This October, the Golden and District Arts Council celebrated it's 40th year anniversary, and Auntie Denny has been there since the beginning.
After moving to Golden at the age of 12 - in the 1970's Denise became involved in the local drama club and the Golden Players. Chris Schiesser, of the Golden & District Museum badly needed money to get their projects off the ground. Chris and Denise knew you had to apply to the government to get grants, but had just learnt that you had to be an arts council to get these grants - and so - that's what they did. They got together and started an arts council.
Denise recently told the Golden Star that she remembers getting together with the new board for the first time when the arts council was created. She thinks there were seven board members, but can’t be sure as it was such a long time ago. They all got together and came up with a constitution - it took hours - she remembered.
Old council records show that the founding members of the Golden and District Arts Council were Denise, Chris Schiesser, Jack Marvel, Art Martens, Margaret Jones and Mike Redfern. The longest serving member, according to the records that the present council dug up, is Svend Kuhle. Kuhle was active on council for about 15 years.
During the first few years of the Arts Council, the members brought shows in from the Vancouver Art Gallery as well as Slocan Valley. Shows were put on in anywhere from the basement of the Civic Center to Denise's home. Of course they didn't have props or lighting equipment then - so the actors had to bring their own.
As Golden's Mayor Benty was quoted in the Golden Star "The arts council is an integral part of our community creating vibrancy, liveability and a strong sense of place." I couldn't agree with Benty more.
Denise recently told the Golden Star that she remembers getting together with the new board for the first time when the arts council was created. She thinks there were seven board members, but can’t be sure as it was such a long time ago. They all got together and came up with a constitution - it took hours - she remembered.
Old council records show that the founding members of the Golden and District Arts Council were Denise, Chris Schiesser, Jack Marvel, Art Martens, Margaret Jones and Mike Redfern. The longest serving member, according to the records that the present council dug up, is Svend Kuhle. Kuhle was active on council for about 15 years.
During the first few years of the Arts Council, the members brought shows in from the Vancouver Art Gallery as well as Slocan Valley. Shows were put on in anywhere from the basement of the Civic Center to Denise's home. Of course they didn't have props or lighting equipment then - so the actors had to bring their own.
As Golden's Mayor Benty was quoted in the Golden Star "The arts council is an integral part of our community creating vibrancy, liveability and a strong sense of place." I couldn't agree with Benty more.
Thank you to my Great Aunt Denny who without, Golden might not have realized the Arts Council when they did - and who knows, maybe they'd still be operating out of someones baseement without her.
To make a donation to the Crandlemire-Keenleyside Family Legacy Fund, please click here.
To make a donation to the Crandlemire-Keenleyside Family Legacy Fund, please click here.
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