As COVID-19 continues to rear its constantly-evolving head, one non-profit organization made the decision to take part in the Rapid COVID-19 (testing) Point of Care Screening Program offered by the Government of BC.
Every day the Prince George & District Community Arts Council (CAC), some may know better as Studio 2880, tests all staff for the coronavirus.
Every day.
To keep people safe.
“It’s one of the things we say now, ‘come for a Covid test’,” Sean Farrell, executive director for the PG CAC, said. He took the training and is certified to administer the tests and offers it to everyone who cares to take it including all the users groups within the Studio 2880 complex and those who take their classes.
“You just don’t know who has someone vulnerable at home or an elderly parent they need to protect,” Farrell said.
Another new feature at the Community Arts Council’s artisan gift shop is the feature gallery that is usually tucked into a smaller space has now been opened up to the bigger space for more COVID-friendly, socially distanced access.
Natalie Brekkas, administrative assistant and gift shop coordinator, has taken on the project that next sees the exhibit called Legacies Revisited, featuring works created by well-known local, internationally renowned artist Betty Kovacic, who is offering to showcase her work during an opening reception March. 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit features work depicting historical stories of inspiring people overcoming hardship and discrimination. Kovacic will give an artist’s talk and refreshments will be served. To attend the opening reception click on Legacies Revisited exhibit registration.
“Natalie has some really exciting ideas about how we can engage that space with many community groups and different artists beyond our day-to-day vendors,” Farrell said.
Since the pandemic and its restrictions have settled into our daily lives the Community Art Council has revamped the gift shop. There are wide open spaces with most of the artwork and artisan-created pieces located on the perimeter of the space instead of scattered throughout it.
“The gift shop area has now become the feature gallery, too and we have a whole area where we feature artists and there is now a schedule where about every six weeks or so we’re going to change the exhibits and that includes emerging artists and established artists,” Brekkas said.
Moving the feature gallery out of the little room into the gift shop space makes it much more user friendly, especially when it comes to the artists’ talks offered at the opening reception of each exhibit, Farrell added. There’s more room to safely socially distance.
There will also be pop-up markets, mostly taking place on Saturdays.
They had a couple before Christmas and everyone was pleased with the results, Brekkas said.
“Most of them featured potters and they were hugely successful,” she added. “They were really wonderfully done.”
The Community Arts Council will do the marketing to let people know about what events are taking place in the newly designated space so artisans will be supported with a venue and a shout out to the public.
“I really think we can make this space available to different groups that would like to do a little fundraising or a book sale or something like that and really take the idea of the gallery and gift shop so now there’s a new community space,” Farrell said. “This is something that will be ongoing. If there is a community group that would like to put on an event we are totally willing to support that, too.”
To host community group events benefits everyone as the group gets what they need while increasing the general public’s awareness of Studio 2880 and the artisans showcased within its walls, Farrell added.
“So we’re looking for community groups and artists and artisans all to reach out to Natalie,” Farrell said. “If anyone has an idea, Natalie is really great at exploring ideas and coming up with a plan to make sure it all comes together.”
For more information contact Brekkas at [email protected] or 250-563-2880.
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