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WAC survey for home-based artists

Arts briefs: Community cultural officer wants to know more about creatives making art By Cathryn Atkinson
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Whistler's new community cultural officer, Anne Popma, wants the resort's many home-based artists to take part in a new survey.

The survey will help the Whistler Arts Council and Popma determine who is creating what in the resort, and just as importantly, where they create it.

"Whistler's Cultural Plan and the Cultural Tourism Development Strategy make several recommendations to enhance Whistler's year-round cultural vitality, thereby capitalizing on the growing market of cultural tourists... a large share of it is created by our local artists," says Popma, in a release.

"Cultural tourists are enthusiastic shoppers, often seeking out authentic, locally-made products. They also want to learn about the people who live and work in the place they are visiting."

The arts council believes there is an undiscovered cultural community of close to 800 members, working full or part time on their crafts.

The survey is available until Monday, Oct. 20. Any artist engaged in a creative process in a home-based studio can take part at www.surveymonkey.com/s/98RM2XL.

Adult Lego competition brings out inner big kids

The Whistler Museum is holding its third annual Big Kids Lego Building competition.

All the wee ones will be kept away from the blocks as the grownups get a crack at testing their building skills and imagination. The competition is open to anyone 19 and over only.

This year's theme is "What is Whistler Missing?" and competitors can build anything they like, whether it be touristy or personal.

It takes place on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. To register, drop by the museum on Main Street or call 604-932-2019. There are only 20 competitors allowed, registration is $10 per competitor (includes a drink ticket). General admission by donation ($5 suggested). There will be a cash bar.

Squamish actor gets UBCP/ACTRA nomination

Connor Stanhope, a 16-year-old Squamish actor, has been nominated for a Union of British Columbia Performance award (UBCP/ACTRA).

Stanhope was nominated for Best Newcomer for playing Bo Grady in an episode of the TV series When the Heart Calls on The Hallmark Channel.

The series tells the story of a young schoolteacher who moves from the big city to teach in a small coal-mining town in the west.

Ironically for the award category, Stanhope already has a significant career as a child actor in film and television. He had a recurring role as Young Lex Luther in Smallville from 2008 to 2010, and acted in the feature films American Mary and, his latest, Floating Away.

The UBCP/ACTRA Awards will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22 at the Vancouver Playhouse.

Children's singer holds free concert at Quest

B.C. children's singer Graham Walker is holding a free concert for preschool elementary-aged youngsters at Quest University on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Walker has been singing and writing poems for decades. He has five albums and two books available on his website grahamwalker.ca.

The concert takes place in the university's multipurpose room from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m

Musical Therapy Ride raises $85,000

The Musical Therapy Ride from Coquitlam to Whistler raised its highest-ever amount, $85,000.

The event, which took place on Saturday, Sept. 13, saw over 100 motorbike riders joined by the Vancouver Motorcycle Police Drill Team, which provided a presidential escort up the Sea to Sky Highway.

The fundraiser is in its 13th year.

The Musical Therapy Ride has raised almost $800,000 for the Canadian Musical Therapy Trust Fund.

The fund was established by members of the Vancouver music industry in 2002 with representatives from booking agencies, radio stations, record labels, talent managers, concert promoters and recording artists.

It supports two mobile music therapy units that visit hospitals around B.C., as well as other projects.