Wallace Stegner House celebrating 30th anniversary
2020 marks the 30th anniversary of the first residency in the Wallace Stegner House in Eastend, SK. Today, thirty years after Wallace Stegner House opened, over 270 writers and artists from the world over have found, and will continue to find, inspiration inside those fabled walls.
In 1987, the Eastend Arts Council, led by Canadian author, Sharon Butalla, purchased Wallace Stegner’s childhood home on Tamarack Street. This visionary group felt the importance of creating an artists’ retreat in the childhood home of a writer who would go on to build a legacy as an American writer, highlighted by his Pulitzer Prize, an historian, a professor and an acclaimed environmentalist. The Eastend Arts Council of the late 1980’s and early 90’s worked tirelessly to restore the house and to have the house achieve Heritage status. The house continues to be operated as an artists’ retreat and is one of only five community run residencies in Canada.
Since that time the present Eastend Arts Council has seen a need to plan for the future of the Wallace Stegner House. In the fall of 2019 a very intensive renewal project was initiated. Research consultants were hired and a committee made up of both Eastend Arts Council members and interested community members was established. The research has been hugely positive. The Eastend Arts Council is optimistic and excited about the future of the Wallace Stegner House and all that it can provide for the community of Eastend and for the artist community at home, in Canada and indeed, around the world.
The Wallace Stegner House is funded entirely through the efforts of the Eastend Arts Council. Every effort is made to keep the rent low for the artists who stay in the house. Since 2016 and changes made to the Canada Council, there is no funding for this kind of residency program. The annual Wallace Stegner Celebration is held to raise money to operate the house. As everyone is aware, owning a house is costly.
This year the Eastend Arts Council is proud to present Overtime Studios’ documentary debut of’ “Eastend and the Story of the T. Rex.” Director George Tsougrianis will be in attendance. Included in the evening is a heritage dessert buffet, featuring the recipes and stories behind the desserts, a silent auction and a 50/50 draw.
Please come out and support the Wallace Stegner House on March 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Kranky’s in Eastend, SK and online at www.eventbrite.ca search with Eastend as the location.
Contact 306-295-3670 or artscouncileastend@ gmail.com for more information.