Artistic Exchanges
Artistic Exchanges are the KAC way of connecting local artists with our organization, each other, and new mediums, skills, and tools!
It is part of our mission to support artists and arts organizations within the region. Artistic Exchanges helps us do that by bringing people together to learn about art and each other. We support other organizations through collaboration, and sharing knowledge. We support artists by offering opportunities for them to learn and develop. Through Artistic Exchanges, we strengthen the art and soul of the community.
Having started in 2021 (as Business of Art), Artistic Exchanges is our newest KAC program. Throughout the year, we offer short-term workshops and classes for artists and community members on how to make art (painting, mixed media, drawing, etc.), how to present your art (framing, photographing, artist statements, etc.), and learning about art (local artist talks, art history, theory, etc.). Artistic Exchanges also involves collaboration with other organizations in the Thompson Nicola region (within the ne Secwepemculew), and sometimes within the province.
These workshops do have a cost associated with attending, which varies depending on the subject matter, length, materials, and instructor and membership status.
This program is still developing and we cannot wait to see how it evolves!
Most Artistic Exchanges are hosted within the KAC Old Courthouse building, though we benefit from the flexibility to host in various community organizations and buildings as needed, and appreciate opportunities to connect local creatives to organizations which can continue to support and uplift their artistic lives.
Past collaborations have been with groups such as:
- Indigenous Resurgence Project
- Kamloops Art Party
- Marta’s Tower
- Kamloops Film Society
- Kamloops Players Society
- Kamloops Music Collective
- Tyto Studio Photography
- City of Kamloops
- Ashcroft Hub
- Unity 253
- Arts BC
- BC Arts Council
- First People’s Cultural Council
- Kamloops Immigrant Services, and
- Actsafe BC
We provide instructors, and collaborate whenever possible with other organizations to bring in people for professional development training, or to create larger events to increase awareness of the arts in the region. If you are an artist or organization interested in supporting low-cost and community-strengthening exchanges, reach out to us today!!
Examples of Past Events:
- Artistic Exchanges Workshops (Mixed Media Magic with Alime Irmak, and Oil Painting with Zeinab Jalili, with support of City of Kamloops, currently running seasonally)
- Business of Art Online (summer 2021)
- The Natural Business of Art (art and the natural world around Kamloops, collaboration with TRU instructors, summer 2022)
- Kamloops Artists Gathering: Navigating the Digital Age (January 2023 with Indigenous Resurgence Project, Marta’s Tower, Arts BC, BC Arts Council, and First People’s Cultural Council)
- Artistic Exchanges (January 2024, the Old Courthouse, with Indigenous Resurgence Project, Marta’s Tower, Kamloops Art Party, Kamloops Film Society, Kamloops Music Collective, Kamloops Players Society, Tyto Studio Photography, and Unity 253)