugely successful. The group shows are serving as new portal for artists to develop their craft.

The buskers pilot project Music by the River was made possible thanks to the One Prize Community Grant from Donald’s Market and the River Market. That unique partnership has been a great opportunity for local musicians to share their passion with the rest of the community. The Yam Jam is under a new moniker: MOMENTUM Youth Arts Movement. The festival promotes young artists and their work and is now entirely envisioned and driven by youth. It partnered with Pecha Kucha New West this year as a way add a vibrant, enthusiastic element to that festival and was hosted at the Anvil Centre for the first time.

The Arts Council is excited about the year ahead. Planning is already underway for several initiatives, events and workshops to be held at The Gallery in Queen’s Park. The Arts Council continually strives to reimagine the space, which has successfully become an axis for the arts in New Westminster.

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Media Contact
Dana Kelly
Communications Officer, Arts Council of New Westminster
media@artscouncilnewwest.org
(778) 840–3262

NOW HIRING – Lit Fest New West – Literary Festival Manager

Job Information: Literary Festival Manager (Part-time; Contract)

About LitFest NewWest
LitFest NewWest is an annual literary festival presented by the Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW). Our vision is to bring the community together through the literary arts, with author, poet and songwriter readings, writing workshops, master classes, panel discussions and more. Launched in 2011, the event is steadily growing in size and attendance every year. LitFest brings new and established writers to the historic and beautiful City of New Westminster. Dates for the event are May 13-19, 2016. Information about previous LitFests can be viewed on our website: http://artscouncilnewwest.org/litfest/

The Position
Summary
This is a part-time contract position. The Festival Manager reports to the ACNW Executive Director. Key relationships are with the Festival Organizing Chair and Committee, the ACNW Board of Directors, sponsors, donors, and volunteers.
The Festival Manager will be responsible for key aspects in the delivery of the 2016 festival. Responsibilities will include event production and management, volunteer recruitment and scheduling, and marketing and communications.
The Festival Manager will work with flexibility, energy and commitment. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in the work of the festival, and in the arts and culture of New Westminster more broadly.

Duties
The Festival Manager will work in consultation with the ACNW Executive Director and the Festival Organizing Chair to ensure that all elements of the festival are in place, on time and within budget. Duties include:

Assisting with volunteer management, including recruiting, communicating with, scheduling shifts for and managing a team of around 20 volunteers
Assisting with the festival’s social media
Handling all elements of the festival website (Word Press)
Assisting the organizing committee with aspects of PR and marketing
Providing information to sponsors, donors and attendees about LitFest
Providing administrative and clerical support
Participating in planning meetings as required
Attend LitFest as the lead at the Registration table, oversee the Volunteer table, and as support for the Vendor Tables (Market Place)
Attend and assist with the event debrief meeting and final reports

Experience

Successfully planned similar events
Worked with a small team, often in an office environment
Balanced immediate priorities with longer-term planning
Worked in the arts sector

Qualifications

Initiating, planning and managing projects
Organization
Attention to detail
Time management skills and working to deadlines
Communication: written, oral, electronic
Working with a budget
Social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Website management including sound knowledge of Word Press

Desirable

An interest in arts management
A working knowledge of literature and the broader arts sector
A working knowledge of the City of New Westminster
Ability to attend occasional evening planning meetings

Terms
$875.00 per month, for 4 months, for a total of $3500.00

Contract
This is a 4-month contract from February 1, 2016 to May 31, 2016. Hours of work will vary according to priorities, but generally will be 60 hours per month, to be carried out in a manner compatible to both the successful applicant and the Executive Director. No overtime rate will apply. Statutory holidays and vacation days are unpaid.

To Apply
Please submit a resumé of no more than two pages and a cover letter of no more than 500 words. Applications should be sent to Stephen O’Shea, ACNW Executive Director at info@artscouncilnewwest.org with both documents in one file named with your full name.

Closing Date for Applications
Applications must be received by 5 pm, Friday, November 20, 2015.

