Falling for the Arts in Whistler
Fall is a great time to take in Whistler’s creative side
There’s ski and snowboard season in winter, mountain bike and golf season in summer, and now, Whistler hosts the arts in fall. Each year, as summer winds down and the first thoughts of autumn begin to surface, Whistler’s vibrant arts scene—which flourishes year-round—takes its spot on centre stage. Arts Whistler’s second annual Fall For Arts program kicks off August 31 with four days of live music and free public arts programming. The Labour Day long weekend will feature an all-ages party in the Maury Young Arts Centre, two free outdoor concerts at Olympic Plaza (Jann Arden and The Boom Booms), free entrance to the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre, and a Meet Your Artist program at the Audain Art Museum with Canadian artist Graham Gillmore. “Fall for Arts highlights all things arts, culture, and heritage throughout the Sea to Sky Corridor,” says Kim Maitland, Arts Whistler Marketing & Communications Manager. “We’re shining a light on the fact that there really is something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a long weekend packed with arts activities, or just a taster of the arts while strolling through the village.” The program itself spans four months, incorporating everything from art shows to live entertainment, plus renowned annual events like the Whistler Writers Festival, Whistler Film Festival and Cornucopia. It also highlights the hundreds of dropin art workshops available for all ages and ability levels, including half-day kids’ art camps and the weekly Drink & Draw pub series. Supporting the program is the brand-new Fall For Arts magazine, which can be accessed online or picked up at The Arts Centre in Whistler. The publication includes self-guided cultural walking tours, a listing of galleries and home-based studios, a workshop guide, and maps that highlight public art pieces and roadside heritage stops along the Sea to Sky highway. Also coming to Whistler this fall are BC Culture Days, with the official provincial launch taking place at the Audain Art Museum on September 29. Visitors can take part in live artist talks, visit the Emily Carr exhibit, and see the special exhibition entitled Stone & Sky, which boasts over one hundred pieces of art created by Canadian artists over the past 150 years. “The show is our contribution to Canada 150,” says Darrin Martens, the museum’s chief curator. “It’s a wonderful perspective on our alpine landscapes from coast to coast, through the eyes of celebrated Canadian artists.” For more information, visit whistler.com/arts.