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Arts society's Valentine's raffle will help keep staff employed

Generous artists will help Pacific Rim Arts Society counter cuts to grant funding

The Pacific Rim Arts Society is holding a raffle that is close to executive director Kelly Deakin's heart.

The Valentine's Raffle features three original paintings and a limited number of raffle tickets. That in itself makes it special, but for Deakin it's much more. This raffle is being held to help keep staff employed after a funding shortfall earlier this year.

The PRAS relies on grant funding to operate, just like other non-profit arts and culture organizations. This year they were hit with a $10,000 cut in funding. Deakin is full time and she has a part-time employee as well. The funding cut could mean layoffs and may affect programming.

"We're trying to raise funds for operating," explained Deakin. "Since COVID-19 there's been so many different arts councils and arts societies and arts groups pop up. 

"There's so many more entities applying for the same funding," she said. "The funding has to be spread so much thinner."

Normally Pacific Rim Arts Society receives $25,000 in annual operating funds from various sources; this year they only received $15,000. Deakin hopes to make up the $10,000 shortfall through the raffle.

The small Pacific Rim Arts Society runs four major festivals per year in Ucluelet, Deakin said, including Art Splash, the Summer Festival and the Cultural Festival. That doesn't include exhibits at their small gallery and other programs such as Battle of the Bands, which just wrapped up at the ANAF hall last weekend. While they receive B.C. Gaming funds for festivals, that does not include operating funds, she explained.

Three artists have donated paintings for the raffle. Mark Penney donated a 24-inch-by-48-inch acrylic on canvas titled '?uuqsap (Serenity).' Shannon McWhinney donated a 24-inch-by-36-inch acrylic on canvas titled 'The Offering.' Monique Schmaltz donated an 18-inch-by-36.5-inch acrylic on canvas titled 'Amongst the Trees.' The three paintings combined are worth more than $6,000.

"All three of them generously donated these pieces of art," Deakin said. All three of them have ties to Ucluelet and support the art scene that supports them.

"For $50 somebody could be gaining a beautiful original painting."

Tickets are available at the Orange Door Gallery, 9-250 Main Street in Ucluelet or call Kelly Deakin at 250-266-2214. Tickets are $50 each and only 200 have been printed.

A draw will be made on Friday, Feb. 14 at 3 p.m. Winners will be notified by telephone.

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Susie Quinn

About the Author: Susie Quinn

A journalist since 1987, I have been the Alberni Valley News editor since August 2006.
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