Interviews
Interviews will be held in New Westminster on Monday, December 7, 2015.

Local photographer captures simplistic beauty of nature in latest exhibit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2015

LAND OF LIGHT: Local photographer captures simplistic beauty of nature in latest exhibit

(New Westminster, BC) — His stunning images have sold thousands of garden and outdoor magazines over the past 25 years. Now, nature photographer Adam Gibbs is branching out into new territory, showcasing his work in a series of exhibitions throughout British Columbia. Gibbs’ latest show Land of Light is presented by The Arts Council of New Westminster and will be on display October 18 – November 6, 2015, Tuesday-Sunday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at The Gallery at Queen’s Park.

Gibbs’ love of the great outdoors was bred as a young Boy Scout in Watford, England. He learned how to rock climb at a local club; that passion eventually soared to new heights when he immigrated to Canada in 1979. He spent most of his 20s climbing the Rockies, paragliding from some of the tallest peaks on the continent. A few “bad choices” forced Gibbs to give up the extreme sport. Only then did he pick up the camera and discover his talent for taking pictures.

After Gibbs graduated from Langara Community College in the 1990s, he had a chance meeting with representatives from Cornwall Publications. That rare opportunity allowed him to publish thousands of photographs in nature and garden magazines across Canada and in the U.K. The company ceased publication last year and that’s when Gibbs decided to switch gears, focusing his efforts on solo and group exhibitions.

Gibbs employs a technique known as digital sublimation to create his awe-inspiring prints. He uses gel ink to transfer an image onto polyester based paper, which is then heat pressed onto a polymer coated aluminum sheet. The heat infuses the colours into the metal at the molecular level, resulting in a high-resolution image that appears to have three-dimensional qualities.

“Composition and the quality of light have always played important roles in my work and within these prints I have tried to showcase the best of these qualities,” said Gibbs. “I thoroughly enjoy showcasing large prints of my work so that the viewer can get as close as possible to the original experience.”

The opening reception for Land of Light is Sunday, October 18, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Gibbs will also hold an artist’s talk Tuesday, October 27, 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. Both events are open to the public.

For full details, please visit: artscouncilnewwest.org.

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About the Artist:
Adam Gibbs has been a professional photographer since 1991. Thousands of his photographs are featured in publications, including the covers of Gardens West, Outdoor Photographer, British Columbia Magazine and Fine Cooking, along with the highly celebrated book Planet Earth published by the BBC. His images—known for their clarity, composition and design—can also found in numerous nature calendars throughout North America and Europe. Gibbs is the recipient of several high-profile accolades, most notably from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards in the United Kingdom.

About The Arts Council of New Westminster:
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization with numerous member groups and individuals who all share an interest in various artistic endeavors — from visual, performing and literary arts to community activities. Its main goals are to advocate for the arts at all levels of government, and foster support for artistic and cultural endeavors in the community.

Media Contact:

Dana Kelly
Communications Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
media@artscouncilnewwest.org
778-840-3262

Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

ACROSS the RIVER: Artists in the Boro Pop-up Art Exhibition and Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2015

ACROSS the RIVER: Artists in the Boro Pop-up Art Exhibition and Sale

(New Westminster, BC) — Hot on the heels of its first successful pop-up exhibition, The Arts Council of New Westminster is excited to continue the series with its latest show: ACROSS the RIVER, presented by Artists in the Boro October 10-11, 2015, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Gallery at Queen’s Park. The show features a variety of mediums, including painting, photography, textiles and ceramics.

Artists in the Boro is an inclusive group of artists whose main goal is promote the talents of those living or working in Queensborough. The community has an unusual cultural composition, quite distinct from the rest of New Westminster. Immigrants from India, Italy, Greece and the Ukraine were among the first to settle in the area. In recent years, the waterfront neighbourhood of Port Royal has rapidly developed, with an increasing number of Asian and Caucasian families now calling it home. That mosaic of cultural backgrounds is what makes this upcoming exhibition so special.

