You may have heard the statistic Bowen Island is the fifth most (formerly the fourth) artistic community in Canada. What exactly does that mean? It means that per capita, we have a high percentage of our population who derive income from the arts. Artists, as defined by the Canada Council, include actors, choreographers, craftspeople, composers, conductors, dancers, directors, musicians, producers, singers, visual artists and writers. It's important to recognize that in addition to being artists, these same residents of Bowen are also employed as contractors, carpenters, wood workers, teachers, baristas, garbage engineers, cleaners, truck drivers, painters, doctors, and in a variety of other occupations.
Clearly the arts community comprises the entire community. With this inclusivity in mind, the Bowen Island Arts Council (BIAC) invites everyone to its annual general meeting on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 1 - 3 p.m. at the Gallery at Artisan Square. As has become the tradition when it's municipal election year, we've invited as special guests all those candidates vying for a seat in our local council.
We'd like to ask them a few questions about their views on governance of our island home, and especially as it pertains to arts and cultural initiatives.
But we'd like you to join us and get a sense of what it is we are achieving economically, socially and creatively. It's a great opportunity to renew membership, or become a member, of one of Bowen's most active nonprofit service groups. Of course, the public will also have the opportunity to attend the all candidates' discussion.
If you can't make it, but want to stay informed, please visit our website at www.biac.ca and access the arts and culture weekly update.
BIAC was established more than 20 years ago. Its mandate is to support and promote artists and the development of artistic and cultural opportunities that result in social and economic benefits to the entire community. We operate the Gallery at Artisan Square, advocate for a community hall and arts centre, host the annual Write on Bowen Festival, organize the Bowen art walk, studio tours and local BC cultural crawl, offer an array of programs and art instruction and sponsor a diversity of concerts, performances and other events.
In addition to our revenue sources and other income, we rely on and are thankful for financial support from our donors, the Bowen Island Municipality and the BC Arts Council.
