“Bringing People and the Arts Together”: OSAC Regional Meeting held in Leader April 23rd
By Mallory Cawthra
The Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) Board and Regional Meeting was held in Leader on Saturday, April 23rd at the Leader Community Centre. The Leader and District Arts Council (LDAC) hosted the meeting with arts council members in attendance from Leader, Kindersley, and the Jasper Centre in Maple Creek. Community Consultant Elizabeth Heatcoat from the South West District for Culture, Recreation and Sport was also present at the meeting and provided valuable insight.
The regional meeting in Leader was much anticipated after two years of cancellations; the meetings are held in various communities throughout the province to engage both numerous and diverse participants. OSAC Executive Director Kevin Korchinski commented that, “The regional meeting is a board favourite in addition to being an important meeting where everyone gets to meet and engage with one another, get a feel for what happens in the different communities, and provide valuable feedback in regards to focus group questions.” The membership broke out into smaller groups at the meeting and discussed focus group questions with board members – providing valuable insight, sharing their feedback, suggestions and new ideas for the future.
OSAC is the umbrella organization for arts councils and school centres throughout Saskatchewan and relies on dedicated volunteers to coordinate activities. Kevin Korchinski further added that the regional meeting provides the membership with an opportunity to learn about board governance and how it operates in regards to big picture thinking, versus at the local arts council level. There is also the opportunity to foster relationships and as Elizabeth Heatcoat said, “…look at challenges and successes with a fresh set of eyes.”
Elizabeth Heatcoat shared that, “The most important work the South West District for Culture, Recreation, and Sport can do is meet with the organization and its leaders that are doing the amazing work of delivering programs in their communities. Through these meetings we can help identify potential funding opportunities, suggest programs and partnerships that might be a good fit and offer both accessible and affordable training opportunities.”
OSAC Chair and LDAC President Treena Redman reflected, “I know from personal experience that arts council members come away from the regional meeting feeling energized and with a list of new ideas that they want to pursue with their own arts councils.” The OSAC Board wrapped up their amazing and productive weekend in Leader with an excursion to the Great Sandhills of Southwestern Saskatchewan.
Back row (L-R): Gladys McCarthy, Mallory Cawthra from leader arts council, Carolyn Nixon, Jean McKendry from Jasper Centre in Maple Creek. Middle row (L-R): Ann Norgan, Lorie Andreas, Cheryl Cocks from Leader arts council, Fran Karakochuk, Kevin Korchinski. Front row (L-R): Pamela Sifert, Secretary for leader arts council, Melinda Sumner, president of Kindersley and district arts council, Treena Redman, Chair of OSAC and President of Leader Arts Council, Marc Holt.
Kevin Korchinski, Executive Director of OSAC, Ann Norgan, Director of Moosomin and District Arts Council, Treena Redman, Chair of Osac and President of Leader and District Arts Council, Fran Karakochuk, Director of Prince Albert Council for the Arts, Marc Holt, Vice Chair of Yorkton Arts Council, Gladys McCarthy, Director of Kindersley and District Arts Council.
