Quesnel & District Community Arts Council
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Welcome to the 
Quesnel and District ​Community Arts Council
(QDCAC)

​Serving the Quesnel Arts & Cultural Community since 1973!

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  • About Us
  • Project Support Grants
  • Piano Rentals
  • News & Events
  • Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
  • Member Groups
  • Gallery of Honour
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Make a Donation
  • Become A Member
  • Future Performing Arts / Cultural Centre
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us
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About Us:
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  • Misson Statement

  • Board of Directors

  • Project Support Grants

  • Bursary Committee

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  • Mission Statement:
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    ​​The Quesnel and District Community Arts Council (QDCAC) was incorporated on November 21st, 1973, under certificate number S-10568. The Arts Council is a not-for-profit society whose mandate is to initiate, promote, and develop understanding, involvement and support for arts, heritage and culture. This responsibility is fulfilled through advocacy, education, coordination, and communication, for the enrichment of the lives of the people of Quesnel and District.  
  • 2024-25 Board of Directors

    President:  VACANT
    Vice President:  VACANT
    Secretary:  Colleen Gauthier 
    Treasurer: VACANT
    Director:  Katherin Midzain
    Director:  Lois Flanagan

    Director:  Marguerite Hall
    Director:  Morleen Gauthier
    Director:  Cathy Heinzelman 

  • ​Project Support Grants:

    Project Support Grants information
    Click image above to download the information sheet and the application form
    This funding is available to non-profit community groups to support and develop arts and culture in the Quesnel and North Cariboo Regional District.

    Project Support Grants of between $300 and $1500 are available for projects which:
    •  are new or build creatively on previous work
    •  are likely to increase participation in arts & culture
    •  take place within the Quesnel and/or CRD Areas
    •  project must be completed within 1 year of funds being allotted
    •  include some financial or in-kind contribution by the applicant.
    •  the deadline for Project Support Grant applications is at the  January  QDCAC General Meeting. 
    •  Final report due 30 days after completion of Project Activities.

    The funding for Project Support Grants is made available from BC Arts Council and the Quesnel and District Community Arts Council Fund Raising Activities and made available through the Quesnel and District Community Arts Council.

    Applicants will be notified of the decision of the Quesnel and District Community Arts Council Member Grants Committee.


    Grants will be awarded at the Annual General Meeting of the Quesnel and District Community Arts Council.

    For further information or application forms contact:

    QDCAC Executive Director: Dina Unrau
    ​at 250 992 8200 Ext 8 or Cell 250 255 4868
    Email us at: [email protected]  
  • Bursary Committee:
    ​

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    A Bursary Committee is established each year along with a budget.  The financial commitment is relayed to School District 28’s Bursary and Scholarship Committee which returns completed applications to the Bursary Committee for adjudication.  The main requirement is that the student is continuing their post-secondary studies in any one of the Arts.
     
    There are two "named" awards:  The Bernice Heinzelman Bursary and the Brenda Smith Award.
     
    The Quesnel and District Community Arts Council also gives an award and, has the discretion at the time of establishing the budget, to add one or more as funds are available. These awards may be a Scholarship (based on achievement) or a Bursary (based on need).


    ​Previous Bursary Recipients:
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    Alexi Howe 2024
    Alexi Howe 2024
    Kenny Spooner 2024
    Kenny Spooner 2024
    Paige Higgs 2024
    Paige Higgs 2024
    Naylene Runge 2023 Bernice Heinzelman Bursary
    2023 - Naylene Runge - Bernice Heinzelman Bursary
    Noah Sisson Carlson QDCAC 2023 Bursary
    2023 - Noah Sisson Carlson - QDCAC Bursary
    2020 - Lucy Jespersen - $300 QDCAC Bursary
    2020 - Lucy Jespersen - $300 QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Sierra Moore - $200 QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Sierra Moore - $200 QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Nicolas Palmer - $--- QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Nicolas Palmer - $--- QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Mattias Aaslie - $--- QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Mattias Aaslie - $--- QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Lexi Plante - $300 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2019 - Lexi Plante - $300 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2019 - Garret Poitras - $200 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2019 - Garret Poitras - $200 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2019 - Amber Proudfoot - $300 QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Amber Proudfoot - $300 QDCAC Bursary
    2019 - Alefa Sakakibara - $200 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2019 - Alefa Sakakibara - $200 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2018 - Vanessa Pizzey - $200 QDCAC Bursary
    2018 - Vanessa Pizzey - $200 QDCAC Bursary
    2018 - Loraine Marshall - $200 QDCAC Bursary
    2018 - Loraine Marshall - $200 QDCAC Bursary
    2018 - Brooke Churchhill - $400 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2018 - Brooke Churchhill - $400 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2017 - Emma de Blois - $200 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2017 - Emma de Blois - $200 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2016 - Crystal Massey - $300 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2016 - Crystal Massey - $300 Brenda Smith Bursary
    2016 - Brianna MacCrimmon - $250 QDCAC Bursary
    2016 - Brianna MacCrimmon - $250 QDCAC Bursary
    2008 - Bethany Wallis - $--- QDCAC Bursary
    2008 - Bethany Wallis - $--- QDCAC Bursary


