Comox Valley Community Arts Council

The Comox Valley Community Arts Council (CV/Arts) is a longstanding Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, promoting, and celebrating the arts and cultural vitality of the Comox Valley region in British Columbia. Registered under the business number 118871300RR0001, CV/Arts has been serving the community for over 55 years, fostering inclusive access to arts and cultural resources for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Mission and Vision

The Council's mission is to champion the artistic vitality of the Comox Valley by providing access to arts and cultural resources, supporting local artists, and fostering community engagement through arts education and programming. CV/Arts is committed to cultivating creative citizens and a culturally dynamic community, ensuring the arts are accessible and inclusive.

Programs and Activities

CV/Arts offers a wide range of opportunities for public education, participation, and celebration of the arts. Its programs emphasize low-barrier community arts education, making arts accessible through free or low-cost initiatives suitable for all experience levels. The organization supports artists at various stages of their careers—from emerging to professional—through promotion, skill development programs, and opportunities to publicly display their work.

The Council produces and maintains several community-focused projects, including:

• The Central Island Arts Guide, which highlights regional artists and arts organizations.

• An annual regional studio tour showcasing local artists' work.

• A directory of Comox Valley artist studios.

• A comprehensive event calendar for arts-related activities in the region.

Additionally, CV/Arts actively engages in community arts experiences at local events, fostering public interaction with the arts.

Community Partnerships and Advocacy

Operating with a small staff but significant impact, CV/Arts collaborates extensively with local business associations, cultural institutions, government bodies, and nonprofit organizations. Key partners have included the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association, Comox Valley Farmers Market, SID Williams Theatre, Comox Valley Art Gallery, and the City of Courtenay, among others.

The Council also plays a vital advocacy role in emphasizing the importance of arts and culture to regional development and community well-being. It has launched advocacy campaigns to promote arts and culture and has contributed to strategic cultural planning efforts within local government frameworks.

Membership

CV/Arts is a membership-based organization that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, not limited to practicing artists. It offers a sliding scale membership fee model, including free memberships for individuals from equity-deserving groups such as Indigenous peoples and BIPOC communities, reflecting its commitment to inclusivity.

Impact and Community Role

As one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in the Comox Valley, the Community Arts Council has been instrumental in growing the local arts scene, serving as an incubator, innovator, and community builder. Supported in part by organizations like the Comox Valley Community Foundation, CV/Arts is increasingly active in initiating community-facing projects such as the planned annual Arts and Land Festival, which aims to deepen the connection between artists, the public, and the natural environment.

CV/Arts' work is fundamentally community-oriented, focusing on providing accessible arts and cultural experiences that engage and provoke discussion among the public, thereby enriching the cultural fabric of the Comox Valley.

This summary reflects the Comox Valley Community Arts Council’s ongoing dedication to fostering artistic growth and cultural engagement in the region.

[1] https://comoxvalleyarts.com/about/ [2] https://comoxvalleyarts.com [3] https://www.allianceforarts.com/blog/2018/6/26/comox-valley-arts-launches-arts-and-culture-advocacy-campaign [4] https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/local-news/courtenay-adopts-a-strategic-cultural-plan-7885637 [5] https://cvcfoundation.org/growing-arts-and-artists-in-the-comox-valley/