The lazy days of summer call for popsicles, swimming and, of
course, a good book. The new Whistler Public Library is getting set to launch
its Summer Reading Club 2008 to help encourage kids from preschool to Grade 4
to get lost in the literary world over the break.
More than 100 local children, and 65,000 throughout the
province, typically participate in this annual free program, which is sponsored
by the British Columbia Library Association, the Whistler Public Library, and
the Public Library Services Branch of the Ministry of Education.
Reading Club meetings will be held on Thursdays throughout the
month of July at the library, with three sessions that are appropriate for
different developmental levels. Preschoolers will meet from 9 a.m. until 10
a.m., kindergarten to Grade 2 will meet from 11 a.m. until noon, and Grades 3
to 4 will meet from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Parents are asked to pre-register their children so organizers
can adequately prepare. For more information, visit
www.whistlerlibrary.ca
and click on
Events and Programs.
Cultural Olympiad keeps growing
The 2008 Cultural Olympiad featured more than 300 performances
and exhibitions in Metro Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor, which took
place over a seven-week period starting in February. Presented in partnership
with over 60 arts and cultural organizations, the events were designed to
capture the vitality and diversity of Canada’s arts and culture scene.
“We’ve always been committed to introducing audiences to our
diverse cultural community and encouraging them to take part in experiences
beyond their comfort zone,” Robert Kerr, VANOC program director of the Cultural
Olympiad, said in a press release. “Judging by our strong attendance numbers
and the demographic diversity of our audiences, we’re off to a good start.”
Now, the momentum for the 2009 Cultural Olympiad is growing.
Organizers have already announced two major international events that will be
part of next year’s celebrations. They’re also looking for ideas for the 2010
Cultural Olympiad, which will feature local, national and international
programming, including the Olympic Arts Festival, which will run from Jan. 22,
2010 until Feb. 28, 2010, and the Paralympic Arts Festival, which will run from
March 12, 2010 until March 21, 2010. Organizers are asking non-profit arts
organizations and educational institutions that are interested in presenting an
event or exhibition to submit their proposals by Sept. 30, 2008.
VANOC has also recently launched a new artist registry for
individuals or ensembles interested in participating in the Cultural Olympiad
or other Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games programs.
For more information on the new artist database or the open call
for 2010 proposals, visit
www.vancouver2010.com/en/CultureEducation
.
Art in outdoor spaces
Artists of all disciplines and styles are being offered the
opportunity to contribute to Whistler’s Valley Trail public art project, which
aims to introduce art that is inspired by its surroundings along a prominent,
well-used community route.
The project is currently in its fourth phase. During the first
three phases, sculptures were commissioned and installed in Alpine Meadows,
Whistler Cay, Creekside and Alta Lake Park. All of the projects must involve
the public in the creative process.
The theme for the project is up to the artist, but there are
requirements surrounding the materials and location of the sculpture. Up to
$20,000 is available for this phase of the project, which goes towards artist
fees, consultant costs, materials, fabrication and installation and other
expenses.
Proposals must be received by Monday, June 30. For detailed
project requirements, visit
www.whistler.ca
and select Tenders &
RPFs from the Business dropdown menu.
Get Reel
Aspiring young filmmakers should get camera-ready for the end
of July.
The Whistler Film Festival is hosting its GET REEL Youth Film
Program in Whistler from Monday, July 21 until Friday, July 25 from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m.
The topic for this year’s GET REEL program is “Whistler: A
Sense of Place,” which will involve participants calling on their personal
knowledge, and the experiences of other residents, to offer their unique
interpretation of what Whistler means to them, while learning about filmmaking.
“GET REEL offers local youth a unique opportunity to hone their
skills as filmmakers and storytellers, and provides them with an introduction
(to) the craft,” said Bill Evans, Director of Programming for the Whistler Film
Festival Society.
Participants will be given access to professional equipment and
be mentored by industry professionals during this five-day, hands-on
workshop.
The course will cover
the entire production process, ranging from storyboarding to editing.
The short films produced during the program will premiere
during the 2008 Whistler Film Festival as part of the KidzFest Program, and
will also be screened at the WFF’s Outdoor Screening, alongside the 2008
Whistler Stories.
The workshop fee is $150 per student, and deadline for registration is June 30. For more information or to register, visit www.whistlerfestival.com .