by Andrew Zwicker on Wednesday Dec 01 2010
Old BMO building in the snow - Andrew Zwicker photo
When you think about the culture of Rossland you probably pull up the first two unmistakable pieces of the puzzle: a strong outdoor sporting culture and an impressive and continually growing arts scene. A more recent development, spearheaded by the Economic Development Task Force as part of the Strategic Sustainability Commission, has been sparked by the sale and refurbishment of the old Bank of Montreal Building by Fletcher Quince. While still in the early concept stages, the requisite stars seem to be aligning nicely for a project that hopes to bring Rossland’s less-well known business culture to the forefront. Indeed, the hope is that a new business centre on the top floor of the BMO building might lead the charge out of the basements and guest rooms of the many small businesses in Rossland as well as attract new business folk to town.
by Andrew Zwicker on Wednesday Sep 01 2010
Roberta Post doing some finishing work on the new space
Two years into its mission to boldly go where art hasn’t gone before in Rossland, the little gallery that could is taking things up a notch and making another big leap forward.
Initially launched in September of 2008, the Rouge Gallery has been a cooperative non-profit effort organized, owned and operated by the local artists it supports. During the past two years, Rouge has supported and promoted over 20 local artists and has succeeded in achieving financial sustainability. In the world of small town, artist-run galleries, the ability to break even is truly a commendable feat.