June 26 – 28th, 2026 | artswellsfestival@imarts.com | 1 250 994 3466

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  • A year of rest – ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art will take a hiatus through 2021

    For immediate release.

    Hey Folks:

    Elyssia Sasaki here from Island Mountain Arts.

    Since November 2020, I’ve been the Executive Artistic Director of Island Mountain Arts, and the next steward of the ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art.  

    Though we are incredibly encouraged by the progress we see from the government on the road to restarting live events and returning to large gatherings, our organization will be taking a year of time away from the festival to restructure and rebuild for a gathering in the summer of 2022. 

    The legacy of this festival, the artists who have graced these stages and the relationships, the memories that have been built as a result of this gathering are nothing short of remarkable. I am humbled by the work that has been entrusted to me by my predecessor Julie Fowler, and the incredible list of artists, staff, organizers and volunteers that have offered me their time and knowledge to see this event continue. 

    It’s important to acknowledge that as we return to events, we intend to do so with the well-being and safety of our communities at the core of our hearts, on the top of our minds and in the actions we undertake.

    I do not take this restructuring lightly. We are changing. Our region’s past with gold mining is poised to become our present and foreseeable future, and much in the way of listening and sharing and understanding must occur. Festivals province-wide are promising returns that are bigger and better than ever. It is my hope that as we bring gathering back, it is a reflection of who we are and how we have grown over the course of the pandemic.

    Island Mountain Arts is continuing to look to ways to gather this summer, as restrictions ease and events become possible once again, and we thank you for your patience as we navigate this. 


    With deep respect.

    Elyssia Sasaki

    For Island Mountain Arts

    On the shared territories of the Secwépemc and Dakelh peoples
    elyssia@imarts.com

  • Post

    2022 02 18…Island Mountain Arts invites our friends back to Wells through the ‘Seasonal s’Wells’ performance series. 

    As an acknowledgment of the nature of this moment in time, Island Mountain Arts will not be hosting the ArtsWells Festival of All Things Arts in the summer of 2022. 

    “We understand that this may be a difficult piece of news for our friends who are really hoping to gather with the ArtsWells Family,” says Executive/Artistic Director Elyssia Sasaki, who joined Island Mountain Arts (the host organization of the ArtsWells Festival since 2004) in October 2020. “We are heartened to see the work that some festivals are undertaking in small towns and northern places to allow audiences and artists to connect, and we hope that the performance series will also play a part in the way 2022 unfolds.” 

    These ‘s’Wells’ events will take place throughout the spring and summer, largely thanks to financial support from the Province of British Columbia.


    “We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our public funders at all levels of government, and the ongoing advocates for our sector,” says Sasaki. “No one has a crystal ball looking into this coming year, but moving forward safely is the number one priority for us as a rural arts organization, and coming back to gathering in large groups may be jarring after 2 years of changes and growth. In many ways, it feels like starting over, and we need to walk before we run.”

    To bring this all to life, Island Mountain Arts is seeking musicians, literary artists, dancers, theatrical practitioners and more to illuminate this corridor of the Cariboo region. Artist applications are open now. Calls for volunteers, event staff, support, and vendors will open as events begin to fall into place. Events will take place on multiple dates, with some as early as March.

    “The idea is to build some theme and atmosphere around these events. Events that match our architecture in Wells, complement the landscape, mesh with our community partners, and acknowledge the anniversaries we are celebrating.” 

    Island Mountain Arts turns 45 this year, having run its first Summer School of the Arts in 1977. This year, in addition to the Summer s’Wells programming, they are also hoping to continue the Arts and the Forest program (Art + The Forest) which was launched in partnership with the Wells-Barkerville Community Forest in summer 2021. A call for expressions of interest to facilitate weekday and weekend programs around this theme can be found posted on their website (‘Get Involved’).

    Artist applications can be found here and further questions can be directed to Executive Director, Elyssia Sasaki (elyssia@imarts.com). 

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