Access to the arts provides strong health and social benefits for our community that enhance quality of life for residents and draw visitors to the area. Nurturing arts, culture and heritage brings considerable economic benefits. Arts and culture generates $5.2 billion annually in BC.
Colwood has a strong arts community and a growing number of opportunities to participate in and enjoy art, music, theatre and dance.
The City is working to renew its focus on public art and to work to make Indigenous culture and history more visible in Colwood with a public art policy and to include public art as part of each new community development and capital project.
Create Places Grant Program
Placemaking is about reimagining public spaces in unexpected ways and bringing neighbours together through art, gardens, gathering areas, or other initiatives.Colwood encourages residents to undertake placemaking projects by accepting applications for small grants. See www.colwood.ca/CreatePlaces
Colwood Events: Music in the Park, Eats & Beats Beach Party, the Seaside Festival and more
The City of Colwood hosts weekly and seasonal events featuring performances by live, local musicians, performers and artists, along with favourite local food trucks and fun activities at parks, beaches and public spaces. Read more about Music in the Park all summer long and Eats & Beats at the Beach in July. New Years, Easter, Volunteer Appreciation, Mothers Day, Indigenous People's Day, Halloween and Christmas and other annual events also promote community connections and showcase our community throughout the region.
Arts & Culture Colwood Society
The City has leased a multi-purpose building at Lagoon West Park to Arts & Culture Colwood to increase community access to the arts.
Arts & Culture Colwood advocates for the arts through collaboration and partnerships. They foster support for the arts and share their experience and talents through events, activities and learning opportunities to advance the many benefits of the arts in Colwood, including mental health, wellbeing and social connection.
Their team includes visual and performing artists, as well as arts enthusiasts who are excited about promoting the arts in our community. They work with local developers, City of Colwood, Council & Staff, Indigenous Peoples and Arts Organizations located in Colwood. ArtsandCultureColwood.ca
Exploring possibilities for a Performing Arts Centre
The Juan De Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society is a not-for-profit society whose purpose is: "to plan, promote, develop, construct, and operate a performing arts facility that will accommodate a comprehensive range of cultural and community experiences."
The plan envisions a theatre and mixed-use arts, education and wellness complex that would serve the cultural needs of a growing community and diversify sustainable economic development within the region.
Learn more at https://building4thearts.com/
PACE Musical Theatre Program
Starting as early as kindergarten, children can participate in the PACE Musical Theatre Program (Program for Academic and Creative Enrichment). For the past 20 years, up to 500 students from Kindergarten to grade twelve have rehearsed and performed three major musical theatre productions in the school district each year along with opportunities to perform at community events.
School District 62 Fine Arts
Dunsmuir Middle School and Royal Bay Secondary school each offer arts programs. At Royal Bay Secondary you will find music and band programs, as well as dance academy, drama programs, and film and television courses.
