A faculty member at Place des Arts is enjoying her new role as an artist-in-residence at the Coquitlam facility.
And she believes the position has opened the door to many young people around SD43 not able to afford arts education.
This fall — thanks to a $9,000 grant from Westminster Savings to pay for three artists in residence this year — Place des Arts was able to hire Catherine Dumaine to create a lantern project in the lead up to the hub’s A Lantern Affair.
That festive event takes place on Sunday.
During her residency, Dumaine said she was able to conduct workshops at Place des Arts, at elementary schools and at community functions to build mini lanterns for a major installation that will be unveiled Dec. 6.
“It’s been such a simple but powerful idea,” she said, “and we’ve been able to connect to the community, which is really wonderful to see.”
Dumaine, who has been a fibre arts teacher at Place des Arts for eight years, will be at the Brunette Avenue venue on Sunday afternoon to build more lanterns with the public.
Hosted by Place des Arts, Mackin House Museum and Gare de Fraser Mills Station Museum, A Lantern Affair is a free, family-friendly fete that runs from 2 to 4 p.m.
Participants can join the lantern procession led by Place des Arts’ Triple Threat Training musical theatre students and take part in other activities such as building Christmas trees from sheet music, moulding clay ornaments, decorating cookies and carolling.
And, of course, Santa Claus will be on hand for some storytelling.
For those looking for gift ideas, the Christmas Boutique will be open with plenty of handmade wares for sale.
Donations of food or a new, unwrapped toy will be accepted for the Share food and toy bank. Visit placedesarts.
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