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Wild at Art happens in Squamish because of community support. Become a member and support arts and culture in Squamish today. Click here to download a membership form
History of the Wild at Art Festival
Wild at Art was born out of the great excitement generated from the successful bid for the Olympics in 2010. It was also inspired by the need for more Arts and Cultural programming along the Sea to Sky corridor during the 2010 Winter Olympic dates. Representatives were invited from Utah to share their experiences on how they showcased their communities through Arts and Culture. The Whistler Arts Council and the Select Committee of the Arts for the District of Squamish unanimously agreed that an opportunity for a Festival on the opening and closing days of the Olympics would be a great way to include the Sea to Sky communities. With the goal to create a base for Arts and Culture, various Squamish arts groups, the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, the BC Museum of Mining, the Chamber of Commerce and Capilano College sat down and brainstormed ideas for the name, model and program for a one-day outdoor Festival to take place on the 28th of February 2004. For the inaugural Festival year, the District of Squamish provided a grant in aid of $5000. The 2004 Festival included a large tented main stage downtown, an Art Gallery, and entertainment in local restaurants and coffee shops. The Festival also included a parade with multi-cultural performances. Community businesses and organizations also contributed with demonstrations and hands on activities for people of all ages. 2004 was a great success and set the stage for building on the foundation for 2005, and in 2006, Wild at Art increased to 10 days, grew in size and was enriched by more community involvement. It added the Downtown Market Stroll featuring artisans and crafts-people, and a second performance stage in order to increase programming. In 2006, the Squamish Adventure Centre served as the Festival art gallery, drawing visitors and the community to the new tourism information centre. In 2006, the Squamish Rotary Club partnered with the Festival to provide volunteers and coordinate food sales. Carolyn Grass assumed the role of Festival Coordinator in 2007, bringing new energy and enthusiasm to the Festival. She was supported by a crew of talented committee chair people and volunteers and the Festival grew again. This time it added the West Coast Railway Park to its list of community partners. 2007 included a sponsored Gala night, with gallery opening receptions, auctions, an artist-in-residence, workshops, art exhibits, downtown performances, outdoor Market Stroll, and a new segment called Community Connections which featured information and resources from different community groups.
Location
Squamish is well positioned to earn the title The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada™. The Sea to Sky Corridor has an abundance of world-class outdoor recreational opportunities set within truly spectacular scenery. There are well over 25 activities available in the region including world famous rock climbing, wind/kite surfing, mountain biking and eagle watching. In addition there is hiking, river rafting, kayaking, sailing and boating, fishing, diving, golf, snowmobiling, bird watching, horseback riding and more - as well as five provincial parks surrounding the area. Squamish is also renowned for its rich history and emerging arts and cultural scene. Two primary historical and geological attractions are the West Coast Heritage Railway Park, in Squamish and the B.C. Museum of Mining in Britannia Beach.
Arts and culture in Squamish
Boasting one of the highest concentrations per capita of visual artists, musicians and actors in British Columbia, Squamish and the Sea to Sky Corridor serve as an excellent hub for arts programming. This region is also rich in British Columbia’s heritage and culture in rail, forestry, mining and exploration. Just south of Squamish, Britannia Beach is home to the BC Museum of Mining. Squamish is home to the West Coast Heritage Park, and the Adventure Centre (tourist information centre). Brackendale, just north of Squamish, offers a unique entertainment venue and gallery space at the Brackendale Art Gallery. There are also many art, heritage and cultural events in the community including the Brackendale Fall Fair, Squamish Days Loggers Sports, Communities in Bloom, the Farmer's Market, the Wild at Art Festival, Summer Jam Downtown, High School and Between Shifts drama events, Take 5, Howe Sound Performing Arts productions of music and the Sea to Sky Singers presentations, and the Municipal Library Cultural and Literacy programs. Squamish also recently formed a New Heritage Committee with a goal to start a museum. The city’s name ‘Squamish’ is also the name of a First Nations people who lived in the present day Greater Vancouver area. The word Squamish means ‘Mother of the Wind’ or “Birthplace of the Winds’ in the Coast Salish Language. The Squamish Nation offers cultural experiences along the Sea to Sky Corridor including Totem Hall and the Squamish Art Gallery. To celebrate their role as First Nations hosts of the 2010 Winter Games, the Squamish Nation and the neighbouring Lil'Wat Nation are jointly developing a unique cultural and historical asset, known as the Cultural Journey Sea to Sky, which will act as a long-term legacy for the people of British Columbia, as well as visitors to the province. The journey will include a network of 30 interpretive kiosks located at scenic, historic and culturally relevant points of interest from Vancouver Airport and along the Sea to Sky Highway. The community also offers specialized artisan groups such as the Tantalus Seniors Art Club, (delete and) the Squamish Valley Quilters Guild, and VISUALS. VISUALS is a local artist society comprised of over 50 members which promotes visual artists in the community through exhibits, displays, studio tours and the Squamish Art Walk. VISUALS participates in Art at the Market during select dates of the Farmers Market summer months and plays an important programming and curator role for the Wild at Art Festival artist exhibits. In 2008, Squamish will have a fully functioning Arts Council providing a focused umbrella to support community arts and cultural events, Festivals and organizations.
