ArtSea Community Arts Council is a charitable organization that works to ignite interest and appreciation for all forms of the arts, and cultural activities on the Saanich Peninsula. Activities are open to the entire community, welcoming artists at all levels, from emerging to professional artists, arts and culture groups, and community members curious about the arts.
As a registered charitable organization, ArtSea operates in accordance with the BC Societies Act.
ArtSea Vision, Mission, Mandate (click to expand)
Vision
For the Saanich Peninsula to be recognized as a major art and cultural centre in British Columbia.
Mission
ArtSea supports and promotes the development of all forms of the arts and cultural activities on the Saanich Peninsula.
Mandate
To encourage public awareness of and participation in the cultural life of the Saanich Peninsula. To fulfill its mandate ArtSea will:
- Promote awareness of, and participation in, the arts.
- Serve as the cultural voice of the community, advocating on its behalf with government and industry stakeholders.
- Be the go-to place for information and resources on arts and culture.
- Work in collaboration with community partners and arts organizations in facilitating high quality and diverse artistic programming and events.
- Be a springboard of community engaged art.
The ArtSea Team – Board, Staff, Volunteers (click to expand)
Operations
ArtSea Community Arts Council is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and achieves its goals through the valued contribution of dedicated staff and volunteers. ArtSea has an open membership available to artists, arts and cultural groups, and residents interested in the arts. Currently ArtSea receives provincial, municipal and community foundation funding and creates self-generating income.
ArtSea Board of Directors
Patty Wilson, President
As President, Patty leads monthly Board Meetings, provides strategic direction, and manages municipal relations. As a long-standing ArtSea executive, Patty has served in many areas of the organization including, ArtSea President, Director of the ArtSea Gallery in Tulista Park, and has been part of events including Artisans, Taste of Tulista and Small Expressions. Patty is a textile and visual artist.
Susan Irvine, Treasurer & VP
As Treasurer, Susan oversees the financial matters of the Board and ensures other directors are adequately informed of financial related issues to ensure good decision-making. Susan joined the Board in 2018, and has been instrumental in strategic planning, policy, financial reporting and administration. Susan was a senior strategic planner in the public sector before retiring.
Ethel Mailhot, Secretary & ArtSea Gallery
Ethel retired from the Saanich School Board after 35 years as teacher/councillor/administrator. For the last 15 years, she has been a volunteer and co-ordinator for various ArtSea programs, including the Board of Directors, the Sidney Fine Art Show, Artisans, Arts in the School, Arts on the Pier, the Salish Sea Lantern Festival and the Dianne Cross Awards for the Arts. Presently she is working with artists in promoting and maintaining the ArtSea Gallery in Tulista Park.
Wendy Woollard, Director
ArtSea was pleased to welcome Wendy to the ArtSea Board of Directors at the recent ArtSea AGM (July 6th, 2023). More information coming soon…
Joanne Helm, Director
ArtSea was pleased to welcome Joanne to the ArtSea Board of Directors at the recent ArtSea AGM (July 6th, 2023). More information coming soon…
ArtSea Staff and Contractors
Director of Programs and Communication: Kirsten Norris
Kirsten works closely with the ArtSea Board of Directors to manage operations, budgeting, and strategic planning. Her responsibilities include a wide range of functions, including hiring and supervising staff and contractors, overseeing internal and external communications, and collaborating with ArtSea program leads and community partners to plan and execute programs and events. Kirsten is also responsible for managing marketing and public relations, creating program graphics and promotional copy, generating the monthly newsletter, and maintaining the ArtSea website. Kirsten actively pursues grant funding opportunities to ensure the financial sustainability of the organization, and is in charge of documentation and organizational reporting. Kirsten has worked with ArtSea since 2018.
Arts Coordinator (part-time staff): Arabella Young
Arabella joined ArtSea in July 2022, and has bee instrumental in addressing service gaps within the organization, specifically helping to manage the ArtSea Gallery, support the gallery team and weekly gallery renters, and provide coordination and a connection point for ArtSea volunteers and ArtSea members. This role has been vital to the continued success of ArtSea!
Fundraising and Public Relations (part-time contractor): Kari Frazer
Kari joined the ArtSea team in June, 2023, and brings with her a wealth of experience and expertise in fundraising and marketing. Kari will support ArtSea in developing (updating and compiling), as well as implementing our fundraising strategy. Kari will also play a vital role in enhancing the visibility of ArtSea in the community through social media and public relations.
Social Media (casual part-time contractor): Dorota Lockyer
Dorota supports the organization’s media presence as a casual part-time contractor. Her creativity and expertise in social media management helps ArtSea to engage with our audience through exhibition and event updates, and promotion of our talented artists.
Artistic Director of the Salish Sea Lantern Festival (seasonal contractor): Jennifer Witvliet
Artistic Director, Jennifer Witvliet, and an amazing team of volunteers help to plan and deliver the annual Salish Sea Lantern Festival. Jennifer started the first lantern procession in 2013, and the festival has grown and expanded from there. Each year the festival team put together hundreds of jellyfish lantern kits and provide lantern-building workshops for the community. Many large-scale lanterns are installed through the region, leading up to the evening festival and lantern parade along the waterfront in Sidney!
ArtSea Volunteers
Volunteer committees help to organize and promote ArtSea programs, such as:
Weekly artist-directed exhibitions at the ArtSea Gallery in Tulista Park
The Salish Sea Lantern Festival
The ArtSea Scholarship: The Dianne Cross Award for the Arts
The Sidney Seaside Sculpture Walk
The Saanich Peninsula Arts and Culture Grant (SPACG) Program
ArtSea Constitution (click to expand)
ArtSea Bylaws (click to expand)
ArtSea Annual General Meeting Minutes (click to expand)
- ArtSea AGM Minutes – a review of 2022 (COMING SOON)
- ArtSea AGM Minutes – a review of 2021
- ArtSea AGM Minutes – a review of 2020
- ArtSea AGM Minutes – a review of 2019
- ArtSea AGM Minutes – a review of 2018
History
ArtSea Community Arts Council has played an essential role in the cultural and artistic activities on the Saanich Peninsula since 1991. Formally known as the Community Arts Council for the Saanich Peninsula (CACSP), ArtSea is a registered non-profit organization which offers a variety of arts-related programs throughout the year and rental space to artists at the ArtSea Gallery in Tulista Park, Sidney BC.
Dianne Cross was the original founder of the Society. A student scholarship, The Dianne Cross Award for the Arts, is sponsored by ArtSea each year in honour of Dianne’s remarkable contribution to arts and cultural activities on the Saanich Peninsula.
Information Privacy
Confidential information and materials including membership, patrons, sponsors, financial and credit card information that is not in the public domain are treated as confidential by ArtSea in accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) www.priv.gc.ca.
