Crossing Bridges
UPDATE: CROSSING BRIDGES IS CURRENTLY ON HIATUS FOR 2026. WE ARE REVIEWING THE PROGRAM AND LOOKING FOR CONSISTENT FUNDING FOR THIS VALUABLE PROGRAM
Crossing Bridges is our biggest impact on the community at large. Started in 2013, this outreach program provides professionally guided art-making workshops at social service agencies within the Kamloops area. Artistic facilitators work alongside staff of local social service agencies to deliver visual arts workshops in a variety of mediums. Including painting, drawing, collage, mirror-etching, woodworking, fibre art and even street art, to the people who use these social service agencies. The majority of our attendees are senior citizens, children/youth, immigrants, people with (in)visible disabilities, immigrants, and people struggling with addiction. Workshops vary widely in topic and can be adapted to cater to the unique needs, ages, skill levels, and situations of participants at each centre.
Through our compassionate and mindfully led programming, Crossing Bridges helps participants express realities, fears, hopes, and dreams. Providing them with the chance to connect with others and share their voices with the community. Bridging connections between clients and staff, artistic workshops provide an anchor which keeps patrons returning to local organizations where they are able to access continual support.
Crossing Bridges was conceived from the core principle and belief of the KAC body: Art Changes Lives. This notion, along with a strong desire to connect vulnerable populations to their unique inner landscapes and creative voices, led to the creation of adaptable and accessible programming which travels throughout all of the Kamloops area.
The KAC believes that a strong connection to the arts has been proven to help build life skills. Including self-esteem, self-expression, resiliency, improved mental and emotional health, increased connections, literacy, and for some may even present a means of independent income. We have seen first-hand evidence of this in the success of our program, as several of our program alumni have forged their own businesses using tools and knowledge gained within Crossing Bridges programming!
Read more about them here!
We recognize and celebrate all who have grown through their creative practices and pursuits. We look forward to continued connections made within our underrepresented and underserved communities.
Crossing Bridges is powerful not only for participants but for our staff and professional artisans as well. Our program employs local artists in a meaningful way, allowing them to share their significant skills while inspiring participants. The connections made between staff and clients of our workshops foster a sense of community, connection, and strengthen avenues of communication; as well as providing opportunities to practice self-advocacy through creative expression.
Crossing Bridges Values:
- We consider health and safety our highest priority in everything we do at the Kamloops Arts Council. This means doing everything we can to ensure the confidentiality and safety of our agencies, attendees, and instructors.
- Anyone who works in our Crossing Bridges program obtains a criminal record check, completes a thorough training process and goes through onboarding at the KAC and the agency they serve. Additionally, we do check-ins to make sure they are handling the work well and that the agencies are satisfied with the workshops.
- For our 2026 hiatus, is to review the practices within the program. Evaluating what needs to be refreshed, updated, or changed to continue running the program ethically, safely, and inclusively. With this in mind, we may be looking for committee members to help with this process in Spring 2026.
Current Crossing Bridges Host Locations are as follows:
- Day One Society
- STLR
- Kamloops Immigrants Services, and
- CMHA Clubhouse
Interested in hosting a Crossing Bridges workshop series? Learn more below about eligibility and how to apply!
