A Tri-City arts council is asking for a lifeline as it heads into its 50th year.
ArtsConnect — an umbrella group that only six years ago had an executive director and staged arts and cultural events and activities, with government support — is down to its last three active members and less than $1,000 in its coffers.
Treasurer Bill Atfield, who joined the society in 2014, said ArtsConnect’s future looks bleak if it doesn’t get new — or renewed — blood.
On Dec. 9, it hopes to attract more interest at its annual general meeting, to be held at Samz Pub (2342 Elgin Ave., Port Coquitlam) at 1 p.m.
Atfield, who is on the board with PoCo painter Sherry Carroll and Port Moody photographer Manfred Kraus, said ArtsConnect is only staying afloat with $500 left over from past membership dues and grants; another $400 came in last week from a private donor.
Atfield said he and Carroll have had mixed responses from Tri-City arts and culture groups about reinvigorating the non-profit society.
“Some people are interested, others think it’s time to say goodbye,” he said last Friday at the Terry Fox Library, where ArtsConnect meets regularly. “The groups are going their own way now and finding their own funding sources.”
Since 2012, when executive director Helen Daniels stepped down for undisclosed reasons after a new board was elected, ArtsConnect has hosted only two events: PechaKucha, a slideshow at the Evergreen Cultural Centre; and an art exhibit in Vancouver featuring scenes of Riverview Hospital.
Previously, it was known for organizing special events throughout the year such as ArtWalk, Golden Brush and, in 2011, a regional summit at the Vancouver Golf Club featuring keynote speaker Christopher Gaze, the artistic director of Bard on the Beach.
Atfield said the remaining board members hope to get ArtsConnect back on track, in its golden anniversary year.
“We want a second life to return to our old format of promoting and putting on artists’ events and displays,” he said. “We want people to take the time to come out…. If no one does, then I guess we have our answer.”
• For more details about the AGM or ArtsConnect, email [email protected].
