Arts and culture

Picture of the Vancouver art gallery from 2014. (Kay Yamagishi/Flickr)

Sustainability and world class art to meet in new Vancouver Art Gallery building

Federal government kicks in $29 million to help fund ‘passive house’ arts centre in downtown Vancouver

 

The iconic Ironman Canada event is coming back to Penticton on Aug. 28. (Western News file photo)

Penticton Ironman mural contest puts $4K on the line

The winning mural will be facing the starting point of the triathlon’s swim event

 

Harrison Firefighter Fred Webber smiles as he holds copies of the two Chicken Soup for the Soul books that contain his story. (Adam Louis/Observer)

Harrison firefighter publishes story in 2 ‘Chicken Soup’ books

Fred Webber fulfilled his firefighting dream in his mid 50s

 

Seniors’ Week 2022 will be celebrated at Penticton Art Council’s Leir House on June 11. (Photo courtesy of the Penticton Arts Council)

Celebrate Seniors’ Day at Penticton’s Leir House

Community invited for a day of arts and culture on June 11

Seniors’ Week 2022 will be celebrated at Penticton Art Council’s Leir House on June 11. (Photo courtesy of the Penticton Arts Council)
Dryden Bennett, recipient of Kelowna's Teen Honour in the Arts Award, is a featured composer in the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra's spring concert May 28 and 29, 2022. (Contributed)

Youth Symphony in tune for Okanagan spring concerts

Vernon, Penticton and Kelowna performances to showcase blooming talents

Dryden Bennett, recipient of Kelowna's Teen Honour in the Arts Award, is a featured composer in the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra's spring concert May 28 and 29, 2022. (Contributed)
Banksy, Grannies, 2006, silkscreen on paper, 18.5 x 26.5 in. Courtesy of Paul and Tracy Mitchell collection (Banksy/Kelowna Art Gallery)

Banksy and Warhol on display at Kelowna Art Gallery

The Pop Art exhibit will run from May 21 until Oct. 16

Banksy, Grannies, 2006, silkscreen on paper, 18.5 x 26.5 in. Courtesy of Paul and Tracy Mitchell collection (Banksy/Kelowna Art Gallery)
The 15th annual “Brilliant Moments” showcase begins on May 14 courtesy of the Penticton Arts Council and CanwaxWest. (Photo: Penticton Arts Council and CanwaxWest)

Penticton Arts Council will be home to ‘Brilliant Moments’ an encaustic exhibit

Award-winning Penticton resident Carol Munro will be the event’s featured artist

The 15th annual “Brilliant Moments” showcase begins on May 14 courtesy of the Penticton Arts Council and CanwaxWest. (Photo: Penticton Arts Council and CanwaxWest)
The Summerland Community Arts Council is holding its Strong Arts Strong Communities Annual Giving Campain in May. From left are Susan Gibbs, Danny Evanishen, Sonja Waller, Jean Evanishen, Betty Ann Xenis and Susan McIver. (Contributed)

Summerland Community Arts Council holds fundraising campaign

Funding will go to existing and new arts programs and initiatives

The Summerland Community Arts Council is holding its Strong Arts Strong Communities Annual Giving Campain in May. From left are Susan Gibbs, Danny Evanishen, Sonja Waller, Jean Evanishen, Betty Ann Xenis and Susan McIver. (Contributed)
Simon Orlando is working to ensure women and marginalized people are equally represented in ballet (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Ballet Kelowna leaps towards gender equality

Women are under-represented as ballet choreographers in Canada

Simon Orlando is working to ensure women and marginalized people are equally represented in ballet (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
Revenues through public swims are up 71 per cent since the first quarterly update in 2021, with a total of $137,971 brought in as a result of the service. (City of Penticton)

‘Near pre-pandemic service levels’ for Penticton’s recreation and culture programs

Majority of financial targets for start of 2022 are on track despite staffing shortages, city says

Revenues through public swims are up 71 per cent since the first quarterly update in 2021, with a total of $137,971 brought in as a result of the service. (City of Penticton)
Artists in action were part of the Lake-to-Lake Art Walk Saturday, April 2. The inaugural edition of the Ignite the Arts Festival pulled in over $60,000 for the Penticton economy. The nine-day celebration of arts and culture ended on April 3. (Picture This Custom Framing photo)

Penticton’s Ignite the Arts Festival a ‘tremendous’ success for community and economy

Over 500 artists from across the province participated in the nine-day festival

Artists in action were part of the Lake-to-Lake Art Walk Saturday, April 2. The inaugural edition of the Ignite the Arts Festival pulled in over $60,000 for the Penticton economy. The nine-day celebration of arts and culture ended on April 3. (Picture This Custom Framing photo)
Renowned Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood speaks after Canada Post unveiling of a special stamp in her honour in Toronto on Nov. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)

QUIZ: How much do you know about poems and poetry?

