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EACS seeks new space to serve valley residents
The Elkford Arts Council Society (EACS), a registered non-profit, is appealing for community support in its quest to acquire a more accessible and functional community arts space.
Since 2014, the society has been enriching the cultural landscape of the Elk Valley and providing Elkford and surrounding communities with an array of arts classes and a fully equipped arts studio. The studio also features an after hour drop-in option for local artists, who receive a swipe card as part of their annual $25 membership and pay a nominal fee for drop-in sessions.
“We are so appreciative for the space we currently have,” explained Katherine Russell, the EACS director and an award-winning glass artist. “But in order to better serve our community, we require a more accessible arts space that’ll help us grow and expand what we can offer. Our studio being up on the top floor not only renders us inaccessible to many community members with mobility issues, but it also hinders our visibility. It’s creating insurmountable barriers against what we are trying to accomplish as an organization.”
The society has recently registered a formal interest in acquiring the old district office building in downtown Elkford and awaits the District of Elkford’s impending decision. Securing a larger ground-floor space in a centralized location, Russell believes, could help the EACS provide new class offerings, qualify for the funding to update equipment – and most importantly, finally become fully accessible to the entire community.
From potters to painters and photographers, the EACS is run by a board of passionately invested artists and volunteers. Their vision is to support the social wellbeing of all Elkford community members – as a fully inclusive organization that welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds and experience-levels – and to use creativity as a vehicle for fostering both personal and communal growth.
“We’re a small, semi-isolated mining town that’s snowed-in for nearly seven months a year,” says EACS founder and President, Teri Cleverly. “People here are starving for arts and culture, which are essential to community health. Establishing a centralized hub where people can come to learn, beat cabin fever and cultivate their creativity? These things are crucial for sustaining a thriving, vibrant community – especially for our children, youth and seniors. We desperately need to improve our studio’s accessibility.”
How can you help? Write a letter declaring your support, or share a few lines about what arts and culture means to you, and email [email protected].
To learn more or to register for upcoming classes, visit here or call 250-433-7007.
Lead and above image: The Elkford Arts Council, a registered non-profit, is appealing to Elk Valley residents for support in their bid to secure a more suitable arts studio space for all community members. Photos submitted
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