The Northern Rockies Arts Council serves Fort Nelson and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality in northeastern British Columbia. Our focus is to engage, support and enhance arts and culture in the area through leadership, collaboration and coordination.
Currently, we host two festivals, Cabin Fever Festival of Arts, an intimate winter evening with music, gallery arts featuring local artists and readings from local authors and their submissions to the Winter Words Writing competition. The online portion of Cabin fever festival invites and inspires all skill levels and all forms of art created and shared by local artists through the online galleries, artist’s connection and open creative activities. Viewers will surely find a great prize draw from the NRAC shopping spree of local arts. Visit our recent Cabin Fever festival here.
We also host an annual Street Festival, getting outdoors in the beautiful September weather, with live local music, artists, food, heritage displays, artful activities and fun contests. Happening at our Heritage Museum. Join us on September 8 & 9, 2023. More information about the street festival here.
Our Mission
Our mission is to build a vibrant and inclusive arts and culture scene in our community that celebrates creativity, fosters connection and inspires individuals to engage with their community meaningfully.
Through collaboration with local businesses, organizations, and community leaders, we aim to provide accessible and diverse opportunities for community members of all ages and backgrounds to participate in and experience the arts.
Our goal is to establish a strong sense of community identity and pride through the arts and to cultivate an environment that values and supports local artists and cultural organizations. We are committed to creating a sustainable and thriving arts and culture scene that enriches the lives of everyone in our community.
Our Vision
Our vision is to create a community where arts and culture are at the heart of our identity, and creativity and expression are valued and celebrated. We see a community where people of all ages and backgrounds can access diverse, high-quality arts and culture experiences that inspire, educate, and entertain. We envision a community where local artists and cultural organizations are supported and empowered to create and showcase their work and where the arts serve to build connections and foster social cohesion. Through our efforts, we want to create a community where the arts are a vital component of a healthy and thriving society and where everyone can engage with and benefit from the transformative power of the arts.
Our Values
As an organization dedicated to building arts culture in our community, our values center around creativity, inclusivity, collaboration, and community engagement. We believe in the following:
Creativity: Creativity is essential to a thriving arts culture and should be encouraged and celebrated in all forms, from traditional to modern.
Inclusivity: We value diversity and strive to create an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone can participate and feel represented.
Collaboration: Collaboration is vital to building a vibrant arts culture, and we seek to develop partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community members to achieve our goals.
Community Engagement: The arts can unite people and create community. We are committed to engaging with our community to create meaningful and impactful skills and cultural experiences.
Accessibility: We believe that the arts should be accessible to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status or background. We strive to create opportunities for all community members to participate in and experience the arts.
Sustainability: We believe in creating a sustainable arts culture that supports local artists and cultural organizations and contributes to our community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being.
Our Officers
Katelyn Vandersteen – President
Katelyn was born and raised in Fort Nelson and has been involved with the NRAC for several years. She first joined as a Director-at-Large, later served as Vice-President, and now has the pleasure of serving as President.
She is a creative writer and is currently working toward publishing her first book, with hopes of release in 2027. She is passionate about supporting and encouraging artists of all kinds, including writers, singers, performers, painters, and more. Her goal is to help foster a vibrant and inclusive arts community where creativity in all its forms can thrive.
Alexis Jorgensen – Secretary
Alexis joined the Northern Rockies Arts Council at the end of 2024. Art wise, she is mainly a musician, a bit of a writer, and enjoys dabbling in other art forms. She’s also an environmental biologist, allowing nature to inspire both her professional and artistic interests.
Seanah Roper – Treasurer
Seanah Roper is a writer of fiction and poetry and a long-term resident of the Northern Rockies. She is passionate about community arts and supporting creators and makers in the region. Seanah completed her BA in English Literature at Thompson Rivers University and her MA in Adult Education and Cultural Studies from Athabasca University. She is the Executive Director of the Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society.
Amber Lloyd – Director at Large
Amber has been a part of the Fort Nelson community for over 25 years and is excited to be a part of the NRAC since 2024. As an artist herself she enjoys supporting, encouraging and experiencing other artists journeys. Finding ways to support all stages and forms of artists, either beginner, expert or hobbyist in promoting their works or supporting new opportunities for the local arts community in the Northern Rockies through funding opportunities with NRAC has been very rewarding and exciting to be a part of. As a fairly new member of the board she is enjoying learning and being a part of the NRAC team and hope to continue for many years to come.