News & Events
BC Culture Days Ambassador Alumni
Latest News & Events:
April 8, 2024 - 2017 ambassador Jocelyn Petit was awarded “Traditional Album of the Year” at the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards!
Learn more here.
March 13, 2024 - 2022 ambassador Pedram Penhan and their ceramics and Cafe au Clay Vancouver are featured in a CBS News Sunday Morning profile on Marcia Gay Harden!
Spot Pedram at 7 minutes and 13 seconds in the video linked here.
March 7, 2024 - 2023 ambassador Lindsey Tyne Johnson has a solo show on display from April 3 to May 9 at the Sidney and Zack Gertrude Gallery located in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver.
In her exhibition, Hebrew Spelled Backwards, Lindsey Tyne Johnson examines the complexities of identifying as Jewish and the fear and uncertainty that often come with it. Learn more about the exhibit here.
January 26, 2024 - 2019 ambassador Molly Gray’s show “Avifauna” is on display at the Outlet Gallery in Port Coquitlam until April 23, 2024.
Avifauna is an ongoing exploration of birds that inhabit British Columbia, from the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Southern BC Coast. Learn more about the exhibit here.
January 26, 2024 - 2020 ambassador Damian John is a featured artist as part of LunarFest Vancouver’s The Latern City.
“grounded” is on view at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (North of the Vancouver Art Gallery) from February 9 to February 28. Read about the line up of artworks here.
November 7, 2023 - 2022 ambassador Zaynab Mohammed performed her show Are You Listening? at the Cold War Bunker at Nelson museum.
“‘I don’t take life for granted’: Nelson poet reflects on growing up in war.” Read this article to learn about Zaynab, her history, and her one-woman show..
July 19, 2023 - 2022 ambassador Zaynab Mohammed is an artist-in-residence at Nelson Museum and Archives.
New Echos in the Staircase is a mural residency project in the Ward Street Staircase at the Nelson Museum, in Nelson, British Columbia. It speaks to opening up of private spaces through the use of art. Watch this short documentary about Zaynab’s practice and new mural work.
June 22, 2023 - Congrats to our past ambassador Claudia Simon (aka Turbo bambi Design)! Learn more about her latest mural projects!
Bambi’s public art piece will add a splash of colour to Williamson Lake when it’s installed this summer. Read more.
Bambi also “teamed up with the students of Kamloops Francophone High School earlier this month to create Bonjour, a mural of vibrant colours featuring its titular word and Francophone-inspired imagery. The piece is painted on the wall of 260 Fourth Avenue in Kamloops, B.C.” Check it out.
January 25, 2023 - Valeria Ascolese is in a travelling production of The Troll Grandfather.
Valeria Ascolese is a cast member of The Troll Grandfather, produced by Axis Theatre. The show is travelling to Yellowknife, Coquitlam, and Quesnel throughout end of the January to early March.
November 25, 2022 - Tiffany Blaise at Kay Meek Arts Centre.
You can check out past ambassador Tiffany Blaise’s work at Kay Meek Arts Centre—the exhibition Deliverance: Reinterpreting Coastal Scenes is on view until December 11! Hosted by West Vancouver Arts Council.
November 23, 2022 - Lyn Verra-Lay Awarded the Cultural Ambassador Award by Surrey Board of Trade.
On Tuesday November 22, Lyn was awarded the Cultural Ambassaor Surrey Art & Business Award for her work with the Arts Council of Surrey. Read about here!
November 21, 2022 - An overview and update on the progress of Carter Kirilenko’s Salmon Parks Project.
Read the update: Protecting Salmon Watersheds through Nuu-chah-nulth Laws: An overview and update on the progress of the Salmon Parks Project.
November 16, 2022 - Kenthen Thomas of the Secwépemc Nation shares the story of how Coyote made a tree fall in love with him.
Read Kenthen’s article, “Coyote, Tk’emlúps and the Kukpi7 tree,” from The Wren here.
November 6, 2022 - Edward Fu-Chen Juan is the subject of In Reflection Across the Shore, showing August 5 to November 6 at the Museum of Vancouver.
The exhibit also features work by fellow Taiwanese artist Yu-Wen Wang. It was presented with the support of Ministry of Culture (Taiwan), Taiwan Academy of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Los Angeles, and Asian-Canadian Special Events Association. Read about Edward and the exhibit here. View images of the exhibit here.
2020 Ambassador Claudia Simon (aka Turbo Bambi) has an upcoming exhibition that will showcase her latest graphic and digital artworks! Opening July 7, 2022 and on view until July 29 at Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre. With support from a CKCA grant.
2021 Ambassador Jeni Chen is working on all sorts of new projects!
Jeni created a digital mural for Translink’s Captsan Station Public Art project. Learn more here.
She was also recently announced as an artist-in-residence for STEPS’ 2022 CreateSpace Public Art Residency. Read about it here.
