Emerging Artists Invited to Apply to the BC Culture Days Ambassador Program
By Contributor
BC Culture Days is calling for emerging artists residing in B.C. to apply to their annual Ambassador Program.
With the program’s regional focus, artists from remote or rural communities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Program participants will act as spokespeople for Culture Days and will receive $2,000 to plan and host a community-engaged Culture Days event, which will take place between September 20 to October 13, 2024.
They will also receive $1,000 to pursue an in-person or online mentorship, starting in May, for three months with an established artist of their choice. Applications are due by March 4, 2024, and artists from all disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
This year, five artists will be selected to act as arts and culture ambassadors, representing their local regions leading up to and during the annual Culture Days celebration. Culture Days is an annual celebration of creativity that catalyzes local participation in arts and culture through the promotion of free or Pay-What-You-May community events across the country.
In September and October, the 2024 ambassador event series will offer free community events across the province that bolster intercultural celebration, encouraging the public to find common threads among diverse cultures and practices.
Emerging artists who apply to the Ambassador Program are asked to submit an event proposal, describing how their creative activities will honour and amplify cross cultural understanding, collaboration, and exchange.
Since its beginnings, the Ambassador Program offered by BC Culture Days has provided more than 70 artists in B.C. with hands-on experience to expand their creative careers, arts facilitation skills, professional network, and impact in their communities.
Through the mentorship, selected artists and their mentors are encouraged to focus on tasks such as enriching artist craft, reaching professional goals, and facilitating community engagement.
“Engaging with the diverse ambassadors in the program and delving into their projects was genuinely enriching. My mentor Miriam Libicki was a treasure, introducing me to a world of remarkable comics and books; I foresee a lasting friendship with her,” says last year’s ambassador in Kamloops Lindsey Tyne Johnson.
“The experience challenged me to broaden my artistic perspectives and explore various mediums. Engaging in conversations with event participants and absorbing their feedback was equally rewarding,” says Johnson.
Visit BC Culture Days’ website to read the call for emerging artists and to submit an application.
Visit here for a summary of the call in American Sign Language.
Interested applicants are invited to an information session led by BC Culture Days staff on February 20 at 10:00am PST. ASL interpretation will be available. Register here.
For more information on how to take part in BC Culture Days or to sign up for the BC Culture Days newsletter, visit culturedays.ca/en/bc. Follow BC Culture Days on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Use Hashtag: #BCCultureDays.
