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Arts council rebounding after difficult year
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On April 27, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councilors Kevin Dunnebacke, Diana Fox, Woody Maguire and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick. Coun. Sue Cairns attended by video link from Glasgow, Scotland. Coun. Jason McBain was absent.
An archive of the meeting can be viewed on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.
Kimberley Arts Council – Centre 64
Ed Alm, President of the Kimberley Arts Council, presented to council a review of the past year’s activities.
Alm pointed out that the Arts Council faced a tough year in 2025 after not renewing the former manager’s contract, losing several board members as a result and eventually weathering a lawsuit that was dismissed by the court.
Citing affordability as a challenge, Alm said, “There are more people chasing a diminishing pot of funds.”
In 2025, the Arts Council lost $37,000, which was lower than the $70,000 loss the year before. He said that expenses for last year were reduced by $75,000, most of which was salary and administrative costs.
Noting that “revenue decline[d]” due to fewer grants, Alm said, the board is “working hard to make Centre 64 survive.” To make that happen, the Arts Council is attempting to create a non-grant revenue stream “through workshops, fees for classes.”
To achieve that goal, the board renovated two rooms in the centre to facilitate classes and workshops, one of which included “a class to teach people how to tie flies for fishing. A cool thing,” Alm said.
Alm noted that the Arts Council has two staff, six board Directors and 15 to 35 volunteers who bring a wide range of programming to Centre 64.
Live at Centre 64 brought in six musical acts that sold “over 400 tickets.” The next live music happens May 25 with the Red Dirt Skinners.
The Flix movie program continues. This past year, they “sold so much popcorn we had to get another machine to make popcorn. That’s what I call success,” said Alm.
The gallery hosted 75 local artists who showcased their creative endeavours.
New this past year was the presentation of theatre at Centre 64. The show Puss ’n Boots was a great success. The next show is Cromoli Brothers comedy on May 1, then Mousetrap scheduled for 22, 23, 29 and 30 May.
On June 5, Centre 64 will open the outdoor stage with a ribbon cutting, cake and the Selkirk Secondary School Jazz choir.
In wrapping the presentation, Alm said, “Centre 64 is the soul of Kimberley.” He said the AGM is set for May 11 and urged people to come out and participate.
In a passionate support for the arts and Centre 64, Coun. Roberts said, “Under no conditions should we let it go. We really need to support this. I will help you fight for that any way I can.”
BC Winter Games Legacy Grants
The Kimberley and District Community Foundation (KDCF) retains the surplus funds from previous Winter Games events. The interest on these funds is distributed to local amateur sporting groups.
This year $8,200 was available. The City’s Grants Evaluation Committee assessed all applications and distributed funds to six groups. The total requested funds came in at $11,513.
Those receiving grants are:
Kimberley Seahorse Swim Club – $2,500;
Skimo Canada – $500;
Kimberley Minor Baseball – $900;
Kimberley Nordic Club – $2,000;
Kimberley Alpine Team – $1,500;
Freewheelers – $800.
Resident Directed (ReDi) Grant
Funds for the ReDi Grant program are supplied by Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) and managed by RDEK (Regional District of East Kootenay).
According to the city, these grants support local projects that benefit the broader community and public good.
This year’s allocation for the city was $100,887.47. There were 66 applications from 55 local groups who requested a total of $317,221.08.
The top six grant recipients are:
Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce – $6,000;
Kimberley Edible Garden & Greenhouse Society – $5,000;
LEES Spark Society for Youth – $5,000;
Sullivan Mine & Railway Historical Society – $5,000;
Wildsight Kimberley/Cranbrook – $4,387;
Kimberley Wellness Foundation – $4,000.
Council unanimously supported the Local Selection Committee decisions. The full list of recipients is available on the city’s website.
This grant list will be submitted to the RDEK where the board has final approval of the allocations and will distribute funds to the groups.
Mayor McCormick noted that applications were “double” what the city received a few years ago, and the dollars requested “are going higher.”
Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m.
The next regular Council meeting: May 11.
e-KNOW file photo
e-KNOW
