In a chaotic world, art, like reading, can transport audiences to magical places.
Locally, Arts Revelstoke has made its mission to do just that by supporting and presenting diverse arts and cultural programming for the benefit of the community.
In operation for more than 60 years, Arts Revelstoke has welcomed Robyn Goldsmith as its new executive director.
A visual artist, Goldsmith arrived in Revelstoke nine years ago, intending to practise law.
鈥淟aw was not a good fit for me, but it did introduce me to non-profit governance,鈥� she says, noting that as an avid skier and mountain biker, Revelstoke fits perfectly.
Moving into the non-profit sector, Goldsmith worked with Revelstoke Cycling in mountain biking event management. She has been involved in developing sustainable tourism and 鈥減lace-making,鈥� focusing on bringing tourists to Revelstoke and better managing the tourism economy.
She sits on the board of the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre and maintains the city is home to many intensely creative people. As a watercolorist, she draws inspiration from the beauty of her surroundings, painting large landscapes.
鈥淎rts are so much a part of the cultural fabric of the community and important to community development,鈥� she says.
An ardent music fan, Goldsmith took on her new role with Arts Revelstoke at the beginning of November and is excited to begin her new career adventure.
鈥淭here has been some turnover here and what I am looking forward to doing is stabilizing the organization and continuing to deliver high-level performing arts,鈥� she says with enthusiasm. 鈥淭his is a great place to be.鈥�
Arts Revelstoke presents an annual Performance Series and Family Series of professional shows at the Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre alongside a multicultural movie series, Movies in the Mountains.
The Performance Series is a professionally curated lineup of theatre, musicals, discussions, classical, Indigenous and world music, comedy, family-friendly events, and films.
鈥淭hese exceptional experiences gracing our stage are a testament to the flourishing cultural tapestry of our community,鈥� reads the Arts Revelstoke website.
Next up in Arts Revelstoke鈥檚 diverse offerings is Corporeal Imago鈥檚 Throe on Saturday, Nov. 24, a performance combines aerial acrobatics and contemporary dance to explore interdependence after a future disaster. Six performers navigate a world of aerial ropes, embodying survival, resilience, and hope amidst chaos in a visually stunning performance.
鈥淲hile Throe depicts us at the mercy of our circumstances, it also highlights the resilience and hope in collectivity,鈥� notes the website.
Choreographers Gabrielle Martin and Jeremiah Hughes began collaborating while performing as principal characters with Cirque du Soleil鈥檚 Toruk 鈥� The First Flight. They co-founded Corporeal Imago in 2018 and began exploring the darker side of human experience.
Corporeal Imago鈥檚 award-winning work has been presented at Montr茅al Compl猫tement Cirque and La Chapelle Sc猫nes Contemporaines, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Vancouver鈥檚 Dancing on the Edge Festival and more.
Arts Revelstoke produces a number of festivals, including the award-winning REVY.Live Outside, which has been running for more than 30 years, and the ever-popular LUNA 鈥� Nocturnal Art & Wonder and LUNA Sound have been running every September since 2017.
Launched in 2019, Art Alleries, Revelstoke鈥檚 newest public art initiative, aims to transform the city鈥檚 downtown alleyways into outdoor art galleries. This legacy project initiated by LUNA organizers is in response to the fact that alleyways are frequently overlooked, avoided and almost never associated with art or tourism. Art Galleries revitalize dark and disused places into thriving public spaces for locals and visitors to walk through and enjoy.
REVY.Live Outside, another perennial favourite, features a summer full of live music through July and August, showcasing artists from B.C., across Canada and worldwide every evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Grizzly Plaza comes alive with dancing, patios, food trucks, popcorn and gelato, creating a uniquely laid back, friendly B.C. festival vibe.
In the summer of 2020, Arts Revelstoke responded to the COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings by creating an outdoor micro-series named Guerrilla Gigs, giving patrons the opportunity to hear great music in a safe environment.
To follow Arts Revelstoke and its rich cultural offerings, or to get ticket information, go online to !
