ArtsConnect, PO Box 202, 2133 – 2850 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam, BC (2026)

06/02/2026

On Tuesday 9 June 2026 at 5:30pm ArtsConnect presents “Both Hands Full: Resilience as an Artist's Practice in the Age of AI,” a free public talk by Jai Djwa at The Outlet, 2248 McAllister Avenue in Port Coquitlam.

As Jai Djwa describes: “Resilience is a muscle artists already have. We remake our practice when conditions change, and we work in the cracks of systems that weren't built for us. AI is the latest condition to tackle, and it asks for both hands. One hand holds the harms: scraped work, lost commissions, power consolidated in a few platforms, and real environmental cost. The other holds what is opening up: new forms, freedom from admin, and faster ways to test an idea. Refusing both the booster and the doomer reflex is itself an act of resilience. Drawing on work with the BC Arts Council and Arts BC, and on a current dance residency that investigates AI into live performance, I offer a practical, values-forward way for artists and arts communities to stay flexible, stay specific, and stay in the conversation.”

Jai Djwa is a Vancouver-based artist and educator whose practice spans electroacoustic composition, AI-augmented interaction design, and creative performance. With an MFA in Electronic Arts from RPI and 25+ years bridging art, technology, and social change, he currently runs the Interaction Design program at Capilano University while exploring how AI agents can be personalized to an artist's own voice. He served on the BC Arts Council for 6 years, and is currently on the board of Arts BC.

Headshot Credit: Credit Kris Krug

This talk is presented as part of ArtsConnect’s "Public Walks, Public Spaces, Public Arts, Public Cities" program. The 2026 program includes a series of related discussions on the place of the artist and the arts in creating socially, culturally and economically dynamic and resilient communities in the Tri-Cities led by a diverse collection of professionals working across all forms of art, culture, architecture, urban planning, technology, economics and more. Recent presentations have included Brian McBay's talk on 30 May 2026 in Port Moody and forthcoming presentations include a talk by Kamala Jasmine Todd in Coquitlam on 20 June 2026 in partnership with the Coquitlam Public Library.

ArtsConnect gratefully acknowledges the support of the City of Coquitlam's Spirit of Coquitlam Grant Program, the City of Port Coquitlam Community Cultural Development Investment Program, the City of Port Moody, The Village of Anmore, the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation, and the Coquitlam Public Library.

05/27/2026

On Saturday 30 May 2026 at 2:00pm ArtsConnect presents a free public talk by Brian McBay, Executive Director of the Vancouver-based arts and cultural organization 221A, at Inlet United Church at the Springs in Port Moody. In "Cities for Artists: A land trust for the arts?" McBay will explore the origins of 221A and the creation of the Cultural Land Trust as a response to the growing loss of affordable cultural space in urban communities. Through examples from Vancouver and elsewhere, McBay will discuss how non-profits can collaborate to secure long-term cultural infrastructure.

Brian McBay (he/him) is a leader in arts infrastructure. He is a fourth-generation Chinese-Canadian living in Vancouver on the unsurrendered lands of the Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Over the last 20 years Brian has made a unique contribution to British Columbia’s cultural security by developing and advocating for community-controlled arts spaces. He is co-founder and Executive Director of 221A, a Vancouver-based non-profit organization that operates a growing network spanning over 140,000 square feet across nine properties, providing space for affordable artist housing and artist studios. Recently, he has been advancing the application of "Cultural Land Trusts" as a collective governance and financing solution for non-profit arts spaces facing closure or displacement due to escalating real estate costs. In addition to his role at 221A, Brian has served on various non-profit and public sector boards including the BC Arts Council and the National Gallery of Canada.

This talk is presented as part of ArtsConnect’s "Public Walks, Public Spaces, Public Arts, Public Cities" program. The 2026 program includes a series of related discussions on the place of the artist and the arts in creating socially, culturally and economically dynamic and resilient communities in the Tri-Cities lead by a diverse collection of people in all forms of art, architecture, urban planning. Forthcoming presentations included talks by Jai Djwa in Port Coquitlam on 9 June 2026 and Kamala Jasmine Todd in Coquitlam on 20 June 2026 in partnership with the Coquitlam Public Library.

