RCAC 2022 Art Auction

The RCAC is running this auction to support our Public Art Initiatives and Visual Arts Program. The RCAC has made a long-term commitment to public art through our Public Art Program. For the past 12 years, the RCAC has been building a curated collection of public art installations in downtown Rossland. All of our public art is installed in public spaces that are accessible to ensure that the art is available to all. Nine permanent sculptures are already installed around Rossland with three additional sculptures on Centennial Trail. It is these three sculptures that we are auctioning off as these locations are required for the latest three sculptures that were carved during the 2022 Wood Carving Symposium. The intention of this event is to invite the general public to witness the creation of a sculpture and public art piece. Three artists carve the sculptures in downtown Rossland, after which the sculptures are installed along Rossland’s Centennial Trail. The sculptures that are being brought down are up for auction to support a future Wood Carving Symposium and other Public Art Initiatives.

The intention of Public Art Program is to not only highlight arts and culture in our community but to contribute to our community’s social and economic vibrancy. Public art enhances the experience of urban spaces and communicates the presence of our active arts community. Rossland is surrounded by natural beauty, so the RCAC has an interest in weaving sculptural and other art forms into the beauty of our community.

The Visual Arts committee organizes two Visual Arts Exhibitions per fiscal year and organizes visual art workshops for the community. The exhibitions are held in the Lily May Room of the historic Miners Hall in Rossland and offers an opportunity for all levels of artists and artisans to display their original work for the broader community to view and enjoy. The mandate of this committee is to provide an opportunity for all levels of artists and artisans, ranging from hobby or emerging artists to professionals to come together in the community to exhibit their work. By offering exhibitions that celebrate all facets of creativity, including craft, wearable art and more traditional art forms, we hope to inspire our community to push their creative boundaries. It is important to us as an organization to support the financial wellbeing of artists. Over the last three years we have been building capacity to remunerate artists for entering our exhibitions. We provide additional support by providing financial awards for juried categories or a “People’s Choice” award.

Designed to be a fundraising project, the Art Chairs are a beautiful, fun, and simple way for the community to engage with local art. The goal of this project is to get local artists to create something that can be enjoyed by the community. In the future we hope to expand the project and help fund our art exhibitions and workshops.

The Rossland Council for Arts and Culture (RCAC) was founded in 1998 by a group of artists who recognized a need to promote and grow the arts & culture sector in Rossland. Rossland is a small, vibrant, sports and recreation centered community of 3700 people. It has an equally vibrant arts community of over 150 visual, performing and literary artists. RCAC’s vision is to make Rossland as well known for its arts and culture as it is for its sports and recreation.

The mission of RCAC is to provide, promote and further cultural and artistic opportunities that enhance the quality of life in Rossland.

Our mandate is to increase the quantity and quality of arts programming in Rossland for both residents and visitors. RCAC’s goal of enhancing lifestyles through creative expression is achieved by providing year-round, diverse and accessible arts and culture programming and events. Our programs and activities are driven by the following core values:
- To support and promote local and emerging artists of all ages
- To expose artists and audiences to new artistic disciplines
- To ensure artistic programming is affordable, inclusive and accessible
- To foster and support both artistic excellence and artistic innovation

The RCAC is honoured to live, work, play, and present on the unceded and traditional territory of the sn̓ʕay̓ckstx Sinixt People and this territory is also home toThe Metis and other Indigenous Persons.