ROB MURRAY: I’m speaking with Nicole from artsPlace. You’re starting up another series of programs in a very strange world. I imagine you’ve had to do even more pivoting?

NICOLE FOUGERE: Exactly. I think artsPlace has become a really nimble and agile organization in these ever changing times. We worked really hard to try to create courses that could transition online with a moment’s notice, and also transition back to in-person programming when AHS deems that to be safe. We also have a series of online courses this term, and what’s great about those are that we know 100% they’re going to run no matter what. They are run by some of our most skilled creative artists. We have a writing course by Stephen Legault and a JoyMaker’s creative art course by Bob Fyvie. All of them though are great ways to do something active and creative at home. When you’re on the Zoom call with all of those community members, from my perspective, I feel like we’re all together. I know it’s not the same as being in a room, but I definitely feel like I’ve had some community connections through that online learning class.

RM: What are some of the highlights of programs you wanted to share? Maybe things that still have availabilities?

NF: Lynn Martel is going to do a series of three one-off writing workshops, and Sam Welsh is also looking to do a series of three crafting workshops. You can just sign up for one, or you can sign up for all of them.

I wanted to talk about our Cultural Learning Circles. We’re going to run one a month, every month, through a series of community partnerships. We heard from Stoney Nakoda community members that they wanted to create these bridge building activities, helping our general Valley community understand how to better respect Stoney culture. I’m working with Travis Rider and Theresa Snow and other community members to help bring some online sessions to life with them. We’re also working with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley. They came to us and said, hey, we really want to shine a spotlight on different community groups within our Bow Valley. Normally we would get together and have a big feast, but we can’t do that right now. Can you help us do this online? We’re starting in March with a focus on Azerbaijani culture. We’re also working with Harmony@Work, which is an internationally renowned diversity, equity, and inclusion training provider.

Our ceramics programs are a real cornerstone of artsPlace, and we want to make sure that when we launch our ceramics programs we know we can stay open and see them through from beginning to end. The moment that we hear that the lockdown will end, we will post on our website and put on our social media more information about ceramics. We’re very much hoping that we can run a shorter series of multi-week courses in ceramics this term I’m definitely optimistic that will happen.

RM: Before we wrap things up, any final thoughts?

NF: I was just really thinking about what it’s been like this year at artsPlace and how much change we’ve faced together, hand in hand with this community. I wanted to put out a little message to the Bow Valley community and say – we at artsPlace, the staff and the artists, we’ve worked so hard to be with you in this time of change and to help connect community to creativity, but I want to say thank you to you too. You’ve really had our back. Thank you to everybody who’s made donations to artsPlace, big or small. Thank you to everyone who signed up for a membership. Thank you for everyone who’s left a sweet little note on our social media. We read those in our team meetings and they bolster our spirits. You can really see that artsPlace is a hub for this community, and we’re super dedicated to staying connected to you, come what may.

Filed under: artsPlace, Canmore