“New Westminster is a diverse city with many unique neighborhoods. We are proud to recognize the artists of Queensborough with this exhibition in our gallery in Queen’s Park,” says Stephen O’Shea, executive director of The Arts Council of New Westminster. “We hope the entire community of New Westminster joins us in the celebration of their artwork.”

The group was formed in 2011 and has been meeting regularly ever since. It welcomes artists of all different backgrounds and skill levels. Through those regular meetings and workshops, artists are able to share their experiences and learn from one another in a supportive environment.

Artists with their work on display are: Reny Auger, Arthur Babiarz, Ginny Bryson, Dale Costanzo, Tony Donnelly, Terry Erickson, Joann Heringer, Pepe Hidalgo, Jessica Huynh, Karen Justice, Jean Konkle, and Kelly A. Lambert.

ACROSS the RIVER will be held at The Gallery at Queen’s Park October 10-11, 2015. The opening artists reception is Saturday, October 10, 2015, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

For full details, please visit: artscouncilnewwest.org.

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About Artists in the Boro:
Artists in the Boro was formed in January 2011 as a way for artists working in the unique community of Queensborough to learn from and support one another. The group is inclusive of all artists affiliated with the neigbourhood and invites anyone to join. Members regularly showcase their work in the Art in the Atrium Gallery at the Queensbourough Community Centre. Past group exhibitions include the Queensborough Children’s Festival, B.C. Cultural Crawl and Riverfest.

About The Arts Council of New Westminster:
Founded in 1967, The Arts Council of New Westminster is an umbrella organization with numerous member groups and individual members, who all share an interest in various artistic endeavors, from the visual and performing arts to the literary arts and community activities. Its main goals are to advocate for the arts at all levels of government, and foster support for artistic and cultural endeavors in the community.

Media Contact:
Dana Kelly
Communications Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
media@artscouncilnewwest.org
778-840-3262

Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

LAST MONDAY AT THE MOVIES SEASON ABOUT TO BEGIN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 21, 2015

LAST MONDAY AT THE MOVIES SEASON ABOUT TO BEGIN
Program creates inclusive community-building opportunities

New Westminster, B.C.—The Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW) is proud to announce it is kicking off the 14th season of Last Monday at the Movies with Boychoir, a film by acclaimed Canadian director François Girard, starring Academy Award winners Dustin Hoffman and Kathy Bates. Boychoir will be shown at the Massey Theatre on September 28, 2015 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at the box office; $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors.

Last Monday at the Movies is presented by the ACNW, in partnership with the Massey Theatre and the Toronto International Film Festival. The program brings award-winning independent Canadian and foreign films to local audiences on a monthly basis.

However, the ACNW understands money can be a barrier for those living on lower incomes. One way it tries to alleviate that stress is to offer discounted tickets to seniors and students. It also offers tickets to the Last Door Recovery Centre and Union Gospel Mission to help their residents feel more connected with the community. That program is extended this year to include Fraserside Community Services and the Lookout Society.

“Thanks to our funding, we have been able to present films that address a wide range of subjects and embrace other cultures and faiths as represented in our community,” says Stephen O’Shea, executive director of The Arts Council of New Westminster. “Last Monday at the Movies attracts many new people who have never attended an Arts Council event before, allowing us the opportunity to introduce them to our art gallery and other Arts Council programming.”

Another important component of Last Monday at the Movies is the sense of community it brings to volunteers. The ACNW works with Fraserside Community Services and their supported employment program to allow members to gain valuable work experience along with a sense of inclusion. For example, this past spring the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society attended a showing as a training exercise for new dogs. It allowed the dogs to learn how to be comfortable out in the community in their roles in supporting citizens with disabilities.

For full details, please visit: artscouncilnewwest.org.

