Arts Council of the North Okanagan

Who We are

The Arts Council of the North Okanagan is a registered charitable non-profit organization dedicated to enriching arts and culture in Greater Vernon and surrounding areas. As an umbrella organization, we serve more than 30 diverse member groups and over 3000 individual and family members.

The Arts Council believes that access to arts and culture is essential to building healthy communities. We believe in the creative process, the value it brings to all learners, and we are committed to supporting the development of arts for all emerging and working artists, artists with varying abilities, audiences, and collectors.

We strive for excellence in our practices as we provide support for our students, staff, and our community. Our advocacy for arts, culture, and professional development is reflected in all that we do. We value the leadership role that Arts Councils can play in their community.

“We believe that arts and culture are an essential component of community development”

Our Purpose

The purpose of the Society is to stimulate, encourage, support and develop the varied artistic and cultural projects and activities in the Greater Vernon area by performing the following activities:

• Strongly advocate on behalf of our members
• Increase the visibility of the arts in Greater Vernon
• Enable and support all arts-based initiatives
• Act as an ambassador/advocate on behalf of all community arts-based initiatives
• Accept, manage, invest, and pursue funds and property of every kind for the ongoing operations and maintenance of the Council and its properties
• Increase and broaden the opportunities for all Greater Vernon citizens to embrace and participate in all levels of artistic activities
• Operate an Arts Centre providing affordable artistic programs that appeal to all age groups and abilities