Basin communities will soon feature new murals and sculptures by local artists as part of Columbia Basin Trust’s Public Art Grant program.

Now in its second of three years, the program will provide $92,400 in support of five community projects that will begin this summer. The Trust is providing funding to help communities add public art to their main streets, plazas and other outdoor spaces.

“People in the Basin told us they wanted to see the history and culture of the region celebrated by vibrant arts, culture and heritage,” said Aimee Ambrosone, Executive Director of Delivery of Benefits for the Trust. “This program helps communities create or enhance spaces of public interest with the installation of outdoor public art like sculptures, murals and other types of art that are a draw for locals and visitors alike, while supporting and showcasing local artists.”

The City of Cranbrook will install a sculpture in Harmony Park opposite the Cranbrook History Centre along Highway 95/Van Horne Street, helping to rejuvenate a community green space with a new feature of interest when the project is completed in 2020.

“We thought that this was a fantastic way to create enhanced interest in this park,” said Ron Fraser, Director of Innovation and Collaboration for the City of Cranbrook. “It already has seating, grass, vegetation and night illumination. With the sculpture, it will have a new focus of interest and will become a destination for museum visitors, travellers and residents.”

In Meadow Creek, the Lardeau Valley Opportunity LINKS Society is partnering with a local artist group, the Koots Artist Collective – comprised of Yvonne Boyd, Christopher Peterson and Spring Shine from Argenta – to create an installation near one of the community’s many market gardens – Earth Temple Garden. Constructed from a frame of welded angle iron, covered in wire and then plastered with concrete, the finished piece is expected to weigh between 2000 and 4000 pounds. The monumental sculpture will create a new focal point for the community and visitors.

“We are very excited; this is quite an opportunity for the community of Meadow Creek,” said Nichol Ward, Administrator for the Society. “It’s a way to connect what we think are two very important parts of our community and area – our farmers and our artists. The local food economy here is burgeoning and we have a really strong artistic scene – these are attracting more visitors to our area and this new sculpture will create even more interest in our growing farmers’ market and the other parts of our community.”

Along with Cranbrook and Meadow Creek, Salmo, Rossland and Nelson will also be adding art installations that will expand the impact of arts and culture in public spaces.

The final intake of the Public Arts Grant program will take place in 2020. The grant funds up to 80 per cent of the cost of the artwork and installation, to a maximum of $30,000. Learn more and see past recipients at ourtrust.org/publicart.

Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, and how it helps deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Basin, visit ourtrust.org or call 1-800-505-8998.

Lead image: Harmony Park in Cranbrook near the Cranbrook History Centre will be the location of a new sculpture. Columbia Basin Trust photos

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