CANMORE – Looking to keep the arts alive during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, artsPlace is now offering online programming and events to the community.
“At key moments in history, artists have played a vital role for social innovation and social care,” artsPlace program manager Nicole Fougère said, explaining that these beliefs are held deeply by artsPlace members.
“ArtsPlace is the place where community meets creativity.”
Like many other charities in Canmore and the country, artsPlace has been financially hurt by the pandemic, but Fougère said the organization is resilient and remains committed to connecting to the community using free online content.
The rapid transition to online offerings was made possible by the great team of staff, artists and board members who rallied to ensure the arts were available to the Bow Valley.
“To me, it makes perfect sense that the creative community is stepping forward to provide the gifts that they have as an offering to lift everybody up,” Fougère said.
“Everybody’s gifts are needed. We need the gifts of our medical personal, we need the gifts of our supply chain and we also need our artists' gifts to keep us well and vital."
On March 14, artsPlace made the difficult decision to close the doors of the building to keep the community safe, but the organization was immediately inspired to go online.
While this transition to online content was happening at artsPlace the Bow Valley artist community had already begun to generate content sharing ideas for art and music, Fougère said.
By last Monday (March 16), the organization was able to successfully transition three courses to an online format and live stream a concert to Facebook and YouTube.
The projects that are being innovated now will serve a critical role through the difficult experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fougère said, while serving as a template for many other communities.
Fougère said she has been amazed at the overwhelming and wonderful response of the community's embrace of online content.
“The community is so keen to participate in uplifting each other through creativity,” Fougère said. “It’s a movement.”
Artists can share their songs, stories, poems and other creative projects, or can teach skills people can try out at home, she said. Fougère added everyone has something they can contribute to this movement.
The main goals of the online content will be connecting the community to creativity while at the same time helping artsPlace maintain its position as a “community activator” and hub for creative resources.
ArtsPlace instructor Sam Welsh was set to teach Craft Club for Adults, Mixed Media Art Club for children in Banff and other programs before all were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Welsh said she jumped at the chance to create videos online and help people learn fun and creative ways to express themselves while they are at home in isolation.
“We wanted to get the videos out to people as soon as possible because we know people have a lot of free time on their hands and are looking to be creative,” Welsh said.
“It has been really bare-bones, but we wanted to be really quick about it. We tried to do our best in a short amount of time.”
The transition to online content has been smooth so far, she said, adding that all her videos have been done in one-take with an iPhone.
The most challenging part of the change has been working in isolation, Welsh said, explaining that one of her favourite parts of teaching is connecting with community members in person.
“It’s been a strange transition just to talk to a phone instead of talking to real people,” Welsh said.
“I’ve been trying to imagine that my little students are still there and that my adult cohorts are still there, so it feels a little more personal.”
The arts are an essential service in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic she said, because they help bring people together while fostering the act of creativity.
Welsh said she hopes the artsPlace videos are bringing people together, while socially distancing, so they can still bond and de-stress with a fun activity.
“I really hope that people are excited as we are to be able to share our wonderful creativity in these chaotic times,” Welsh said.
To participate in sharing your creative videos of projects or teaching skills visit the artsPlaceCanmore.com, send an email to artsPlace or tag the organization on social media. To access the collection of resources available visit the artsPlace website tune in on Facebook.