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About Last Monday at the Movies:
Last Monday at the Movies is a partnership between The Arts Council of New Westminster, the Massey Theatre and the Toronto International Film Festival. LMATM is now into its 14th season. A total of nine films from TIFF’s Film Circuit program will be shown on the last Monday of the month (Sept.-Nov., Jan.-Jun.) at the Massey Theatre.

LAST MONDAY AT THE MOVIES:
Upcoming Films

September 28th – Boychoir

October 26th – I’ll See You in My Dreams

November 30th – What We Did On Our Holiday

Tickets – $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students at the door. CASH ONLY.

Passes for the 2015/16 season are still available at a cost of $70. Reservations can be made by phone or email and tickets picked up at the box office on September 28th.

Media Contact:

Dana Kelly
Communications Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
media@artscouncilnewwest.org
778-840-3262

Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

LONG LIVE NEW WEST CRAFT!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2015

LONG LIVE NEW WEST CRAFT!
Artisan Fair Renamed

New Westminster, B.C.—New Westminster’s Artisan Fair, presented by The Arts Council of New Westminster, is kicking off a fresh new season with a fresh new look and name; the fair is now called New West Craft. The event takes place on the first and third Saturday of the month from 11:00 am-4:00pm at the River Market.

New West Craft is a market whose goal is to provide a welcoming environment for crafters, artisans and makers to share and sell their handmade work. The Arts Council of New Westminster and New West Craft both feel strongly about the link between community and craft, believing the best way to foster relationships between neighbours is to share something they are passionate about.

Laura Grady has just taken on a new role as Coordinator with New West Craft. One of her first orders of business was to rename the artisan fair as Grady believes the new name is more reflective of the purpose and the people behind it. She also says it’s fun to flaunt the great vibe of the city.

“There is so much buzz around New West. People are curious about what is happening in the city,” says Grady. “They are starting to notice our growing presence when it comes to events, culture, arts and other forms of entertainment. I wanted the fair to reflect our connection to New West and our part in its cultural growth.”

New West Craft is always looking for new craftspeople to take part in the fair. On October 24, it is hosting Made by YOUth, an initiative running alongside the Momentum Youth Festival where artisans between 15-24 are encouraged to become vendors. On November 7, New West Craft will host Made by MOM, where creative mothers will be showcasing their talents.

For more details, please email: newwestcraft@artscouncilnewwest.org or visit www.artscouncilnewwest.org.

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About New West Craft:
New West Craft is a handmade market presented by The Arts Council of New Westminster, held on the first and third Saturday of the month at the River Market. New West Craft aims to provide a welcoming environment for crafters, artisans and makers to share their work with the community.

Media Contact:

Dana Kelly
Communications Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
media@artscouncilnewwest.org
778-840-3262

Laura Grady
New West Craft Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
newwestcraft@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-434-7506

Gallery Exhibition: CATFISH: Images of Deceit and Misrepresentation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2015

CATFISH: Images of Deceit and Misrepresentation

New Westminster, B.C.—The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present Catfish: Images of Deceit and Misrepresentation, a solo exhibition by Bill Edmonds from September 15 to October 7, 2015 at The Gallery at Queen’s Park.

Bill Edmonds has been painting in British Columbia for more than 35 years. His first series of shows captured candid moments through the lens of his camera. For the past two years, Edmonds has been exploring the anonymity of the internet and the relationships formed by strangers online.

According to the Urban Dictionary, a catfish is someone who pretends to be someone they’re not on social media to create false identities. Edmonds experienced this phenomenon first hand while searching for portrait subjects online. He made contact with random individuals through internet chat rooms, asking the strangers to send him a photo and he would paint their portrait in return. In many cases, Edmonds suspected the image was not their own and he soon discovered there was an agenda attached to that photograph.

“The criteria for the start of the conversation was a common interest in art,” said Edmonds. “In the vast majority of contacts, it became apparent this was not the case, and if I did get sent a photo it was usually an unlikely match with the preceding texts.”

