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Fall For Arts opens with a three-month ArtWalk

Arts Whistler and cultural stakeholders launch season of music, theatre, art, film and workshops
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Feel the Love Fall For Art is an entire season of cultural and artistic happenings in Whistler. PHOTO submitted

Looking at the new Fall For Arts magazine, which lists arts and cultural events from September to December, you'd be forgiven for counting the number of days you'll be spending at home on one hand.

There's a heck of a lot going on — music, theatre, exhibitions, art, classes and workshops, food, writing and reading, movies and much more.

It's enough to fill 36 pages.

Fall For Arts, created by Arts Whistler and its stakeholders, is a third high season in the resort running from September to December, where arts and culture hold sway between the dust of the summer and the powder of the winter.

"Fall For Arts has been discussed for over a year," says Arts Whistler's executive director Maureen Douglas.

"As the arts and culture sector becomes stronger and has more content we realized the fall would be a great opportunity (to create a special arts season) because it is a quieter time in Whistler and arts and culture is not weather dependent.

"It's also a good time with the type of (tourist) market that is out there travelling. It aligns well with the older cultural traveller.... It runs until December and then we let the snow have its season back."

Douglas says Arts Whistler will be measuring participation in Fall For Arts to get a sense of how it has gone. Traditionally there has been less research in the fall simply because there is less "traffic."

As well, thanks to Heritage Canada and other grants, Tourism Whistler can take the branding concept of Fall For Arts and more easily market it in Vancouver and beyond.

She adds that showcasing the whole program will have greater impact than festivals and events packaged individually.

But back to the fun to be had.

Fall For Arts kicks off with the annual resort-wide ArtWalk exhibition.

This year, the work of over 60 artists is on display at 33 venues.

"I am excited to see how the (move from summer to fall) will improve the event," says Arts Whistler programs and events manager Andrea Mueller.

"We had a great response to our ArtWalk Passport program and have (brought) that back. Participants can collect stickers to win original art work from local artists. The ArtWalk Passport allows visitors and locals to take themselves on a tour around Whistler and provides a great indoor activity... the artwork will also be on display leading up to the holiday season."

It moved from a summertime event partly because it was buried under a busy summer of largely outdoor activities. It also allows ArtWalk to act as a kind of flagship event that runs the entire autumn.

"It helps ArtWalk get a few more dedicated viewers, people who are there on purpose," Douglas says.

"We want to drive dedicated ArtWalk viewers to all the businesses and other locations that are acting as galleries, where there is more time and room to explore."

A review of all overall events on offer has Douglas amazed.

"Some of the cultural providers that are even in the magazine will be shaking their heads at how it has grown," she says.

"Depending on what you are interested in, you can pick a weekend and decide that it is the one for you to explore Fall For Arts."

Fall For Arts highlights

Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 — ArtWalk Exhibit;

Sept. 1 to April 2017 — Where are the Children?: Healing the Legacy of Residential Schools, Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre;

Sept. 10 — Steven Page in concert (Whistler Presents free concert), Whistler Olympic Plaza, 7 p.m.;

Sept. 16Full Moon world premiere film, Maury Young Arts Centre, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.;

Sept. 24 to 25 — First Annual Local Music Festival;

Oct. 13 to 16 — Whistler Writers Festival;

Oct. 21 to Jan. 2017 — From Geisha to Diva: The Kimonos of Ichimaru, Audain Art Museum;

Oct. 22 — Walrus Talks, with Kim Baird, Cheeying Ho and Alex Villeneuve, Maury Young Arts Centre, 6 p.m.;

Oct. 22 — Cultural Crawl Studio Tours, self guided;

Oct. 28 to Feb. 2017 — Intersections: Contemporary Artist Films, Audain Art Museum;

Nov. 1 to Dec. 15 — 1923 Carter Townsend Mountaineering Expedition photo exhibit, Whistler Museum;

Nov. 2 to 5 — Annual Big Kids Lego Competition (for adults), Whistler Museum;

Nov. 9 — The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer (Arts Whistler Live!), Maury Young Arts Centre, 8 p.m.;

Nov. 10 to 20 — Cornucopia food and drink festival;

Nov. 26 to 27 — Bizarre Bazaar winter craft and artisan market;

Nov. 20 to Dec 4 — Whistler Film Festival.

For more information on Fall For Arts and Whistler ArtWalk — including locations, dates and tickets — visit www.artswhistler.com.

The Fall For Arts event magazine is available throughout the resort.

Pique column "ArtWalk, one step at a time" is on page 31.