They sipped local wine, nibbled hors d’oeuvres and enjoyed a live jazz performance from the Dennis Enns Trio as they gathered to discuss the state of the arts in Langley.
Members of the Langley Arts Council (LAC) held their Annual General Meeting last month at Porters Bistro Coffee & Tea House to hear general manager Don Shilton present his report on the past year’s activities and to project a greater impact in the arts community in the coming year.
LAC is now cooperating with both the Surrey and Delta Arts Councils in an effort to work smarter in raising the profile of the arts in local and provincial government.
Shilton projects that the committee will recover lost revenue from gaming funds by accessing new funding opportunities through grants and creative fund raising.
During the past year LAC has hosted more than a dozen art exhibits in community venues through Art In Found Spaces, located in gallery space at the City of Langley and Township of Langley civic facilities. These same spaces also hosted an art exhibit from the Fraser Valley Biennale a collaboration with The Reach Regional Gallery and Museum in Abbottsford.
The successful Langley Youth Spirit Festival, Earth, Wind, Fire & Water held in February, in collaboration with Kwantlen First Nations recruited dozens of performers and presenters who interacted with more than 1,000 Langley students in a day-long festival.
That evening, community leaders in arts and culture, every level of government, Kwantlen First Nation’s elders and many other First Nations’ elders were invited to a feast and powwow demonstration at the Fort Langley national historic site.
This year saw the addition of several new member groups to the LAC, including the B.C. Country Music Association.
Langley Arts Council collaborated with the BCMA in a pilot music literacy program to elementary school children called “Music-Rules-In-Schools.”
Because of the success of the program LAC will now be partnering with them to expand the program in other schools.