Duo of arts societies honoured with prestigious award

Two Northern B.C. arts organizations have received the Lieutenant Governor’s Platinum Jubilee Arts and Music awards for their efforts to bring quality art and artists to their respective regions.

Skeena Salmon Arts Festival, a First Nations art collective, was recognized for their deliberate efforts to bring high quality public art to northwestern B.C. through murals, sculptural installations, banners and Skeena Salmon Arts Fest.

“We are honoured to receive this prestigious award in recognition of the work we have done in supporting our diverse and highly talented professional arts community in the north,” said Dave Gordon, president, Skeena Salmon Arts Fest Society. “Public art builds pride in our sense of community.  We look forward to continuing this work for years to come.”

Island Mountain Arts Society received the honour for their dedication to bringing world-class and emerging artists to Wells, a small community in the Cariboo, for gallery exhibitions, workshops and performances, as well as supporting multidisciplinary artistic development in the Cariboo region over the past 45 years.

“It was deeply touching to receive this nomination and award,” said Elyssia Sasaki, executive/artistic director of Island Mountain Arts. “We are ever grateful to the folks who put their time into nominating our organization, to our funders, partners and supporters who make our organization’s work possible and to the many volunteers and staff from our past and present that have contributed to who we are today.”

Both of these organizations have received funding through the Trust’s Fabulous Festivals and Events funding program, which supports their respective annual arts festivals.

Island Mountain Arts Society has also been approved for three Marketing Initiatives grants in addition to four Fabulous Festivals and Events grants. To date, they have accessed nearly $40,000 from Northern Development.

The awards are a one-time event that recognizes groups and individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, community engagement and commitment in visual arts, music or performance. The awards were part of celebrations organized in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

High functioning art societies enrich their communities by enhancing residents’ quality of life by providing access to meaningful art, facilitating avenues for artists to share their work and increasing the tourism economy through signature events.