The Penticton & District Community Arts Council needs a helping hand.
Sixty-plus years old and impressively versatile, the non-profit organization has long been integral in the Penticton arts scene. These days, it facilitates cool local events like the Art Walk, runs a wide variety of popular workshops and exhibitions, promotes local artists and artistic enterprises across the region, provides a pair of "Arts Matter" bursaries to local high school students, and more.
But it's had a bit of a tough time recently.
For starters, its Leir House HQ has been the ongoing victim of vandalism. There's been a variety of incidents in the past few months and years, leaving doors and windows damaged, drug paraphernalia scattered about the grounds, graffiti scrawled on multiple surfaces and anxious people fretting over their safety.
In the latest episode, said Arts Council administrator Bethany Handfield, the thugs "breached a door and actually got into the building."
The continuing criminal activity has left the Arts Council holding the bag for several unplanned repairs. Plus, added Handfield, the Council needs to fund those bursaries.
"We give out two a year at $1000 each," she said. "One for Pen High and one for Princess Margaret grad students. We raised them from $750 each last year to account for the cost of everything going up."
Making matters worse, the 2022 holiday "giving season" wasn't quite as giving as years past.
"Donations were really down this last holiday," said Handfield. "They weren't coming in, yet costs were continuing to rise."
However, there is a ray of hope on the horizon -- a chance for locals to pitch in while having a fun night out.
On February 25th, the Council will hold a "Rock 'N Roll Fundraiser" at Clancy's Pub and Grill -- a killer double bill combining the punk/funk/skunk musings of Penticton's own "The Flannel Contract" and the racy rockabilly of Kelowna's "The Dragstrip Devils."
It'll be a raucous, riotous evening with a minimalistic $10 cover.
"I decided to organize this event to fun-draise for the PDCAC because they work so hard to support our community and local artists," said PDCAC Board President Stacy Franck.
"My goal is to raise $4000 to support the two local high school bursaries we give each year and assist with necessary Leir House repairs so the many groups that call the Leir House home can enjoy it safely."
Tickets to the event, which will feature prize draws, raffles and food and bevvie specials in addition to awesome music, are available (cash only) in advance at Clancy's at 333 Martin St. and The Grooveyard record shop at 239 Main, and at the door on the night of.
Even if you can’t make it, you can make a difference. Anyone wanting to sponsor the event can donate items by contacting Stacy Franck at stacy.franck@
Doors open at 7 pm, Feb 25 at Clancy's Pub & Grill, 333 Martin St.
For more info, head here.
