Living Cultures – Indigenous Artist Profiles

Living Cultures – Indigenous Artist Profiles

By Digital Field Trips
In the summer of 2019, the Royal British Columbia Museum held the first iteration of the Indigenous Summer Arts Studio. This program was a revitalization of a previous carving studio that operated in Thunderbird park from 1952 to 2008. Each week showcased different featured artists and media, such as beadwork, carving, painting and cedar weaving. The Indigenous Summer Arts Studio provided a space for Indigenous artists to learn from one another and share their work, talents and cultures with the public. Providing these opportunities for cultural exchanges was the core of this program. Due to COVID-19, we were unable to host this program in subsequent summers. However, we have continued to find opportunities to share these artists’ talents. In the summer of 2021, we began filming interviews and demonstrations with previous artist participants. Videos covered topics such as Métis beadwork, native plants, drum-making and more. While we know nothing can replace face-to-face interactions and conversations with artists, these videos will help you learn from Indigenous artists in new ways. We hope that as you view these videos and learn from a number of past participants of the Indigenous Summer Arts Studio, you will gain a greater understanding of Indigenous culture as you witness it thriving today.