The Osoyoos Community Arts Council was incorporated in December 1981, and officially changed its name to the Osoyoos & District Arts Council, July 14, 1989.
The mission of the Osoyoos & District Arts Council is to increase and broaden opportunities to enjoy, participate and be enriched by arts and culture.
Goals:
- Assist with coordinating the work and programs of artists and cultural associations
- Stimulate and encourage the development of cultural projects and activities
- Render service to members
- Act as a clearinghouse for information on cultural programs and activities
- Foster interest and pride in the cultural heritage of the community
- Interpret the work of cultural groups to promote public understanding
- Inform civic authorities of the cultural needs of the community
- Be fiscally responsible and sustainable in order to support business, provide funding opportunities and plan for growth regarding infrastructure, programming and personnel needs.
Meetings: The Osoyoos & District Arts Council Board meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of every month.
Committees:: The ART Gallery Osoyoos is run by a standing committee of the Osoyoos & District Arts Council. The gallery is totally operated by volunteers and host approximately 9 shows a year featuring Osoyoos and local area artists with occasional guest artists from further a field.
The Osoyoos Concert Series also run by a standing committee of the Osoyoos & District Arts Council. The Osoyoos Concert Series is totally operated by volunteers who coordinate and schedule 4 concerts at the Osoyoos Secondary School Community Theatre with performing artists from all over Canada.
Member Groups: Include the Osoyoos Potters, Artists on Main, Osoyoos Photography Club, Osoyoos Wood Carvers, the Osoyoos Quilters Guild, the South Okanagan Amateur Players (SOAP), South Okanagan Concert Series and Janet Marcotte Music Studio, Osoyoos Music in the Park and Osoyoos Blues Society
Awards and Bursaries: The Osoyoos and District gives a yearly a $500 bursary to the Osoyoos Secondary School and the Dorothy Fraser Music Award for the highest mark in the Conservatory of Canada exams.
New for 2019: An awards banquet was held in conjunction with the AGM.
Update Message from the Board of Directors
During this unprecedented time in our history, the Osoyoos & District Arts Council (O.D.A.C.) Board of Directors extends their heartfelt best wishes to you, your families, friends and neighbours and to the community at large. We are impressed with the care and attention of our community as we note exemplary acts of kindness to everyone and in particular to those who need it most.
In keeping with the need to be attentive to ‘lowering the curve’ of the spread of COVID-19, The ART Gallery Osoyoos has temporarily closed its doors and delayed mounting their next show.
The Osoyoos Concert Series was able to present the final performance of the season with yet another successful show featuring the Company B Jazz Band.
The Board is grateful to The ART Gallery Osoyoos Committee and the Osoyoos Concert Series Committee and their audiences and volunteers for their dedication to these programs. A simple thank you to them cannot express enough our deep appreciation for all they do.
The O.D.A.C. Board, while curtailing face-to-face meetings, remains at work behind the scenes towards the plans for the remainder of this year and those in the works for 2020-21. We are on the precipice of exciting announcements.
The 2020-21 Osoyoos Concert Series performances are lined up and contract talk is underway. These are troubling times for performers and they are grateful for O.D.A.C.’s continued support and to be able to plan for their future. Acts and dates will be announced soon.
The ART Gallery Osoyoos has several upcoming shows waiting ‘in the wings!’ They will not disappoint! Check in with their Facebook Page to watch for announcements: the art gallery osoyoos
To keep in touch with all news from O.D.A.C., check in with our Facebook page: Osoyoos & District Arts Council and watch our website: www.osoyoosarts.com for news, updates and announcements.
O.D.A.C. continues to promote and celebrate arts and culture towards enriching community. We do this because we believe in it. We do this with your support and involvement.
If you believe in it too, let us know. Are you an artist, musician, singer, teacher, writer, poet, actor, dancer, lyricist, graphic or web designer? Are you a visual, performing or literary arts enthusiast and supporter? Are you passionate about supporting and enhancing the arts and cultural opportunities in your community and sharing your skills or volunteering your time? Do you have experience in the ‘behind the scenes’ business, administration and technological work involved in making the arts happen? Do you want to be part of a growing organization that enhances your life in your community? Do you know someone to recommend?
Contact O.D.A.C. at info@osoyoosartscouncil.org and let’s start the conversation!
The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. Pablo Picasso
The best of health to all!
Osoyoos & District Arts Council Board of Directors
Thank you Departing Board Members
The Oosoyoos & District Arts Council would also like to thank Debbie Dundass, Kelly Taylor and Karen Sendybyl for their service on the board. They are wished well in their future endeavors.
Introducing the Newest Board Members
Lois Harrison – Secretary
Earl Krushelnicki – Osoyoos Concert Series Liaison
Click on the following links more information:
Provincial government tours Osoyoos
Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture , Lisa Beare and two members of her office attended the Arts Centre in Osoyoos on Sunday, June 23/19 for a tour of the facilities offered by the Osoyoos & District Arts Council & the Town of Osoyoos.
In attendance were Mayor Sue McKortoff & members of the Osoyoos & District Arts Council, The Art Gallery Osoyoos, theOsoyoos Concert Series, the Osoyoos Potters, the Artists on Main, the Osoyoos Woodcarvers & the Osoyoos Quilters Guild .
Minister Beare was keenly interested in the Arts community in Osoyoos and marvelled at the amount of talent displayed within the Gallery and the various clubs.
Lisa Beare, left, provincial Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture takes a tour with Art Gallery Osoyoos curator Claudia Punter on Sunday. The NDP caucus is in Osoyoos and the South Okanagan over the next few days. Picture courtesy of Dale Boyd/Osoyoos Times
Touring the Club Studios and Work Rooms
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- The ART Gallery Osoyoos
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- Artists on Main Studio
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- Osoyoos Potters Studio
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- Artists on Main Studio
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- Wood Carvers Wood Carvers Room
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- Osoyoos Wood Carvers Room
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- Osoyoos Potters STudio
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- The ART Gallery Osoyoos
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- Osoyoos Potters Studio
Congratulation to
Past President of the Osoyoos & District Arts Council,
Sue Whittaker
2018
Outstanding Individual Volunteer Award Winner
2018 Dorothy Fraser Memorial Award Winner
Presented at a recital in the Osoyoos Secondary School Theatre on Wednesday, February 27 by Mrs. Janet Marcotte, a long time member of the Osoyoos & District Arts Council. Sixteen year old Kaelyn Burton is this year’s recipient. She achieved the mark of 85% on her Grade Five Conservatory Canada piano exam during the year of 2018. The memorial plaque will be displayed at the Osoyoos Art Centre.
For more information on The Dorothy Fraser Memorial Award go to the Janet Marcotte Music Studio page.
Community Events: The Osoyoos & District Arts Council participates in community events and this past October gave out candy to children in front of The ART Gallery Osoyoos during the “Trick or Treat on Main Street” event.
Funding: The “Quail Family” project by 3 of the Artists on Main was patricianly funded by the Arts Council. The Quail Family has become a major attraction on the lawn of the Osoyoos Arts Centre at the corner of 89th and Main Streets.
Osoyoo Arts Centre