April is National Poetry Month in Canada

Renowned Canadian writer, Margaret Atwood speaks after Canada Post unveiling of a special stamp in her honour in Toronto on Nov. 25, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette)
Ignite the Arts Festival’s Sculpture Contest brought the most out of the community members on Saturday, April 2, at Okanagan Lake Park. A group of judges named co-winners at 4 p.m. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)

PHOTOS: Creativity shines at Ignite the Arts’ Sculpture Contest in Penticton

Judges awarded the contest’s co-winners $100 at Okanagan Lake Park

Ignite the Arts Festival’s Sculpture Contest brought the most out of the community members on Saturday, April 2, at Okanagan Lake Park. A group of judges named co-winners at 4 p.m. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)
Penticton’s 2022 Ignite the Arts Festival will run from March 25 to April 3, beginning at Cannery Brewery with a mural unveiling. (Cannery Brewery)

Inaugural edition of Ignite the Arts Festival lights up Penticton

Over 1000 people are expected to be involved until the festival’s closing on April 3

Penticton’s 2022 Ignite the Arts Festival will run from March 25 to April 3, beginning at Cannery Brewery with a mural unveiling. (Cannery Brewery)
The Penticton Art Gallery, led by curator Paul Crawford (middle), is gearing up for the inaugural edition of the Ignite the Arts Festival, set to begin on March 25. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)

‘Opportunity to rebuild the community’: Ignite the Arts Festival ready bring Penticton together

The inaugural edition of the festival will take place from March 25 to April 3

The Penticton Art Gallery, led by curator Paul Crawford (middle), is gearing up for the inaugural edition of the Ignite the Arts Festival, set to begin on March 25. (Logan Lockhart, Western News)
Penticton Art Gallery curator and director Paul Crawford pictured during the 42nd annual live auction. The gallery is currently preparing for the inaugural Ignite the Arts Festival, which has prompted the need for more volunteers. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Penticton Art Gallery on the hunt for volunteers for Ignite the Arts Festival

The inaugural festival begins on March 25 and goes until April 3

Penticton Art Gallery curator and director Paul Crawford pictured during the 42nd annual live auction. The gallery is currently preparing for the inaugural Ignite the Arts Festival, which has prompted the need for more volunteers. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Community members will have an opportunity to compete in a sculpture contest on April 2 in Penticton, courtesy of the city’s art gallery and the inaugural Ignite the Arts Festival. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

‘Sculpture Day’ contest at Okanagan Lake Park coming to Penticton this spring

The event will take place during the inaugural Ignite the Arts festival on April 2

Community members will have an opportunity to compete in a sculpture contest on April 2 in Penticton, courtesy of the city’s art gallery and the inaugural Ignite the Arts Festival. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
FILE - A man, wearing a protective face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, is tattooed at Paul and Friends tattoo parlour in downtown Brussels, March 26, 2021. The European Union is imposing restrictions on the inks that tattoo artists can use as of Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. The EU says it is a necessary move to protect the health of consumers because thousands of chemical elements now in use can cause anything from allergic reactions to cancer. The tattoo industry complains it is unfairly targeted and is losing an essence part of its art. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Tattoo artist anger over new European rules goes beyond skin deep

Commission says alternatives to the banned products do exist

FILE - A man, wearing a protective face mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus, is tattooed at Paul and Friends tattoo parlour in downtown Brussels, March 26, 2021. The European Union is imposing restrictions on the inks that tattoo artists can use as of Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. The EU says it is a necessary move to protect the health of consumers because thousands of chemical elements now in use can cause anything from allergic reactions to cancer. The tattoo industry complains it is unfairly targeted and is losing an essence part of its art. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)
Penticton's Art Council is set to close its second annual winter auction on Friday (Dec. 17) after raising over $2,000 in support of local art. (Photo courtesy of the Penticton District and Community Arts Council)

Penticton’s art council prepares over 750 gift packages for children and seniors

The council’s second annual Winter Auction is set to close at 5 p.m. on Dec. 17

Penticton's Art Council is set to close its second annual winter auction on Friday (Dec. 17) after raising over $2,000 in support of local art. (Photo courtesy of the Penticton District and Community Arts Council)
The Penticton Art Gallery's 44th annual auction wraps up on Dec. 5. (Monique Tamminga, Western News)

Penticton Art Gallery to send off 2021 with three-day weekend extraordinaire

The weekend kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday with all of the works on display

The Penticton Art Gallery's 44th annual auction wraps up on Dec. 5. (Monique Tamminga, Western News)