The Kamloops Arts Council (KAC) has a new Executive Director, one who is no stranger to the area: Terri Hadwin, who was for several years the Chief Operating Officer of the Gold Country Communities Society (GCCS) based in Cache Creek.
The KAC’s board of directors announced Hadwin’s appointment late last month. She takes over from Kamloops councillor Kathy Sinclair, who was the KAC’s Executive Director for seven years. “I’ve put my heart into developing the KAC over the past seven years,” says Sinclair.
“I’m delighted we’ve found someone I can ‘pass the torch to’, and am sincerely looking forward to seeing Terri Hadwin take the organization even farther.”
Hadwin left GCCS in February 2018 for a contract position with Shuswap Tourism. When she saw the posting for the KAC position, she said she realized everything she missed about being with Gold Country.
“[The KAC] is a very community-oriented organization. I like to be hands-on with the community, and give my all to an organization that’s making strides towards it goals and mandate.”
Hadwin—who took over the new position on March 1—says she’s certainly on a learning curve, and that it’s a demanding position. “There are a lot of things to pick up. Right now we’re working on the strategic plan, which was in motion before I began. We have to look at what we want to continue doing: build membership? New programs?
“I’ll be doing grant writing and building the membership. We’re doing great things already, but the membership wants us to do more, wants us to build our profile in the community, and promote artists in our community.”
David Olds, President of the Kamloops Arts Council, says “We are extremely excited to have Terri join the team at the Kamloops Arts Council. Her past experience in the local region will be a huge asset to the KAC.”
The board of directors says that Hadwin was selected as the KAC Executive Director as she has extensive experience in management, fundraising, public speaking, and event coordination.
Hadwin says that “With Gold Country, I learned how to manage and grow a society that had finite resources. I’ve learned that with a passionate Board, enthusiastic members, caring volunteers, and a great team of staff, an organization’s accomplishments are limitless.
“I’m highly driven to see the arts continue to be available and encouraged with people of all ages in our community. The events and the programs that the Kamloops Arts Council currently offer are well attended and appreciated, and I intend to work hard to keep them thriving.”
Hadwin’s first major public outing with the KAC was at the opening of the 2019 Art Exposed Regional Exhibition on March 8. It’s an annual KAC event, and an equal opportunity exhibition where emerging, established, and youth artists from the entire Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) are invited to showcase their work, this year through March 16 at the Old Courthouse Gallery.
“This year there are more than 200 pieces from artists throughout the TNRD,” says Hadwin. “And I’d really like to thank our sponsors: the TNRD, New Gold, Petland, Purity Feed, and Kamloops Film Fest.”
The Kamloops Arts Council is a non-profit organization devoted to the development and enhancement of the arts in the Kamloops area, and has been an established part of the arts community for more than 50 years.
Hadwin says that while the KAC is probably best known for the visual arts, she wants to let people know that it’s about all the arts, and open to all arts groups in the area.
“The Kamloops Arts Council is very inclusive of everyone,” says Hadwin. “And membership is open to all.”
To learn more about the Kamloops Arts Council, go to www.kamloopsarts.ca.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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