ArtsConnect gratefully acknowledges the support of the City of Coquitlam's Spirit of Coquitlam Grant Program, the City of Port Coquitlam Community Cultural Development Investment Program, the City of Port Moody , The Village of Anmore, the Port Coquitlam Community Foundation, and the Coquitlam Public Library.

04/30/2026

On Saturday 2 May 2026, join your neighbours for a series of Jane's Walks taking place across the Tri-Cities. Informative and engaging walking conversations about the people and places and spaces and stories that make up our communities will take place through downtown Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam City Centre, and along Port Moody’s shoreline.

Just what is it that makes a city the city that it is? What goes into what goes on in the streets and parks and paths that wind through the places that we live? What works? What doesn’t? What would you change? Why would you change it? What is it about the places we live and the spaces that we share that calls community together?

Jane’s Walk Port Coquitlam
Date: Saturday 2 May 2026
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
Starting location: Gateway of Giants, 2150 Wilson Avenue, Port Coquitlam

Walk Leader: Marnie Maule has been instructing in various mediums and age groups in Port Coquitlam for the last fourteen years and is pleased to find herself instructing on behalf of the City of Port Coquitlam in the Arts and Culture Department. Following a lifelong interest in learning art techniques and art history, she is enjoying making connections and sharing her love of clay, watercolour, collage and printmaking. Marnie is happy imparting her experience and passion with her community through her work and volunteering on behalf of Girl Guides.

Jane’s Walk Coquitlam
Date: Saturday 2 May 2026
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Starting location: In front of the Town Centre Park Community Centre at 1207 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Walk Leader: This will be a collectively led walk facilitated by ArtsConnect and designed for people to share stories about the past, thoughts about the present and ideas for the future of downtown Coquitlam. We will share some history and share some visions for how we can work together to shape a dynamic and vibrant city with the arts and artists at the centre. This walk ties into the 23 May 2026 Artist-Run Suburbs program to be held at the Evergreen Cultural Centre and the 20 June 2026 talk by Kamala Jasmine Todd presented in partnership with the Coquitlam Public Library.

Jane’s Walk Port Moody
Date: Saturday 2 May 2026
Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
Starting location: Rocky Point Park at the Rocky Point Pier, Port Moody.
Walk Leader: Les George is a member of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation, where he lives on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. He is the grandson of the late səlilwətaɬ Chief Dan George and is connected through family to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) nations. Les attended the Native Education College in Vancouver. In 2017 he was invited to return, giving a performance and prayer at the opening of their cultural gathering space. For 23 years, Les George was a First Nations Support Worker with the North Vancouver School District, working closely with at-risk youth and those with special needs. He shared stories, drumming, songs, and held restorative justice circles with students. Les also works for Takaya Tours, the premier First Nation owned eco-tourism venture in the Lower Mainland. As a guide, he keeps groups safe as they paddle Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm in replica ocean-going canoes or sea kayaks, all while sharing səlilwətaɬ songs, legends, and information about village sites.

These walks will be conversational and you are free to ask questions and to share your own stories, observations and ideas but you are as free to listen and take in what others share. Please also feel free to participate in the walk to your own interest or abilities. Every effort has been made to ensure that these walks are accessible however, unforeseen things may arise on the day that reduce accessibility.

Each year Jane’s Walks take place in over 500 cities throughout the world. Starting in 2025, ArtsConnect has signed on to organize Jane’s Walks in neighbourhoods across the Tri-Cities. These walking conversations about how we make the cities in which we live and work and play are inspired by Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) a writer, urbanist and activist who championed a community-based approach to city-building. She had no formal training as a planner, and yet her 1961 book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” introduced important ideas about how cities function, evolve, and even how they fail. Jacobs lived in Greenwich Village until 1968 when she moved to Toronto. In both cities, she helped derail the car-centred approach to urban planning and invigorated neighbourhood and community activism. Her activism and many writings continue to engage many of today’s architects, planners, policymakers, activists, citizens, and other city builders.

Jane's Walks take place on the ancestral and unceded territories of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, səlilwətaɬ, q̓ic̓əy̓, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, qiqéyt, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and Sto':lo.

ArtsConnect gratefully acknowledges the support of the PoCo Foundation and the City of Port Coquitlam Community Cultural Development (CCD) Investment Program, the Village of Anmore and the Spirit of Coquitlam Grant program.

