“Even when our doors close, #culturedoesntstop.”
That message was delivered by four Comox Valley cultural organizations in a joint statement on the importance of arts and culture in the time of a global pandemic.
“The critical value of arts, culture and heritage are shining brilliantly and showing their power to provide resilience, hope, and joy,” says the statement issued by Comox Valley Arts, the Sid Williams Theatre, the Courtenay Museum and the Comox Valley Art Gallery.
“The arts remind us that we are all connected during these trying times. As we continue to physically distance and isolate from one another, it’s the arts that are still bringing us together.”
Working together, the four organizations are making a plan in concert with the City of Courtenay to keep cultural activities going even after making difficult decisions to close facilities and cancel events.
In the statement, the organizations affirmed their commitment to find alternative ways to foster and present cultural activities in the Comox Valley.
Comox Valley Arts (CVA) will be collaborating with its partners, using available space to create livestream music, dance, spoken word and theatre projects in a safe and physically distant manner. Artists and performers are encouraged to contact CVA at events@comoxvalleyarts.com for other support and project opportunities. CVA has multiple programs accessible online through the website comoxvalleyarts.com and centralislandartsguide.com
The Sid Williams Theatre is keeping core staff employed with big maintenance projects to ensure the facility is in the best possible shape for re-engaging with the community. There are hidden benefits to this situation where there is a lot more time than usual to get some things done. Administrators and technical staff alike are connecting with ticketholders and presenters to reshape the 2020-2021 season. Sign up for announcements at sidwilliamstheatre.com
Comox Valley Art Gallery is working hard at digitizing exhibits and has pivoted its popular and successful Youth Media Project to an online format. Applications are currently being accepted for the summer session – learn more at comoxvalleyartgallery.com
Courtenay & District Museum is rolling out substantial education programming to support home learning in creative and accessible formats. Follow the museum on Facebook and access programs at courtenaymuseum.ca
“Together, these organizations are reaching out to other arts groups and individual artists to engage, support and create new opportunities and deliver programming for the community at large,” said Dallas Stevenson, executive director of Comox Valley Arts, an umbrella organization that provides support and co-ordination to artists and cultural groups throughout the Comox Valley.
“There are many things happening, despite the ‘closure’ of the world,” she said. “And in this new paradigm of digital engagement and physically distant connection, it’s the Arts and Culture sector that will bring us all together.”
To read the full statement visit Comoxvalleyarts.com
