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Greater Trail Community Centre
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The Greater Trail Community Centre was established in 1988. The building was the former home of the Trail Junior School which closed in 1982 and remained vacant for three years. Since the building did not meet fire or other building code standards, it could not be used by the general public.
A study was undertaken by the building's owners, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary in 1985; and the following year, the building committee recommended a $3 million renovation project.
Today the building houses Selkirk College, the VISAC Gallery, the Seniors Centre, The Charles Bailey Theatre and Muriel Griffiths Room, the Trail Gym Club and the Trail & District Arts Council.
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The Trail & District Arts Council is a not-for-profit organization run by a Board of Directors which is selected annually at a meeting attended by representatives of affiliate organizations and other members.
The Trail & District Arts Council was formed in 1957 as an umbrella organization, and to act as a representative for arts, culture and heritage in the Trail community. In that time it has facilitated and applauded a great variety of arts and cultural activities that have been of benefit to our community. Most recent expansions to the Arts Council include the renovation of new office space in the Greater Trail Community Centre, which they now share with the new Charles Bailey Theatre Box Office. Another exciting new addition to the Council has been the Electronic Message Board located at the Victoria Street parking lot.
The Arts Council encourages artistic activity by members of the community and also tries to give local residents the opportunity to see artistic presentations that may normally only be seen in larger communities. The Arts Council is continuously working at establishing greater partnerships with School District 20, Selkirk College and our local Recreation Department so that we are able to offer more artistic programming for all ages.
We take pride in our ability to offer our community the means to experience and feel the diversity that arts and culture have to share with them.
#1-1501 Cedar Avenue
Trail, BC V1R 4C7
Phone (250) 364-3003
Fax (250) 368-3199
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The VISAC Gallery, originally known as the "Greater Trail Area Creative Activities Centre Society", was incorporated under the Societies Act in May of 1989. The signees of the application for incorporation were all members of the Trail Art Club. This organization had arranged exhibitions of art work for over forty years in a variety of venues, not always easy to arrange to the advantage of the artists. For many years the Art Club members tried to secure a permanent place for easels, library, files, permanent collections of art, pottery and rock and gem shows.
When Selkirk College decided to open a campus in Trail an opportunity was realized that perhaps space in the former Industrial Education area could be structured for a visual arts gallery. When it was finally agreed that this was feasible the late Harry Simpkinson prepared blueprints for the needs of the Visual Arts space. In 1987-88 when the preliminary work was completed, much of it by volunteers, the Art Club members were there to paint the walls and woodwork. The Art Club purchased the carpeting and all the chrome chairs. The large display panels were moved in from storage.
The Gallery now has exhibitions throughout the year, not always local or regional artists. Painters now come from Spokane, Vancouver, Burnaby and the Okanagan.
Several of the visiting artists have also given workshops for local painters wanting to improve their techniques. The Trail and district Community Arts Council has set in motion a Summer School of the Arts which will hopefully grow to attract more people to the Visual and performing arts.
The Gallery is administered by a Board of fifteen members who endeavor to raise funds for the upkeep of the area, and to provide ongoing ever changing exhibitions for the communities in the Greater Trail area.
The Gallery is open six afternoons each week from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. staffed three times by our manager and three times by volunteers from the Board.
Each week two different groups meeting for painting, classes in drawing, painting, and pottery are held through Selkirk College and the local School Board. Every spring two exhibits of the work of students in Trail, Rossland and Beaver Valley are held. Each year the Board organizes Art Walk in the tri-cities. Many local businesses have agreed to hang the works of our local artists. These works are for sale to the general public. Other fund raising is done by the Board such as "An Evening at the Gallery", gourmet hors d'oeuvres, entertainment and an exhibition.
The VISAC is a community Art Gallery and is available to all who enjoy the Visual Arts.
Contact VISAC for the latest exhibition schedule and to find out the meeting times for artist groups.
President: Eleanor Gattafoni-Robinson
Manager: Nell Cavasin
1501 Cedar Avenue
Trail, BC V1R 4C7
Phone: 364-1181 |
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