Meet new Board Member Chalynne Cowan!
The Kamloops Arts Council is excited to welcome Chalynne Cowan to its Board of Directors! An overseas teacher of Secondary Art and English for nearly a decade, Chalynne brings an educator’s perspective to the Board, a great benefit when considering all of the KAC’s youth-focused programming. Through her work as a teacher, Chalynne has “witnessed firsthand the profound impact the arts can have on individuals and communities,” which has fostered a great passion for the subject that she hopes to share with the Kamloops community. Her admittance to the board is not Chalynne’s first experience with the KAC or a Kamloops-based committee; in February 2023 she became a member of the Kamloops Heritage Railway, which partook in staple KAC events Art in the Park and the Children’s Arts Festival.
Currently, Chalynne is embarking on a rousing new adventure on Vancouver Island, where she will reside and teach as a Secondary Teacher for six months while contributing to the Board remotely. She is excited to teach, of course,but is also hoping the change in environment will afford her some quiet time to refine sketchbook concepts into finished pieces, something she hasn’t had much time for since returning to Canada in 2022. Her most recent completed work was a collaboration with the previously mentioned Kamloops Heritage Railway. Chalynne, along with assistance from Carol Moorhead and Lachlan Gonzales, was able to complete a mural within one of the KHR’s train cars that served as a backdrop to a model of early to mid-20th century Kamloops developed by KHR volunteers. Chalynne works primarily with paint as her medium but is also interested in sculpting.
Looking to the future, Chalynne expresses a great appreciation for what the KAC already does for the community. “I know that the KAC enhances our city by empowering established artists to nurture emerging talents, and our shared commitment to promoting the arts has the potential to inspire and uplift countless lives.” She continues, “KAC stands as a beacon of inclusivity, dedicated to supporting established artists and nurturing the budding creativity within our community. I am deeply moved by the organization’s dedication to art education, performing arts, and the creation of community events that unite us in celebration of our shared cultural tapestry.” She hopes to build on this established reputation the KAC has garnered itself, noting that she joined the Board with the goals of collaboration and innovation and to strive towards making a “meaningful impact” on the community. “I am eager to contribute my skills, insights, and unwavering passion for the arts to our collective efforts, ensuring that our non-profit continues to be a force for positive change in the artistic landscape. … I look forward to meeting and working with [the Board] as we weave the threads of creativity into the fabric of our community and beyond. Here’s to a future filled with artistic brilliance, educational empowerment, and the joy of creating a harmonious, vibrant world through the arts.”
Check out the KAC Board Members here!