News & Resources
The latest Thompson Okanagan tourism industry news from TOTA, tourism businesses, and communities.
IArT Kicks Off Meet Me On Bernard in Downtown Kelowna
The IArT Mobile Gallery has relocated to Meet Me On Bernard, an open street animation initiative on Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna, meant to encourage active modes of transportation. From July 1 to September 6, 2021, the street will be transformed to provide new opportunities for performances, public art, demonstrations, and programs, including the IArT Mobile Gallery.
The outdoor stage was utilized by the City of Kelowna, Downtown Kelowna Association, and Tourism Kelowna to kick off Meet Me On Bernard for the summer.
Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran sharing opening remarks for Meet Me On Bernard from the IArT stage, July 2021.
The Indigenous Artisan Trails (IArT) Mobile Gallery has relocated to Meet Me On Bernard, an open street animation initiative on Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna, meant to encourage active modes of transportation. From July 1 to September 6, 2021, the street will be transformed to provide new opportunities for performances, public art, demonstrations, and programs, including the IArT Mobile Gallery.
IArT’s outdoor stage was utilized by the City of Kelowna, Downtown Kelowna Association, and Tourism Kelowna to kick off Meet Me On Bernard for the summer.
Kelowna is situated on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territory of the Syilx First Nations people. IArT highlights Indigenous art and culture, particularly from Indigenous artisan crafters and performers of the Thompson Okanagan region.
Featured Exhibition: Being Out On the Land: Feeds, Streams, and Captures
From July 6 to August 18, IArT is housing a digital Indigenous art exhibition curated by UBC Okanagan Assistant Professor Tania Willard as part of the Indigenous Art Intensive, in partnership with the Rotary Centre of the Arts. The exhibition, Being Out On the Land: Feeds, Streams, and Captures is a series of video works by artists Maureen Gruben (Inuvialuk), Krista Belle Stewart (Syilx), and Christine Howard Sandoval (Obispeño Chumash and Hispanic), following as the artists trace out pathways, trails, and positions of engaging with the indigeneity of land.
The outdoor stage will be used for Indigenous cultural performances. The schedule will be announced shortly.
Experience IArT
From July 6 to August 18, IArT will be located on Bernard Ave near Ellis St, with the exhibition open for viewing Wednesday to Friday, 12 PM to 7 PM and Saturday to Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM.
IArT will travel to Riverside Park in Kamloops on August 21.
For performance and location schedules, visit ThompsonOkanagan.com/iart
Several TOTA team members worked together to move the trailer from the Rotary Centre of the Arts to Meet Me On Bernard, including the wheelchair accessible ramp:
The Opening of the IArT Mobile Gallery
Opening on May 21st, the IArt Trailer was created was created as an authentic art experience to bring Indigenous art from artists across Canada to the forefront of the Thompson Okanagan tourism experience..
TOTA, along with the Rotary Centre for the Arts and the UBCO’s Summer Indigenous Art Intensive program, are pleased to announce the opening of the IArT Mobile Gallery. The digital art exhibit, curated by Tania Willard of UBCO, was created as an authentic art experience to bring Indigenous art from artists across Canada to the forefront of the Thompson Okanagan tourism experience.
This experience will be held safely inside the IArT trailer, where you will find the work of the notable artists, Maureen Gruben, Christine, Howard Sandoval, and Krista Belle Stewart being screened. There is also an outdoor stage attached to the trailer which will be used for small-scale performances.
The details of the outside of the trailer are based on the Osoyoos Cultural Centre which was created using the technique of rammed earth. This process entails the layering of cement combined with local soils and minerals to create the beautiful colour variation.
IArT will be opening May 21st and is located in front of the Rotary Centre for the Arts building in Downtown Kelowna. As it is a travelling trailer, it will be moving to Bernard Avenue in July and finally arrive at the Kelowna Visitors Centre in the fall where it will reside permanently for now.
