B.C. Culture Days puts out call for artist ambassador program

B.C. Culture Days is calling for emerging artists to apply to their annual ambassador program.

Every year, the B.C. Culture Days ambassador program offers the opportunity for a range of artists in B.C. to expand their practice and develop creative, community-immersed programming for Culture Days.

This year's ambassador program is centred around the theme of accessibility and inclusion. Applicants will be asked to answer how their proposed Culture Days activities will apply accessibility practices and create inclusive spaces for their community members.

"With this year's program, we're asking artists to consider how accessibility and inclusion meaningfully serve our communities," said Nazanin Shoja, B.C. Culture Days program director, in a press release. "The ambassador events, which will take place across the province during Culture Days, will offer opportunities for low-barrier participation in arts and culture for all."

Applications are due by Feb. 28 and emerging artists of all mediums are invited to apply.Individuals who self-identify as Indigenous, black, a person of colour, disabled, deaf, hard of hearing, chronically ill, trauma-impacted, neurodivergent, LGBTQ, and those who are culturally invested in disability and related communities are encouraged to submit applications, the release noted.

Culture Days will take place from Sept. 22 to Oct. 15.

The chosen emerging artists will each receive a $1,000 production budget and artist fee to plan, coordinate and present a free Culture Days activity, and an additional $2,000 to participate in a six-month mentorship with an established artist.