2005
ArtStarts in Schools was pleased to present artist Richard Tetrault, The Arts in Education Council, and arts educator Helene McGall with the Arts Champion
Awards for outstanding commitment to arts in education in BC's
schools and communities.
(Photo L to R Front: Richard Tertault, Pat Hindmarch Watson, Morag Cuthbertson, Betsy Lane and Ron Rumak. Back row: Joanne Cram, Jeremy Long, Associate director, BC Arts Council; Wendy Newman, executive director, ArtStarts in Schools; Geoff Burns, board president, ArtStarts in Schools board president, and Helene McGall.)
Assembly of BC Arts Council director Heidy Kux Kardos presented Community Arts Champion award to (L to R) Fort St. John Community Arts Council president, Lisa Bush, with Community Arts Council directors Sonja Butts and Sue Popesku. Awards also went to the Indigenous Art Service Organizationand artist Richard Reid.
Helene
McGall has been a teacher and administrator in school districts
throughout the province, including Campbell River, Central Okanagan,
Nelson, Comox Valley, Portage Mountain, Grand Forks and Vancouver.
Currently, Helene is District Vice Principal for Fine Arts and
Aboriginal Education in the Comox Valley and her leadership is known
throughout BC. Those of you who know Helene, know that there are few
who can speak with such a wonderful blend of passion and humour –
and she has used that dynamism to be a very vocal advocate for the
many ways in which cultural traditions and the arts can transform
school culture. This year, after a stellar 34-year career in
education Helene will be retiring, but her legacy will be the
tremendous support she has put in place to ensure that students’
continue to have opportunities for a deep engagement with arts and
culture – such as a district-wide Choir and Band Festival; three
arts festivals a year that bring students together to share
experiences and celebrate their artmaking and an inspired initiative
to increase boys involvement in choirs that brought the Vancouver
Welshman’s choir and a boys choir from the US to the district to
mentor and perform with boys from all across District 71. Always
active in the arts community, Helene was a founding board member of
ArtStarts in Schools and served on our board for a full 7-year term.
She has been very involved in the Artists in Education Council of
BC, the BC Art Teacher’s Association and the BC Music Teacher’s
Association.
Richard
Tetrault is one of Vancouver’s shining stars. He is a painter and a
community art advocate whose murals are often described as “epic”.
Richard has been commissioned by the City of Vancouver to do a
number of community murals in the Downtown East Side, his paintings
have been exhibited in Mexico, the US, Holland and Thailand. Richard
has been a pioneer in Vancouver in the field of community art and
especially community art practice in school settings. He has
participated in numerous residencies and workshops with ArtStarts
since its inception. His work in the schools inspires students and
gives credence to the practice of artists working with students on
community art projects. His commitment to championing young people’s
involvement in the arts, specifically as a social forum, is
evidenced also through his participation in the International “Kids
Guernica” peace project, and Vancouver Youth Forum for Peace. Anvil
Press has recently published a book of his art along with artist
notes and commentary on his practice by members of Vancouver’s arts
and social justice community. (And it will be available for purchase
outside during the lunch break). Dedicated to murals as public
projects reflecting and engaging the spirit, strength and concerns
of a community, his collaborative murals grace the walls of schools,
community centres, theatres and libraries across BC.
The Arts in Education Council of BC
Betsy
Lane accepted the award on behalf of the Arts in Education Council
of BC, which includes from L to R: Joanne Cram, Ron Rumak, Betsy
Lane, Pat Hindmarch Watson, Morag Cuthbertson. The Arts in Education
Council of BC has been a loyal and vocal champion of the arts in
education since its inception in 1981. Twenty some years later, we
all recognize their signature blue newsletter as a source of
inspiration and insight into t\he challenges educators face. By
speaking to teachers, community arts councils, trustees,
administrators, school boards and artist, the Council has been able
to raise important questions and discussions in the arts in
education community and as such have had significant impact on the
education system and the students of BC.
Their founder, Margaret Andrew set the tone when she said, “the visual and performing arts must become an integral part of the general education of all students” and their incredible volunteer board and contributors have continued to beat the drum and wave the flag for almost 25 years, advocating for this central and essential position of the fine arts in the lives of BC’s young people.
Indigenous Art Service Organization
IASO was founded in 1995 to support and serve indigenous artists in
all artistic disciplines in the Province of BC. It is their mandate
to "promote and increase exposure of Indigenous artists' work on a
provincial, national and international level, by empowering them
with information and access to existing services and resources
within the provincial arts community".
IASO is governed by a Volunteer Board of Directors, and staffed by Program Director, Tracey Jack and Administrative Assistant, Kym Gouchie out of Penticton, BC. Their annual Arts Festivals like 2004's "Touch the Earth” held in the North, Central and Coastal regions of BC have proven to enhance and develop relationships between disparate communities. In many instances, the festival atmosphere contributed to the formation of a number of new "community bridging" projects. It has strengthened the First Nations arts communities in many towns and regions as a result of their use of Indigenous mentors as teachers, and their commitment to showcasing local talent at each venue. It has opened doors of communication between First Nations and Non-Native communities, where little has existed before.
Overall, IASO, and its arts festivals program have proven to be effective way for Indigenous artists, particularly youth, to get the professional development they need within reach of their own communities. They have been inspiring to a great many individuals, and have shown by example that arts are a viable option for either a career or simply a personal way of expressing ones own culture.
Ft. St. John Community Arts Council
The Ft. St. John Community Arts Council has been in existence since 1931, bringing arts and culture to the residents of Fort St. John and its surrounding area. The Arts Council strives to form long lasting relationships and continues to collaborate with the municipal government in delivering arts programs that enhance the standard of living and lifestyle of local residents. Funding for the Ft. St. John Arts Council is a line item in their city’s budget and they receive substantial financial support which enabled them to hire permanent staff. Their President, Lisa Bush, was recently elected to represent the Peace Liard Region on the Assembly’s Board. The Council has been very successful in getting their name and activities “out there.” Everywhere you go in Ft. St. John, the great work of Arts Council is apparent.
- High on Ice Winter Carnival” – BC Ice Carving Championship and Snow Sculpting Workshop
- Flower Pot Project – fund-raiser working with the city’s beautification program
- Arts Promotion and Awareness Program through local broadcast and print media
- BC Arts & Culture Week
- Art in the Park – July 1, part of the Canada Day Celebrations
- Awards and scholarships for of high school graduates and college students continuing in an art discipline
- Support to the Peace River North Performing Arts Festival and Peace River Zone Theater Festival
- Creation of murals on the local water tower turning it into a landmark of Fort St. John.
Richard Reid
Richard Reid is a painter, teacher, curator and mentor now living in
Christina Lake. Originally from Saskatchewan, he spent much of his
early career studying and painting in Mexico and Europe. Throughout
the 1970's Richard taught in the Department of Fine Arts at the
University of BC and was an instructor for the Emily Carr College of
Arts and Design Outreach program. In the early 1980’s he and his
wife moved to the Grand Forks area where he became very involved
with the arts community. He became an active supporter of the Grand
Forks (now Boundary District) Community Arts Council, devoting much
time, effort and expertise to the organizations and the community.
During this time, a local government building became available for community use. Richard was at the forefront of successful efforts to have the building made into an art gallery and became its founding curator, a position he held until his retirement in 2003. Under Richard’s direction, the gallery became known for its new and interesting ideas, programming and exhibits, and for playing a major role in raising the profile the arts and artists in the Grand Forks area.
For the thought, intelligence and dedication he has shown over the past 30+ years, and his commitment to the important role of the arts in building community we thank and congratulate Richard Reid.
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