Nelson & District Arts Council

10/27/2026

A little 🐦told us there a still a few vendor spots remaining for the Winter Trafalgar Market!

Email [email protected] for more info!

10/25/2026

Rural Artist Support Weekend - 2026 is today! First session starts at 11:00am, and sessions run until 6:00pm.

Looking forward to spending the day learning💻

10/24/2026

10/24/2026

Today is general voting day!

Read these candidate surveys before you head to the polls 🗳️

We have another set of candidate surveys to read!

In preparation for the provincial election, we reached out to the candidates running for MLA in Kootenay Central to hear their thoughts on the arts, culture, and heritage sector in the province, and what their priorities would be if elected.

We received responses from the following candidates:
-Brittny Anderson
-Hunter Corrigal
-Nicole Charlwood

Read their responses to our survey here:
https://ndac.ca/news/2026-provincial-arts-culture-heritage-candidate-survey/

Please help us share these responses! The info shared in these surveys will be helpful for anyone voting in the 2026 provincial election in Kootenay Central to review.

Thank you to our partner orgs for helping us create this survey:
Oxygen Art Centre
Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery
Tapatia Collective
The Capitol Theatre Nelson
Kootenay Regional Arts Council
Nelson Civic Theatre
Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Kootenay Studio of the Arts Society

10/23/2026

And finally, we are ending this year's Rural Artist Support Weekend - 2026 with a session that is part informational / part imposter syndrome support group!

✏️ How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Grants
🗓 Sunday, October 25
⌚ 5:00pm - 6:00pm
💻 Online via Zoom
💲 FREE

You’ve got an art project in mind, and would like to find funding for it? This workshop will provide a survey of some of the funding bodies out there you can apply to, and how to find grants that will work for you.

We’ll also tackle some of the barriers that can get in our way when grant writing: imposter syndrome, fear of rejection, effective communication, procrastination, long-term planning, asking for help, math! Together, we will strive to get out of our own way and make friends with the grant-writing process.

About the presenter:
Marya Folinsbee is a playwright, actor, clown, theatre-maker, and arts administrator from Edmonton, who now lives on Sinixt Territory in the Slocan Valley with her family. She is the co-artistic director of Material Theatre, and has self-produced lots of theatre and performance installations locally and across Western Canada. Marya has had many grant applications rejected, and has also been awarded funding by the Canada Council for the Arts, the BC Arts Council, the CKCA and many other funders. She has also sat on many adjudication committees. Marya’s a raging socialist who believes artists deserve abundant support and a living wage for the good works they produce, and wants to contribute to a thriving arts infrastructure with her skills. She believes in you.

Register for Rural Artist Support Weekend events here: https://ndac.ca/programs/rural-artist-support-weekend/

10/22/2026

We are excited to welcome the queen of marketing, Zan Comerford back to present at this year's Rural Artist Support Weekend - 2026 👑

📱 Making Social Media Make Money
🗓 Sunday, October 25
⌚ 3:30pm - 4:30pm
💻 Online via Zoom
💲 FREE

Curious about how to go from posting randomly to actually making content that makes cash? This session will cover the basics on how to make your social media efforts actually pay you, both quickly and in the long term.

About the presenter:
Working in marketing and communications for many of the world’s preeminent events and purpose-driven companies, Zan is motivated by the potential for cultural change through interactions in unconventional spaces.

For a decade, Zan has been harnessing the power of empathy, enthusiasm, and imagination to catalyze community through innovative marketing campaigns. Her work bridges the gap between storytelling and strategy, creating lasting connections that inspire action and engagement.

Register for Rural Artist Support Weekend events here: https://ndac.ca/programs/rural-artist-support-weekend/

10/21/2026

We have another learning session with a funder coming up this weekend! This is a FANTASTIC opportunity to learn more about the programs available from the BC Arts Council, and ask questions.

💰 BC Arts Council Funding Opportunities
🗓 Sunday, October 25
⌚ 2:00pm - 3:00pm
💻 Online via Zoom
💲 FREE

This session will present funding opportunities available to artists through the BC Arts Council.

About the presenter:

The BC Arts Council (BCAC) was created in 1995 as an agency of the Province of British Columbia under the Arts Council Act. The BCAC nurtures and supports arts and cultural activity in communities across British Columbia. From community arts in rural and urban centres, to individual artists, professional performing arts companies, Indigenous artists and cultural organizations, art galleries, local museums and music festivals – BCAC supports a range of activities while engaging with artists and communities to inform policies and programs.

Register for Rural Artist Support Weekend - 2026 events here: https://ndac.ca/programs/rural-artist-support-weekend/

10/21/2026

The bear is on the hunt once again! Foraging for literary treats. 🐻 📚

Our last submission call for 2026 is now open! Send us your best writing, comics and art by November 6 to get published!

10/20/2026

We are always excited to host the Kootenay Regional Arts Council team at Rural Artist Support Weekend to hear about local funding opportunities!

💰 Exploring Arts & Culture Funding Opportunities in the Columbia Basin
🗓 Sunday, October 25
⌚ 12:30pm - 1:30pm
💻 Online via Zoom
💲 FREE

Do you have an idea for a project that focuses on arts and culture? Grants from the Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance (CKCA) could help.

These annual grants—funded by Columbia Basin Trust and managed by the Kootenay Regional Arts Council—are available for all art disciplines, for both individuals and arts and culture organizations in the Columbia Basin.

This session will cover the application deadlines and processes and will also touch on the different programs that we offer annually.

About the presenter:

Lily Andersen currently works for the Kootenay Regional Arts Council as an a Grants Officer / Operations Manager alongside the Executive Director. For over 20 years, Lily’s professional career has been focused on business administration in the arts. From production departments in the film industry, to website administration for companies in California, to starting a jewelry business in 2014, all her professional experience comes from different forms of art and culture. After graduating from Selkirk College/Kootenay School of the Arts in 2017, Lily opened a jewelry studio in Nelson B.C. called The Bench Jewelry Studio.

Register for Rural Artist Support Weekend events here: https://ndac.ca/programs/rural-artist-support-weekend/

10/19/2026

Registration for Rural Artist Support Weekend - 2026 is open!

💰 Introduction to Basic Banking with Christine Lazenby
🗓 Sunday, October 25
⌚ 11:00am - Noon
💻 Online via Zoom
💲 FREE

Whether you’re just starting your financial journey or looking to strengthen your understanding of everyday banking, this session will provide a foundation for managing your money with confidence.

We’ll explore the key products and services offered by financial institutions, including chequing and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, online banking, loans, and investments. You’ll also learn practical skills such as budgeting, understanding fees, & building credit.

By the end of this session, you’ll have a better understanding of how banking works and the tools available to help you make informed financial decisions and achieve your financial goals.

Financial literacy is not about how much money you make, but how effectively you manage the money you have. Let’s get started!

Register for Rural Artist Support Weekend events here: https://ndac.ca/programs/rural-artist-support-weekend/