City of Kelowna Arts & Culture December Update

RCA receives Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for 2023

The 36th Annual Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards were held on November 17 and recognized the best in Kelowna-area business and community leadership. The awards received a total of 300 applications across 16 categories and celebrate individuals and organizations that demonstrate innovation, community involvement, and overall business excellence. Congratulations to the Rotary Centre for the Arts (RCA) who emerged as a finalist, alongside the Kore Dance Project, in the Arts and Entertainment Achievement category!

Okanagan Spotlight: Kelowna City Concert Band

Many people will have heard Kelowna City Concert Band performing over the years, whether at their Christmas or Spring concerts, or outdoors at Remembrance Day, the Island Stage or on Canada Day. But did you know that the band is Kelowna’s longest running organization? It existed as early as 1894 and has operated continuously ever since, with brief interruptions during World Wars I and II.

Their current membership is about 60 musicians of all ages from throughout the Central Okanagan. They play a wide variety of music from band staples through to lesser-known pieces, under the expert guidance of distinguished conductor Robert Payne. They love performing together and sharing that experience and music with their audiences.

For more information, including how to join the band, find them on Facebook or visit kelownacityband.com.

Indigenous Beading Circle

Join us on December 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Kelowna Art Gallery for our community Indigenous Beading Circle, where we spend an afternoon of beading, crafting, and knowledge sharing. Anyone who would like to learn more about beadwork, practice their own beadwork, or meet other members of the beading community are welcome to join.

The Indigenous Beading Circle is open to the public, but pre-registration is required as spaces are limited, a $20 donation is suggested. Register at kelownaartgallery.com.

Looking to improve your Spanish?

Take a journey through the natural and human history of the Okanagan Valley with a Spanish speaking tour at the Okanagan Heritage Museum. Hosted December 2 and 16, learn about geological features, biodiversity, the First Nations people and our region’s early settlers.

It’s an excellent opportunity for Spanish-speaking locals and tourists to engage with the region’s history.

Learn more at kelownamuseums.ca.

Music Industry Mixer

Join us on December 4 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Red Bird Brewing for Music Industry Networking!

A live performance from a local emerging artist will kickstart the night at 6 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Learn more and purchase tickets online.

Each month, we feature a piece from a local creative youth who shares their words and art as part of our Creative Youth Perspective series. Emily Brolund and Daisy Smith are two outstanding local youth creatives who will each contribute content as representatives for the Creative Youth Perspective program

Emily shares her thoughts on performing:

Performing for others has always seemed like second nature for me. When I had the opportunity to audition for my first musical, I jumped at the opportunity.  

Through my Studio9 School of the Arts, I have performed many performances at the Mary Irwin Theatre at the Rotary Centre of the Arts. I was a part of the ensemble for both A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2018) and Yellow Submarine (2019), and playing the roles of Shenzi in The Lion King Jr. (2022) and my favourite part yet, Scuttle in The Little Mermaid Jr. (2023).  

You can see the performance here: Little Mermaid (I show up at 5:18). 

Our school theatre process is very different from others. Actors aren’t just actors. The tech crew isn’t just the tech crew. We work in many different disciplines in the show process.  

We also have dedicated days to working on the show, called Collaboration Days. These are every 3rd Friday, where the whole day is dedicated to working on sets, props, costumes, makeup, and rehearsing our scenes and songs.  

This year, our show will be Shrek Jr, from June 5th – 7th, at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in the Mary Irwin Theatre. I plan to audition for this show and am so excited for rehearsals and behind-the-scenes magic to start.