Edmonds used that deceit to drive him to produce the series of paintings on display at the gallery. He sketched, then painted the images on Plexiglas panels, often adding scraps of texts sent to him along with the original photo. The paintings were then photographed and printed on rag paper. The entire process is extremely labour intensive, but the result is captivating.

The opening reception for Catfish: Images of Deceit and Misrepresentation is Sunday, September 20 is open to all members of the public. Edmonds will also be hosting an artist talk on Sunday, September 27 as part of Culture Days, a Canada-wide initiative empowering citizens, businesses, and government to collectively lead development through arts and culture.

For full details, please visit: artscouncilnewwest.org.

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About the Artist:
Bill Edmonds is heavily influenced by the St Ives and Newlyn Schools, two famous artist colonies located near Cornwall, UK where he grew up. Much of Edmonds work over the past 35 years has been produced here in B.C., mainly in the Thompson Okanagan and North Vancouver. In addition to exhibiting his talents across the province, Edmonds has also participated in group shows in New York City, Los Angeles and Almaty City, Kazakhstan. Edmonds is now based in Hope, where he has been painting for the past five years.

CATFISH: Images of Deceit and Misrepresentation

Exhibit Information:

Date: September 15 – October 7, 2015
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday

Opening Reception: Sunday, September 20, 2015
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Artist Talk: Sunday, September 27, 2015
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Media Contact:

Dana Kelly
Communications Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
media@artscouncilnewwest.org
778-840-3262

Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

POTPOURRI: New West Artists Pop-up Art Exhibition & Sale

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 7, 2015

POTPOURRI:
New West Artists Pop-up Art Exhibition & Sale

New Westminster, B.C.—The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to present POTPOURRI, a pop-up art exhibition and sale in partnership with New West Artists September 12-13 at The Gallery at Queen’s Park. The show features a variety of mediums including watercolours, acrylics, photographs, collages and cards.

New West Artists is a group of visual artists who truly epitomise the word community. By pooling their talents, ideas, and creative energy, each artist – whether they be a hobbyist or a full-time professional – are able to benefit from the knowledge and experience of their peers. Members share information about how to produce art exhibits and assist others in solving problems many artists consistently face.

Pop-up galleries are becoming increasingly popular; the temporary locations are a unique opportunity for artists, designers and photographers to showcase their work to a new audience. The Arts Council of New Westminster is proud to host the artists participating in POTPOURRI as our main objective is to always promote, support and encourage the creation of art in New Westminster.

“I am extremely pleased that New West Artists will be exhibiting at our gallery and will be launching our brand new pop-up exhibitions,” said Stephen O’Shea, executive director of The Arts Council of New Westminster. “We are continuing to find more creative ways to increase access to the gallery and partnering with New West Artists is the perfect way us to bring more art to the community of New Westminster.”

Artists who will have their work on display are: Eileen Pick, Lisa Lawrence, Virginia Railton, Janet Kvammen, Kay Klyne, Richard Klyne, Julie Schoennagel, Carol Rose, Tony Bryan, Donna Ross, Teresa Morton, Robert Jost, Elena Zhukova, Barbara Wendzich and more.

POTPOURRI will be held at The Gallery in Queen’s Park September 12-13, 2015. The opening artists reception is Saturday 2:00-4:00pm and is open to all.

For full details, please visit: artscouncilnewwest.org.

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About New West Artists:
New West Artists welcomes visual artists of all levels, from hobby artists to full-time professional veterans. Through connection, education, and promotion, the local non-profit society inspires, encourages, and celebrates visual artists in the community.

POTPOURRI:
New West Artists Pop-up Art Exhibition and Sale

Exhibit Information:

Date: September 12 & 13, 2015, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Artists: Eileen Pick, Lisa Lawrence, Virginia Railton, Janet Kvammen, Kay Klyne, Richard Klyne, Julie Schoennagel, Carol Rose, Tony Bryan, Donna Ross, Teresa Morton, Robert Jost, Elena Zhukova, Barbara Wendzich and more Artists

Reception: Saturday, September 12, 2015, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Media Contact:

Dana Kelly
Communications Coordinator
The Arts Council of New Westminster
media@artscouncilnewwest.org
778-840-3262

Stephen O’Shea
Executive Director
The Arts Council of New Westminster
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
604-525-3244

NOW HIRING – ARTISAN FAIR COORDINATOR

The Arts Council seeks a dynamic and experienced individual to serve as Artisan Fair Coordinator for our Artisans at River Market program.

