Community Arts Council set to make digital media more accessible to Prince George
By Kate Partridge, CFUR/Local Journalism Initiative
The Community Arts Council is launching Arts North Media and the Arts North Digital Studio, a new digital media space dedicated to supporting artists and community members through online skills development and access to digital resources.
The initiative, currently housed at Studio 2880 above the gift shop, includes a podcasting space, space for technology-focuses workshops and youth programming, a photography and graphics bay, and an artist’s reception lounge. While the need to pivot online and expand programming to digital technologies has been underlined by the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Arts Council program manager Lisa Redpath says the conversation that led to Arts North Media has been ongoing for years. The Community Arts Council team has been planning for their move to a new space downtown, currently scheduled for Spring 2023. This process included research into the operations of other arts organizations in BC and beyond. “We really felt that a technology center was something that was needed and certainly was adapted into other centers currently running and we thought this was an amazing idea for us,” says Redpath.
Photography studio and workshop area at the new Arts North Digital Studio. Photo courtesy of the Community Arts Council. Taken by Micahel Kast.
Graphic designer and podcaster, Michael Kast, has been operating his platform, Arts North, for some time, hosting podcasts and building an online community. He continues at the helm of this expanded version of Arts North in partnership with the Community Arts Council. Kast is largely self taught and gives credit to CFIS 93.1FM, local community radio station, where he hosts a blues show for providing him the facilities to learn. Kast is looking forward to offering the same opportunity to others through the Arts North Digital Studio. “To be able to provide the technology for people [and] the education, not just for creatives but anyone interested in disseminating information... I just love the fact that we can offer them a way to do that.”
The Community Arts Council has been operating in Prince George for over 50 years and has learned to adapt to the changing needs of the community. Redpath says that listening is key to ensure the continued relevance and service to the community. The work is only just beginning as the plans are made public and the space begins to be utilized by the community. For Redpath, Kast, and the team behind Arts North Media and Digital Studio, today’s launch is a triumph. “There's always a few elements that are outstanding. But, you know, within the next month, we will pull everything together... Today we celebrate.”
For more information, visit Arts North on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and Anchor-FM.
Visit the Community Arts Council of Prince George online, on Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.
Listen to the interview with Lisa Redpath and Michael Kast on CFUR-FM:
CFUR gratefully acknowledges the support of the Local Journalism Initiative and the Community Radio Fund of Canada / Fonds canadien de la radio communautaire
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