Arts and culture folks are the 80s computer nerds of 2022.
In the 1980s, the kids who were into computers were usually considered the geeks of the school.
They got the room with poor ventilation, and they sat at often-refurbished castaway computers through lunch.
The jocks — especially the guys — were the heroes.
They got the mentions on the school announcements, the funding, the new gear.
Squamish is a bit like that.
Outdoor adventure rules. We are an extreme sports mecca.
To be clear, that is totally cool.
As any long-time local will tell you, there was a time, for example, when mountain biking kids from the district were treated like they were from the wrong side of the tracks.
And there is no better place to climb, so we should celebrate that.
Sports make us healthier and our lives better. Most of us are here for it — literally.
But to a large extent, we are ignoring the vital performing arts and cultural talent here.
The District has acknowledged the need for a dedicated space, but there doesn’t seem to be a concrete solution on the horizon.
District spokesperson Rachel Boguski wrote to The Squamish Chief that officials are considering arts and culture venues among the projects within the District’s Real Estate and Facilities Master Plan.
However, at least for the immediate future, there doesn’t appear to be anything authorities have planned for a dedicated arts space.
Boguski said the municipality has voiced the idea of providing support to this cause without building standalone facilities.
What this means is that at the moment, the District may do things like help arts groups get grants to support leasing from third-parties, the provision of spaces inside larger District facilities, or the creation of multi-user spaces.
But we aren’t going to be seeing a dedicated arts space built anytime soon.
A place like the Eagle Eye Theatre is great, but it is a very hot commodity that has to be booked a year in advance.
Luckily, local churches and hotels have been generous with their space for many organizations, but it is a precarious situation.
That’s too bad, because arts groups like Between Shifts Theatre has a literal stage and screen stars among its members — if you haven’t seen one of their plays, you are truly missing out — yet they have to go hat in hand to various local hotels and other venues begging for space to rehearse and build sets.
We need a comprehensive art and culture venue where folks like those behind Between Shifts, can store their stuff, rehearse and perform.
There is more happening in town these days for creative folks. Squamish Arts, formerly the Squamish Arts Council, hosts events like the upcoming Art Walk, and there is the upcoming DBIA mural tour. The Brackendale Art Gallery and Zephyr Cafe, too, host artist events.
But again, no dedicated central modern venue.
PJ Elliot of the Howe Sound Music Festival has also commented that there is a lack of dedicated space for performing arts youth despite our increasing population and talent pool.
At the same time, the festival has seen a 15% uptick in attendees over the last few years.
For decades, there has been talk of a dedicated arts and culture venue, but it just never seems to happen. But it must.
We know now that those computer kids back in the day were on to something, and if we don’t make a concerted effort to support our theatre, art and music kids, we are going to lose them to places where they feel more respected.
In the meantime, if anyone has a lead on a space for Between Shifts, reach out to them. They have some plays to rehearse for: [email protected].