Artisans at River Market is an Arts Council of New Westminster (ACNW) program at New Westminster’s River Market which celebrates the promotion of local artists. There are two weekend Artisans Fairs every month with spaces for artisans to share their crafts.

Send your resume to artisanfair@artscouncilnewwest.org
Application deadline is Monday August 17th at 5pm.
For more details, click here.

Century House Artists Group Exhibition – Aug 18 to Sept 11

The Arts Council of New Westminster presents

“Century House Artists Group Exhibition”
Various Media

August 18th to September 11th
1 to 5pm Tuesday – Sunday
Opening Reception: Sunday August 23rd, 2-4pm

Artist Statement

Century House Organization is a seniors’ activity center which includes; arts, cards, games, dance, exercise, health, music, crafts, quilting, pottery, and more! Those displaying their art here at Queen’s Park Gallery participate in the art program.

We hope you enjoy our art display which represents a variety of skills, emerging artists as well as more accomplished artists. Individual artists’ biographies are available.

Century House Artists enjoy learning a variety of media, such as watercolor, acrylic, pencil crayon and drawing taught by our enthusiastic, art instructors. Another option is the Thursday “Drop-In” 12:30 – 2:30pm where any members of Century House can bring their current art project and network with those of similar interests.

Century House members are 50+. Come and join us at: Century House, 620 Eighth Street, New Westminster 604 519 1066 or www.centuryhouseassociation.com

Exhibition Preview

: Century House Artists Group Exhibition

: “Sparkles in the gloom”
by Barbara Hilstad
20 x 25 acrylic

: “Golden memories”
by Susan Tamkin
16 x 20 Acrylic

: “Meditation”
by Barbara Hilstad
20 x 25 Acrylic

: “Three Friends”
by Susan Tamkin
18 x 24 Acrylic

: Artists top row left to right: Barbara Hilstad, Phyllis Anthony, Hermine Weiss, Silvana NcNulty, Arlene Curtin, Susan Tamkin
Artists sitting left to right: Sharon Delorenzi, Eileen Pick, Linda Kober, Linda Cant, Lorna Hargreaves
Missing: Merril Hall and Candice James

Starlight Casino donation to the Arts Council of New Westminster

Starlight Casino Donation - June 30 2015

(From left) Rowland England, General Manager, Starlight Casino presents $2000 to Stephen O’Shea, Executive Director and Leanne Ewen, President of the Arts Council of New Westminster, in support of the great work the Arts Council of New Westminster continues to provide the community of New Westminster.

We extend a sincere thank you to the Starlight Casino for their support.

Call for Artists 2016

The Arts Council is now inviting artists to submit applications for group or solo exhibitions during the 2016 calendar year.

The Arts Council operates a picturesque Gallery in Queens Park, which features a wide range of visual arts by local and emerging artists in exhibitions which change monthly. If you are an artist and are interested in being considered for the period from January 2016 to December 2016, your submission must reach the Gallery Exhibition Selection Committee (GESC) before August 31st 2015.

How to Apply for an Exhibition brochures, that contain an application form, are available for pickup at the Arts Council Gallery in Queens Park or on the Arts Council website here.
Submission by email only. In general, you will be asked to submit:

A selection of 8-10 good quality digital images of proposed work you wish to exhibit. Digital images should be jpg format; each image should be at least 800 x 600 pixels. Images should be clearly labelled with your Name, the Title of Work, Size and Medium.
Contact information (mailing address, phone number, email, website)
An Artist Statement giving your aims and objectives as an artist in relation to your work.
A Curriculum Vitae (3 pages max.) to establish a better understanding of your background and experience.