This project would not have been possible without our dedicated partners, the Rotary Centre for the Arts, the City Of Kelowna, Indigenous Tourism British Columbia, and Tania Willard from UBC. For locals, tourists, or art collectors, this is a unique opportunity to admire some beautifully handmade Indigenous artwork in celebration of the traditions and land of the Indigenous people of Canada.
For more information about the iArT trailer please contact TOTA’s Indigenous Tourism Specialist at Indigenous@totabc.com.
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Launches Mobile Indigenous Artist Studio
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
November 13, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kelowna—The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) has partnered with First Nations communities in the Interior to create a mobile space where artists’ works can be displayed and sold.
“We are honoured to be a part of an initiative that showcases to the world the designs and culture of the Indigenous people of the Thompson Okanagan region,” says TOTA President and CEO Glenn Mandziuk. “The goal of IArT is to promote awareness to cultural appropriation, encouraging guests and consumers to purchase only authentic art, through the recruitment of artisans whose work reflects the history and culture of the Thompson Okanagan Three Nations, and we are proud to provide a venue for these art pieces.”
The trailer is sponsored by TOTA and Indigenous Tourism British Columbia (ITBC) and was funded in part by the Western Economic Development Fund, the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust and the Rural Dividend Fund, will travel to areas within the Thompson Okanagan starting in March 2020. Currently, there are almost a dozen artists involved in the project, with many more slated to come on line.
“The IArT trailer is a great opportunity for many artists, to express themselves, assist in the preservation of our beautiful art and tools, and share our stories and culture,” says trailer manager Amanda Adams. “This opportunity brings together three Nations—Secwepemc, Nlaka’pamux and Syilx/Okanagan—and shows their support, dedication and commitment to keeping their history, culture and ways of life alive and prosperous.
“Possibilities are endless when you learn, work, and grow together.”
“Our government values the significant contributions of Indigenous artists to B.C.’s identity and creative economy, and I am so excited that through the IArT Trailer’s unique vision, people all across the Thompson Okanagan will be able to experience the power of Indigenous art,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture Lisa Beare.
“The trailer is contributing to an authentic cultural experience that can only be found in this part of the province and ensuring more Indigenous cultures are represented in B.C.’s art
community.”
“The trailer is meant to grow the number of cultural and experiential travellers contributing to the year-round economic growth of First Nation communities throughout the Thompson Okanagan,” said Mandziuk.
“It is time to tell their authentic story of resilience and renewal through their art.”
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Media Contacts:
Glenn Mandziuk
President and CEO
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
ceo@totabc.com
Ellen-Walker Matthews
Vice-President Destination Development
Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association
industry@totabc.com
(236) 361-4433
Backgrounder
About the IArT Trailer:
The Indigenous Artisans Trail (IArT) trailer has been developed with the support of the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA), the Indigenous Tourism of British Columbia (ITBC) and funding provided by the Western Economic Development Fund, the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust and the Rural Dividend Fund.
The trailer is meant to grow the number of cultural and experiential travellers contributing to the year-round economic growth of First Nation communities throughout the Thompson Okanagan. It is time to tell their authentic story of resilience and renewal through their art.
IArT is the combination of a cooperative and sustainable retail approach that enhances the visitor experience while telling the unique story of the Interior-Salish indigenous people. A coordinated and interactive retail network, connecting artists to the public, has not yet been established in the Thompson Okanagan region of British Columbia.
Until now.
The goal of IArT is to promote awareness to cultural appropriation, encouraging guests and consumers to purchase only authentic art, through the recruitment of artisans whose work reflects the history and culture of the Thompson Okanagan Three Nations: Nlaka’pamux, Syilx, and Secwépemc.
Why mobile?
Mobile models allow merchants the opportunity to bring product to market in a responsive and contemporary format. The model mitigates the burden of seasonal shopping trends (fluctuations) through the flexibility of its structure. The mobile shopping experience accommodates unique inventory that is not easily replicated, is authentic, and/or one-of-a-kind.
The IArT trailer will travel to festivals and events throughout the region starting in March 2020. To book the trailer, please go to www.iart-gallery.com. For more information on the trailer or to apply to participate, please contact Amanda Adams at iart@totabc.com.