“Arts remind us that we are all connected during these trying times.”
That’s what four organizations in the Comox Valley are saying amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comox Valley Arts, The Courtenay & District Museum, The Sid Williams Theatre and The Comox Valley Art Gallery are making a plan in concert with the City of Courtenay to keep cultural activities going.
In a joint statement, all four cultural groups say they are hard at work behind the scenes to find ways to continue offering creativity to the community.
Comox Valley Arts President Don Ferguson explains that the arts are going to play a key role in returning society to normal.
“Our goal, during these challenging times is to listen to your concerns, and to work with other groups within our creative community to develop a robust and essential source of information, inspiration and education as we continue to chart a path forward.”
“We encourage all of you all to connect with each other and with the arts. The resilience of the artistic community and the compassion of our residents will be the base we build upon, and the cornerstone of our recovery,” said Ferguson.
All four groups shared how things are going for them and what plans are in the works.
Comox Valley Arts will be collaborating with partners, using available space to create livestream music, dance, spoken word and theatre projects in a safe and physically distant manner.
Artists & Performers are encouraged to contact CV/A at [email protected] for other support and project opportunities.
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.
The Comox Valley Art Gallery is working 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.
The Courtenay & District Museum is rolling out education programming to support home learning in creative and accessible formats. You can access the program through their website.
The statement ended by saying more programming and support is coming to help keep the community full of arts during the global pandemic.
“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.
“There are many things happening, despite the “closure” of the world, and in this new paradigm of digital engagement and physically distant connection, it’s the Arts & Culture sector that will bring us all together.”
To read the full statement, visit the Comox Valley Arts webpage here.
