ABOUT US
The Steinbach Arts Council is an umbrella organization for performing and visual arts groups, enriching the lives of our community through the development of local artists and musicians and exposure to professional art forms.
The Steinbach Arts Council acknowledges that we are on Treaty 1 territory and that the land on which we live and work is the traditional territory of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
CONTACT US
304 Second Street
Steinbach, MB
R5G 0T7
Email: office@steinbacharts.ca
Phone: (204) 346-1077
OFFICE HOURS
Mon-Thurs: 8:30 AM – 8 PM
Fri: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Sat: 9 AM – 1 PM
Sun: Closed
Well-Being For The Whole Human: Physical, Mental and Emotional Health Through The Arts
Through COVID (and as this pandemic continues), my work has required me to place the physical health and well-being of the kids and adults who come into our building at the top of my list of priorities. While doing that, I’ve been working creatively to keep our community engaged, because health and well-being applies to emotional and mental states as well, which I accomplish through arts programming.
Read moreHow David Carty Captures the Essence of the Canoe In This Exhibit of Retelling and Exploration
When we explore something as “simple” as a canoe from functional, cultural, and historical perspectives, we quickly realize that these vehicles served both function and form. Those who designed and built canoes over the last centuries were artists, too. Their skills were functional and creative. Life skills if you will. Even Carty said that “it is a marvel in design and technology.”
Though we’re disappointed to take down last month’s exhibit, we look forward to making way for 27 new artworks created by gouache and pencil artist, David Carty. November 5 will be the day we put up another full exhibit called The Canoe and Its People.
Read moreHockey is Art
“Hockey is Art, you say?”
Well…yes. I guess I do.
Let me explain.
Mirriam-Webster’s dictionary defines art as follows:
Searching the definition of art online will find you many more ideas, like my personal favourite, “a skill at doing a specified thing, typically one acquired through practice: the art of conversation.”
In my mind, the definitions speak for themselves. But let me elaborate a little.
Read moreLeaving No One Behind
As we look back on the recent generosity of our community, and the huge success of our “50/50 for kids” fundraising campaign, I want to encourage us, as those who desire to invest in our community, to continue finding all the opportunities we can to help develop the next generation of leaders in our region. Even if those opportunities are through a different outlet…one that we may or may not understand entirely. Whether it’s in the arts…or not.
It’s important that I put youth in the room with someone I know will inspire them to develop both creative skills, AND life skills. To pair them with the best mentors I can find. Leaders in the community that demonstrate dedication, hard work, kindness, integrity, and passion for what they do. People who realize that wealth is found in unexpected places, and the most important thing THEY can strive to do is impact others. Besides the artistic skills they pick up along the way, I hope they remember the people they meet along the way.
Read moreIn the middle – the best place to be.
Recently I interviewed Naomi Woo, Assistant Conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. We talked about the real people behind the famous composers who lived one story above and below one another in their European apartments, and how they influenced each other in their writing. Apparently, being influenced by our neighbor hasn’t changed over the last couple of centuries!
We also talked about her work as Music Director of Sistema Winnipeg, a free program for kids who want to study music, and a group of professional musicians and teachers who want to inspire social change.
Read moreClear vision from my soap box
Up here on my soap box, my message is always that the arts build skills beyond singing, dancing, acting, or painting; the arts help build the Whole Human.
What IS a virtual gala, anyway?
The Steinbach Arts Council has a long tradition of hosting a huge community event in support of our programming. This year’s “Paint the Town, Virtual Fundraising Gala” is no exception! We’ve taken a new approach (out of pandemic necessity) and pulled out all the virtual stops!
How do we do it?
In the last two weeks, we’ve put together a list of classes and activities for our region, from preschoolers to adults in every discipline. How do we do it, you ask?
Keeping you Safe…at home.
Early on in the pandemic, while we were planning for a year of unknowns, we decided, (together with our Board of Directors) that the health and safety of our members and their families is our number one priority.
New Technology? No Problem.
Madeline Hildebrand in Concert…New Technology? No problem.
My dad once said to me, “David, with your musical training, you can succeed at anything you want.”
I guess that might have had some influence on my approach to new projects, including our latest concert with Madeline Hildebrand.