For more information contact the Arts Council office by phone 604-525-3244
or by email: info [at] artscouncilnewwest [dot] org

Arts Council of New Westminster,
PO Box 16003, New Westminster, BC V3M 6W6

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Call for Artists – New West Pride Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Westminster, March 27, 2015

The Arts Council of New Westminster is now inviting LGBTQ artists to submit applications for a group exhibition in conjunction with New Westminster Pride Week.

The Arts Council operates a picturesque Gallery in Queens Park, which features a wide range of visual arts by local and emerging artists in exhibitions which change monthly.

If you are a LGBTQ artist and are interested in being considered for a group exhibition during the period from July 21 to August 16 2015, your submission must reach the Gallery Exhibition Selection Committee (GESC) on or before April 30^th 2015. A solo exhibition will be considered for an artist with 20+ pieces.

How to Apply for an Exhibition brochures, which contain an application form, are available for pickup at the Arts Council Gallery in Queens Park or on the Arts Council Website. In general, you will be asked to submit:

A completed application form
8-10 slides, photographs or DVD of your work
An artist’s statement of the aims and objectives of your work
A curriculum vitae to establish a better understanding of your background and experience

You may also contact the Arts Council office by phone – 604- 525-3244, by email:info@artscouncilnewwest.org, visit our website: artscouncilnewwest.org for more information.

Arts Council of New Westminster, PO Box 16003, New Westminster, BC, V3M 6W6

Contact:
Stephen O’Shea
604.525.3244
info@artscouncilnewwest.org
www.artscouncilnewwest.org

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Cultural Mapping Survey

For Immediate Release
New Westminster, October 15, 2013

Community Survey Supports City’s Cultural Mapping Project

The launch today of a survey to collect details about the depth and breadth of New Westminster’s cultural resources is the first step in developing an interactive Cultural Map that will help plan for long-term growth and showcase the full scope of New Westminster’s arts, cultural and heritage community.

“We know that mapping cultural assets increases public appreciation, promotes tourism and builds community”, says Greg Magirescu, the city’s Manager of Arts & Cultural Development. “The survey is an essential step to building an interactive map and we encourage anyone involved in the creation, promotion, delivery or care of, or education about, culture to complete the survey and help build the map.”

The survey can be found online at: artscouncilnewwest.org/mapping

The survey will be open until December 31, 2013, after which the creation of the map will begin. The map will feature individual assets in a variety of fields, including venues, festivals, individuals, organizations, public art/monuments, heritage and stories. Organizers plan to have the map online, hosted by the City of New Westminster, in early 2014.

New assets will be added and existing assets will be updated regularly. Linking the map to community partner web sites and through social media will enhance everyone’s awareness of the vibrancy of the cultural landscape of New Westminster–provincially, nationally and internationally.

The New Westminster Cultural Map is the result of a partnership between the Arts Council of New Westminster, the City of New Westminster and Douglas College, with the financial support of a BC Creative Communities Grant through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development (Arts, Culture and BC Arts Council Branch).

For further information, please contact: Ms. Andrée St. Martin, Executive Director, Arts Council of New Westminster, (603) 525-3244, info@artscouncilnewwest.org.

Click to print press release…

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27th Annual Treasure Room

Press Release: 27th Annual “Treasure Room” in Queens Park at the Arts Council Gallery December 1 to December 23rd: OPEN 1 to 5pm Closed Mondays

Click here for the full press release…

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Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 30, 2012

“Celebration” a solo exhibition by Marney-Rose Edge

Click to view/print the full press release

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Call for Artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Westminster, July 4th 2012

The Arts Council of New Westminster is now inviting artists to submit applications for the 2013/2014 exhibition season. The Arts Council operates a picturesque Gallery in Queens Park, which features a wide range of visual arts by local and emerging artists in exhibitions which change monthly.