03/05/2026

REMINDER: The ArtsConnect Community Meeting will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday 7 March 2026, at the Michael Wright Gallery 200-2253 Leigh Square, Port Coquitlam. Participation is free and seating is limited so please RSVP at your earliest convenience at https://forms.gle/5msoCgbNLyEjVzLfA

At the meeting we will report to you about the recent ArtsConnect Regional ArtsSummit and share information about some of the upcoming initiatives that have come out of it. We will also announce ArtsConnect's spring and fall 2026 activities. Representatives from the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam will also make brief presentations on initiatives and opportunities for artists and creative professionals. This is also a chance for you to share with us and your neigbours and your colleagues your ideas, issues and initiatives for advancing the arts and creative enterprise in communities across the Tri-Cities.

If you attended the ArtsSummit please bring along your Red Inter-Arts-Department Delivery Envelope. If you did not attend, envelopes will be available at the meeting.

02/17/2026

Join us for an ArtsConnect Community Meeting at 1:00pm on Saturday 7 March 2026, at the Michael Wright Gallery 200-2253 Leigh Square, Port Coquitlam. Participation is free and seating is limited so please RSVP at your earliest convenience at https://forms.gle/5msoCgbNLyEjVzLfA

At the meeting we will report to you about the recent ArtsConnect Regional ArtsSummit held on 10 January 2026 in Coquitlam and share information about some of the upcoming initiatives that have come out of it. We will also announce ArtsConnect's spring and fall 2026 activities. We will welcome representatives from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody to present opportunities for artists and creative professionals. This is also a chance for you to share with the community your ideas, issues and initiatives for advancing the place of the arts in people’s everyday lives across the Tri-Cities.

If you attended the ArtsSummit please bring along your Red Inter-Arts-Department Delivery Envelope. If you did not attend, envelopes will be available at the meeting.

10/10/2025

Join us in helping to make the arts a part of people's everyday lives in Anmore , Belcarra, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. Our members make a difference. https://artsconnect.ing/membership/

With the support of our members last year, ArtsConnect was able to relaunch our popular ArtsCalendar.

10/02/2025

Visit ArtsConnect's ArtsCalendar to check out all the goings-on in all the arts in Anmore , Belcarra, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody.

https://artsconnect.ing/artscalendar/

08/27/2025

What do the arts do for the vibrant social, cultural and economic lives of the cities we live in? What do the cities we live in need to do for the vibrant social, cultural and economic lives of the arts?

The relationship between the arts and our cities may seem simple, but it is far from it. This episode from Monocle's "The Urbanist" (https://monocle.com/radio/shows/the-urbanist/722/ ) discusses some of that complexity about how the arts and cities are finding ways to serve one another. It shares some ideas from Melbourne's music scene, ideas for how cultural land trusts can help to ensure secure, long-term affordable spaces for artists and arts organizations within the centre of our cities and gives some ideas about how we can change our approach to designing our cities to favour the social, cultural and economic dynamism that people desire.

What are your thoughts about what our cities are doing to support the arts across all disciplines and their place in peoples' everyday lives? What's working? What's not? What would you change or do differently?

This is part of a new series of posts that ArtsConnect will be sharing on our social media channels to foster conversation and share information that helps to connect artists to audiences to businesses across the Tri-Cities. Follow topics that are of interest to you using the tags below.

08/19/2025

Where are the artists' bars in the Tri-Cities?
What do you look for in an artists' bar?
When was the last time you visited an artists' bar and where was it and what did you like about it?

The artists' bar has a long history in the history of the arts. They are places where artists congregate to talk about art and not-art, to share ideas and ask questions of one another, to joke and argue about art (and not-art) and culture (and not-culture) over drinks (alcoholic or not).

Rodney Graham "Artist in Artists' Bar, 1950's" (2016)
Painted aluminum lightbox with transmounted chromogenic transparency
https://www.303gallery.com/artists/rodney-graham?view=slider #16

08/17/2025

ArtsConnect is at the City of Port Moody’s Car Free Day today introducing the ArtsCalendar and promoting the programs of Tri-City arts organizations, arts-related businesses, and creative enterprise at our ArtsConnect ArtsNewsstand. We have been thrilled with the response we have received from everybody who stopped by the ArtsConnect booth.

ArtsConnect

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