​Piano
Info:

​Piano Committee:
The Piano Committee writes policy regarding the use and storage of the two Pianos currently in the care of the Quesnel and District Community Arts Council. They also take a personal interest in ensuring that the pianos are maintained properly, Due to the piano's history in our community - it has been played upon by some of the world's top pianists including Jon Kimura Parker, Janina Fialkowska, Mikael Kasehammer as well as generations of local students….it will need some vital maintenance done when a permanent home in a Performing Arts Centre is built. The QDCAC has established a Fund to pay for these repairs which will involve the case being shipped to the Yamaha repair shop in the lower mainland.

The Grand Piano (Yamaha 6.5 ft. Model), made available through community fund-raising, is stored at the Chuck Mobley Theatre within the Correlieu Secondary School. It is used, primarily, for concerts held at that location. A second, upright Piano (Yamaha Upright Model) was purchased with legacy funds from the 1993 Northern B.C. Winter Games. It is stored and used, primarily, for functions at the Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre.

Arrangements for the rental of either instrument can be made through the Art Gallery at the Quesnel and District Arts and Recreation Centre. The Gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., or a message can be left at 250-991 4014.


​News and Events:
​

QDCAC  ​Events:

Check Out Our Facebook Page
Check Out Our Instagram Feed
Quesnel Arts Council Presents...
In this video series, the Quesnel Arts Council celebrates local artists. We now have 28 videos for you to enjoy. Click image below to go to the playlist.
Quesnel Arts Council Presents YouTube Playlist
AGM invitation and Volunteers
Click image below  to download
​ our current brochure
2023-24 brochure
Click image below  to open
​the Events Calendar
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Children's Concert
​Committee:

is committed to bringing quality and affordable entertainment to our community for the enjoyment of the children and their families.

Children's Festival poster

Member Group ​Events:

Quesnel Art Gallery April Show
QAGS May show poster


​Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Logo
More Info About Program
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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

1995 – Entertainment icon and savvy businesswoman, Dolly Parton, founded the Imagination Library. She was inspired by her father’s inability to read or write. The program started as a local effort in Dolly’s home in Tennessee. In hopes of inspiring a love of reading and learning from a young age, the program mails one free, age-appropriate book to registered children each month. The first book order totaled 1,760 books.

2001 – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library saw program expansion with 27 affiliates operating in 11 states across the nation. Local sponsors around the country came forward to support the program’s expansion which seeded the program within their United Way organizations.

2002 – United Way organizations helped Imagination Library reach thousands of children in Native American communities throughout the US. 2003 – The organization sent their one millionth free book! 

2003 – The organization sent their one millionth free book! 

2005 – An International Book Committee was formed to choose age-appropriate books for Imagination Library. With the help of Penguin Group USA, the newly formed committee selected the book titles to ensure every child received the best books possible. This move was the first step in transitioning into an international organization. Soon Imagination Library would extend into Canada followed by the United Kingdom and Australia.

2006 – Dolly bounced onto a stage in Toronto to announce that the Imagination Library will now be available to children in Canadian communities. For the first time, the program crossed an international border with the goal to make the program Canada’s own unique attempt to instill a love for reading in all of her children.  2009 – In the United Kingdom, the 100,000th book was distributed, and in Canada the number of children participating each month increased by over 100%. Partnerships with Rotary International and United Way were announced.

2010 – Dolly presented the 25 millionth Imagination Library book and by the end of the year the 30 millionth book had been mailed.  2011 – The Imagination Library announced a partnership with The American Printing House for the Blind. Audio versions of many of the Imagination Library books were created for children with visual impairments. – Following the success of the audio books, some Imagination Library books will be made available in Braille.