The applications will also be considered for our Satellite Galleries.

If you are an artist and are interested in being considered for the period from February 2013 to November 2014, your submission must reach the Gallery Exhibition Selection Committee (GESC) before September, 15th , 2012.

How to Apply for an Exhibition brochures, which contain an application form, are available for pickup at the Arts Council Gallery in Queens Park or on the Arts Council Website. In general, you will be asked to submit:

8-10 slides, photographs or DVD of your work
An artist’s statement of the aims and objectives of your work
A curriculum vitae to establish a better understanding of your background and experience

You may also contact the Arts Council office by

phone – 604- 525-3244,
by email: info@artscouncilnewwest.org,

Visit our website:artscouncilnewwest.org for more information.

Arts Council of New Westminster
PO Box 16003,
New Westminster, BC, V3M 6W6

Click here to print press release

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2012/2013 Movie Passes

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Westminster, July 4th 2012

Arts Council of NW Presents: Last Monday at the Movies

Season Passes for our 10th year now on sale.

This past season has been a paramount year. The top attendance ever included the films:

Midnight in Paris,
The Iron Lady,
My Week With Marylin
The Artist.

The pre sale of our Season Pass at the early bird price of $60 for the entire 2012/2013 are now available, cheque or cash.

Come by the Gallery in Queens Park 1 to 5pm Tuesday to Friday, or any time by appointment and pick up your pass for our 10th season of celebrating the Art of Film.

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Contact: Andrée St. Martin 604.525.3244

Click here to print press release

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Gallery in July

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

New Westminster, July 4th 2012

In the Arts Council Gallery till July 28th, featuring a multi talented trio:

Wanda Doyle: Paintings, Acrylic and Oil
Kay Austen: Stoneware and Porcelain
Sharon Grimes Know: Jewelry, Chain Maille, Sterling Silver precious stones

Do visit our gallery in beautiful Queens Park 1 to 5pm daily, closed on Mondays. The Artists are present on the week-end for an artist chat.

If you are an artist or an arts organization, here is your chance to promote your self at no cost!

Go to the Arts Councils and follow the links to the Arts Directory. It takes only 10 seconds tostake your claim to fame!

Contact: Andrée St. Martin, 604.525.3244

Click to print press release

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Artisan Spring Market

The Arts Council is featuring the Artisans Spring Market, its 25th year, on the Victoria Day Weekend as part of the Hyack Festival in Queens Park New Westminster.

Six tables are still available at a low rate of $50 for the two days. Call to reserve your spot now!

Entrance to the Artisan Spring Market is FREE.

click to view/ print the pdf of press release

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Lit Fest Events

Click here for the March 9th press release

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Monday Movies – March to May

Upcoming films for Last Monday at the Movies. Click for full press release.

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LIT FEST NEW WEST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : December 31, 2011

LIT FEST NEW WEST April 14th 2012.

This event was created to celebrate the literary arts, writers, authors and their accomplishments.

This all day event features speakers, authors, workshops, readings and much more.

Lit Fest New West will be held at Douglas College in New Westminster

“Inspired by Words”

Call for Artists : a brand new opportunity for Artists in all disciplines to participate!

For the month of April there will be an exhibition “Inspired by Words” at the Arts Council Gallery to complement LIT FEST NEW WEST.

For more information visit our website :www.artscouncilnewwest.org

Contact:
Andrée St. Martin
604.525.3244
www.artscouncilnewwest.org

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We are reintroducing the on-line Arts Directory!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Arts Council Announces on-line Arts Directory

New Westminster, December 15^th 2011

We are reintroducing the on-line Arts Directory. If you are an artist or an arts organization, here is your chance to promote your self at no cost!
Inform the community where they can find you and what you are about…

Go to the Arts Councils revamped web-site and follow the links to the Arts Directory. It takes only 10 seconds to stake your claim to fame!

Contact:
Andrée St. Martin
604.525.3244
www.artscouncilnewwest.org

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