Our Creative Community

“The work of Creative Community builders is to engage communities in holistic developmental processes that enable them to come together to “create the village that raises a child” by involving all community elements in making life more meaningful, productive, joyous and beautiful for all its inhabitants.” Author Unknown The Okanagan School of the Arts, with its intention “To Awaken the Creative Spirit”, understands the importance of connecting local arts and culture with the audience, in an interactive, experiential process. This connection, when engaging, can be transformational for everyone involved. Plan to participate in Penticton’s Creative Community by performing, listening, dancing, experiencing or expressing your self, this summer and beyond.

3rd Urban Renaissance ~ Celebrating in the Heart of the City
Merchants, artists, performers and the public take part in this three month experience in Uptown Penticton during the summer. The intention is to allow creative process to transform the urban landscape through temporary display and interactive entertainment. Each year we set the stage by calling for proposals from the creative community and look forward to developing these proposals into events or projects. A few of the Urban Renaissance projects include:

100 Monkeys ~ Individuals create their own monkeys, usually in the Renaissance Studio, with materials and substrate provided. These 4’x 4’monkeys develop their own personality and connect with each other like a barrel of monkeys, to become a collective art piece. There are only 100 monkeys and each individual is acknowledged for their individual contribution to the whole. If you are inspired to paint your monkey, contact OSA at 493-0390.

Penultimate Penticton ~ The City of Penticton’s City Street banners are the ideal canvases to portray the beauty and uniqueness of the South Okanagan. OSA’s design team, which includes visual interpreter Larry Hunter, portray local landmarks and landscapes, while featuring such themes as the environment and species at risk.

24~Tychs ~ 24 individual panels are hand painted by a team of artists each year. These colourful panels hang on the city streets throughout the year and later are installed together as a collective. Last year’s ‘Fruitaissance’ was the first of these playful mosaics to adorn the city centre, hanging above the Urban Renaissance Garden. Look for this year’s latest design, along with the new individual panels that will hang on Main Street. Take a look and see if you can put together the clues for next year’s 24~tych!

Urban Renaissance Garden ~ This community gathering place, at the 300 block of Main Street, is a collective project, sponsored by the Downtown Penticton Association and the Okanagan School of the Arts. Xeriscape plants are donated by a variety of local nurseries, art work hangs on adjoining walls, story boards with images and photos enhance the experience and you are invited to participate, in whatever way inspires you.