2015 – The 20th anniversary culminated with a record-breaking performance that both extended and deepened the program across the world. The Book Selection Committee chose 12 bilingual Spanish titles for the USA and 10 new titles with more specific Canadian content. 

2016 – The program celebrated the “One Million A Month” milestone at Dolly’s sold-out concert benefiting the Imagination Library. 

2021 – The program is started in Quesnel and Area with a partnership between the Quesnel and District Community Arts Council, Literacy Quesnel Society and the CRD Library. The 1st book will be delivered around the beginning of May 2021. 

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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Now Available in Quesnel!
The Quesnel Arts Council in partnership with the Quesnel Library are proud to bring you the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program.

The Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family's income.


Must live in Quesnel or surrounding area.
Click to Download the Registration Form

Member Groups
​
The Quesnel and District Community Arts Council serves as an umbrella organization
for many of the arts and cultural societies currently functioning in our community.


Read more about our Member Groups...


​Gallery of
​Honour:



​“To honor those who have made significant contributions to the community through the Arts over many years, as artists, as educators, as friends of and advocates for the arts.”
Download 2024 Nomination Form
​The Gallery of Honour was established in 1997 and is presented every two years “To honour those who have made significant contributions to the community through the Arts over many years, as artists, ​as educators, as friends of and advocates for the arts.” …. come and see the past recipients on the wall of the Quesnel Arts and Rec Centre around the wheelchair ramp.

Any person residing in the Quesnel and District area that has been involved in the Arts, at some time in their life is eligible to be nominated.

There are three awards: Youth (category is up to age 26), Adult and Posthumous.


Nominations open in September of the celebratory year. The celebrations are planned by a volunteer committee, preferably to be shared with a Show Opening Reception with the Art Gallery during the following February.
See Previous Recipients
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​Past Gallery of Honour Recipients:
​

​2022:  
Youth Award – Larissa Munch
Youth Award – Elledae Armstrong

2018:
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Adult Award - JEAN SPEARE
Posthumous Award - BRANWEN PATENAUDE


2016:
Betsy van Halderen
, Adult Award

Shirley Cotter, Posthumous Award
Murray Boal, Posthumous Award

2014:
Don Hendry
, Adult Award

Judy Crannis, Adult Award

Deni Johnson, Adam Johnson, Youth Award

2012:
Margo Rose, Adult Award
Maggie Ferguson-Dumais, Adult Award
Noreen Halleran, Posthumous Award

2010:
Pat Hartley, Adult Award
Richard Sutton, Youth Award
William (Bill) Wood, Posthumous Award

2008:
Anne Garry, Adult Award
Lena Cuglietta, Youth Award
Mary Girvin, Posthumous Award

2006:
Pete Ketchum
, West Fraser Mills, Corporate Award

Pat Wahlstrom, Adult Award
Frank Robinson, Posthumous Award

2004:
Barry McKillican, Adult Award
Jessie Herman, Youth Award
Frank Hennessy, Posthumous Award

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​Volunteer
Opportunities:

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Volunteers Wanted poster
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​DONATIONS:



​QDCAC initiates, promotes & develops excellence in the arts by engaging the community in the Arts, Culture and Heritage.  Click the link below to learn more about our many ongoing projects and events.  Donations are always welcome to help us continue to bring arts and culture to our community!
Click Here to Make a Donation to the Quesnel Arts Council


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​MEMBERSHIPS:



​Why should you join the Quesnel Community Arts Council?
TO CONNECT ~ TO COLLABORATE ~ TO CONTRIBUTE​
We have two membership levels: 
Individual Membership at $10 per year and
Group Membership at $30 per year. 
​Membership Fees are due by April 1st each year.
For more information and details please click the link below. 
Membership Information and Application

Future Performing Arts
& Cultural Centre
​Quesnel Arts & Culture Impact Assessment
Kickoff Meeting - May 2, 2023 -  Slide Show
Slide Show cover page
Download Impact Assessment Slide Show PDF

"We Acknowledge that we live, work and play on the unceded traditional territories of the Lhtako Dene Nation" 

Sponsors & Funding Agencies 2019-2023:
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    Please contact us with any questions you have by
    using the form below:

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Submit
Our Mailing Address is:
Quesnel and District Community Arts Council
500 North Star Road
Quesnel, BC V2J 5P6

Phone: 250-992-8200 Ext 8

© COPYRIGHT 2018-25 Quesnel and District Community Arts Council
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