The Mission Arts Council serves as a cornerstone of cultural enrichment and community connection. At its helm is Nancy Arcand, the dedicated Executive Director whose leadership has propelled the organization to new heights over her nearly two-decade tenure. Nancy guides the Mission Arts Council in its mission to celebrate the arts and cultivate a vibrant cultural landscape. From humble beginnings marked by limited resources to its current status as a thriving hub of artistic expression, Nancy reflects on the organization’s evolution and the transformative power of the arts in shaping community identity.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Empowering Creativity, Fostering Community:
Our mission at the Mission Arts Council is to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape that celebrates creativity, nurtures artistic expression, and connects communities. Through our unwavering commitment to the arts, we strive to enrich lives, foster collaboration, and contribute to the cultural identity and well-being of our community.
Guided by the belief that the arts are essential to the human experience, we are dedicated to:
– Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity
– Supporting local artists and creatives
– Engaging in community outreach
– Enhancing education and youth development
– Collaborating across disciplines
– Sustaining a Legacy of Arts Elegance.
What problem does it aim to solve?
The Mission Arts Council serves as a catalyst for creativity, cultural expression, and community development, addressing various social, economic, and cultural challenges while enriching the lives of community members.
When did you start/join it?
Started my position 19 years ago
What made you want to get involved?
I am an artist and wanted to work with my community
What was the situation like when you started?
Limited funds, no staff, limited programs
How has it changed since?
Grown to 4 staff, much larger budget, large scale events and festivals, Indigenous arts and culture programming, children, youth adults and seniors programs, clay studio for pottery classes, outdoor summer art camps, horror film festival, Christmas craft market, Fraser valley Children’s festival, bereavement clay classes for children and youth with Mission Hospice
What more needs to be done?
Developing an art wellness program for seniors in isolation at resident care homes. We are also looking for a new location as our lease is up in 2027 and we will have to move. So looking at a capital Campaign to raise funds to build a community arts center
How can our readers help?
As a charitable not-for-profit, we are able to offer tax receipts. An amount would be helpful to support all our programs. Donors can go to our website and review all our programs and donate to a specific one or look at our planned giving guide to support the arts in our community.
Do you have any events coming up?
FRASER VALLEY CHILDRENS FESTIVAL June 9th at Fraser River Heritage Park, 10 am to 4 pm. A fun-filled day of main stage and roving entertainment from Stilt Walkers to professional wrestlers, children CHiors, puppeteers, Science world, hands-on art stations, art markets, food trucks, the 501 Garrison Star Wars cosplay characters and so much more
Where can we follow you?
Website | Instagram | Facebook
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
MISSION HOSPICE SOCIETY
