Beaverlodge & Area Cultural Society
Annual General Meeting
March 31, 2025
President’s Report
The primary focus for the Board this past year has been continued fundraising, community engagement, building upgrades and maintenance. Also completed this year was developing succession planning through the creation and adoption of a policy handbook.
2024 brought more than 3907 registered guests into our centre. The Eric Bask Memorial Bursary was awarded on behalf of BACS to Amelia Lambert and the BACS High School Art Bursary was awarded to Abigail Mitchell. Kennedy Savard was hired as our Tourism Clerk summer student.
Harmony brought Alberta Culture Days celebrations back to the Centre during her first solo project. From grant proposal to execution of the two day celebration of art and culture and reporting after she utilized the connections she has made in the community to organize artists, volunteers and performers. We acknowledge that the effort put into coordinating two days of art demonstrations, dance, music, activities and refreshments is no small feat. We are so pleased with her accomplishment and hope to support her again this year! Harmony also arranged to exhibit “Introduction to Indigenous Art” by inviting our local indigenous artists to share their art and culture with our area. I found the exhibit extremely informative and moving and I can’t wait to see how else we will be able to highlight the experiences of these artists.
Highlights of work from the Board and Executive Director for last term are:
Funding
● Received Operational Grants from The County of Grande Prairie, Alberta Foundation for the Arts and the Town of Beaverlodge
● Received Capital Grant from the County of Grand Prairie in support of the window replacement project planned for summer 2025.
● Received Mini and Main Gallery sponsorship grants from Northwestern Alberta Foundation for exhibits highlighting student and indigenous artists.
● Hosted 3 Afternoon Tea Fundraisers
● Beef Raffle & 50/50 Raffle
● Northwest Alberta Foundation and ATB micro grant for community engagement enhancements.
● Swan City Rotary matching grant for kitchen upgrades.
● Soliciting Corporate Sponsorships
● Silent Auction
Community Engagement
● Continued an increased Social Media Presence
● Attendance at the Town of Beaverlodge & County of Grande Prairie Community Information Events
● Attendance at the Beaverlodge Art Walk, South Peace Centennial Museum Pioneer Days, McNaught Society Artist Festival, Beaverlodge Christmas Craze and the Beaverlodge Library Christmas Artisan Fair
● Hosted a Youth Art Show and Sale to encourage young artists to share and promote their work.
● Monthly Newsletter has been continued and distributed to members first then shared via social media.
Building Maintenance
● Complete inventory and documentation of historical and art book collections.
● Plaster repair around the transom at the front entrance.
● Uneven step in basement repaired.
● Boot rack at back door replaced with rack plus seat.
● High stance toilet installed in the main floor bathroom.
● Continued kitchen renovations, flooring replacement, new cabinetry and counters.
● Tea room chairs re-upholstered.
● Main and mini galleries repainted.
It’s been a productive 12 months working towards our goals and we are excited
for the year to come!
Michelle Forrester
BACS President
Beaverlodge Area Cultural Society Board of Directors for 2025
Michelle Forrester, President
April Smith, Vice President
Vicki Hotte – Secretary
Cindy Nychka – Treasurer
Linda Land – Director
Mickey Death – Director
Michelle Boyle – Director