Foggy Isle is a macabre-themed film festival based out of Victoria, British Columbia, with a mission to showcase short films that celebrate all that is weird, macabre, and darkly hilarious. In short, Foggy Isle is more about a mood than a genre.
Foggy Isle is open for submissions! Deadline to submit is July 1.
Submit your film through FilmFreeway.com/foggyislefilms or learn more at FoggyIsleFilms.com
Molly Gray’s work is featured in the two-person exhibit TERRITORY: Obtrustion at Hearth Gallery on Bowen Island.
2020 Ambassador Ed Fu-Chen Juan is one of Richmond’s current artists in residence as part of their Engaging Artists Community Program.
Learn more here about his projects here.
January 26, 2022 - Kidlit Author Interview with Jeni Chen
Read an interview with Jeni Chen on the release of her new children’s book, Emet’s Box.
January 20, 2022 - FOR THE LAND AND ITS MEMORIES
Utilizing indigenous plants of British Columbia for printmaking and papermaking, Edward Fu-Chen Juan’s work reflects a two-year exploration of the culture bridge between his Taiwanese indigenous identity and his Canadian immigrant experience.
View his upcoming exhibit FOR THE LAND AND ITS MEMORIES at PoMo Arts from February 24 - March 31, 2022. Learn more.
December 16, 2021 - Making a Mark With Art
Damian John is featured in the Winter 2021 Edition of Trio Magazine. He discusses his current exhibition Cover-Up at Artful: The Gallery in Courtenay.
Read the article here. Feature starts on page 10.
December 9, 2021 - Roxanne Charles Works with SFU Galleries to Install the Mural, Honouring Our Women
Roxanne Charles brings five local Indigenous Matriarchs — Ta’ah (Amy George), Sabina Dennis, Debra Sparrow, and T’uy’t’tanat (Cease Wyss) — together in conversation with her mural Honouring Our Women at 312 Main.
Learn more and watch a panel discussion about the mural here.
November 18, 2021 - Eastside Culture Crawl: Tiffany Blaise relies on light and imagination to create luminescent B.C. landscapes
Read the article here.
November 17, 2021 - New Permanent Artwork in Revelstoke by Claudia Simon (@turobambi)
During Culture Days 2021 and Luna Art Fest in Revelstoke, Claudia Simon unveiled her newest and first public art project. I Hugged a Bear in Revelstoke is a bright, colourful installation in the city’s downtown.
Read about the project, Claudia’s thoughts on public art, and her experience working with aluminium to create the installation here.
November 10, 2021 - ArtStarts Welcomes Alyssa Martens as Program Manager of Public Programs
Read about Alyssa’s new role here.
___ਸਾਡੀਆਂ ਯਾਦਾਂ: Our Memories co-created by Alyssa Martens
In summer 2021, Alyssa Martens and Sandeep Johal debuted ਸਾਡੀਆਂ ਯਾਦਾਂ: Our Memories, a ground mural reflecting the written and oral stories shared by ten storytellers as part of a creative writing and oral storytelling project at the Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre.
Read about the project here. View the project here.
November 10, 2021 - Damian John’s Current Exhibitions
Using the approachable medium of the comic book, TI’azt’en artist and BC Culture Days alum Damian John explores the pondersome, traumatic, and incredibly difficult stories of Indigenous peoples and the Indian Act for his exhibit, Indian Agency.
Visit Damian’s exhibit at the Langham Galleries in Kaslo, BC from Oct 16 - Dec 12, 2021. Learn more here.
In Cover Up, Damian re-imagines new stories to be told—each mystical, fantastical, imaginative, and deeply intriguing.
Visit Damian’s exhibit at Artful: The Gallery in Courtenay, BC from Oct 6 - Dec 24, 2021. Learn more here.
Read this article about the exhibit.
November 5, 2021 - ARTFASHION by Olivier Salvas
ARTFASHION is Olivier Salvas’ latest collaboration with Charlie’s Charmed Creations. ARTFASHION is a flamboyant collection of hand-painted recycled blazers made in support of homeless 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
Stay up to date with Olivier’s collaboration and current projects by visiting his website.
Sept 30, 2021 - Julian Legere selected as an artist in residence at Theatre NorthWest in Prince George
Read about Julian’s residency here. Visit Theatre NorthWest’s website here.
July, 2021 - Coral Santana hosts UBC Arts and Culture District’s Diversity Reads Podcast
Diversity Reads is a podcast book club that delves into rich narratives by BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, disabled, and neurodivergent authors.
Listen to the podcast here.
July, 2021 - Lynette La Fontaine featured in Royal BC Museum’s 2021 Indigenous Arts Studio
Métis, Two-Spirit, mixed-media artist Lynette La Fontaine discusses their journey as an artist and how to use traditional materials in this Living Cultures series by the museum.
Visit the webpage here to learn more.
June 17, 2021 - “Lady Dia selected as City of Kelowna’s artist in residence,” (Kelowna Capital News).
April 20, 2021 - “Jocelyn Pettit’s world-class fiddle lights up Festival du Bois,” (The Georgia Straight).