Jasper Habitat for the Arts, ACFA and the Jasper Municipal Library mark 10 years at the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre with music, cake and a celebration of the building’s creative community
For the past 10 years, the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre has been more than a place to borrow a book or attend a meeting. It has become a home for creativity in Jasper.
Jasper Habitat for the Arts is celebrating a decade in the building on Friday, Oct. 2, with an anniversary gathering featuring live music, face painting, cake and a chance to celebrate the organizations and people who have helped make the space a hub for arts and culture.
Victoria-based singer/songwriter Aaron Cockburn will join local musicians Marie Flipo-Bergeron and Brian Lackey to provide entertainment for the evening.
The celebration recognizes the many tenants who share the building, including the municipal library, the Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta (ACFA) and the Jasper Artists Guild.
Over the past decade, the Habitat has helped fill the building with an eclectic mix of workshops, classes and art activations. Sculpting, pottery, music, poetry and visual art have all found a place within its walls, with programming ranging from opportunities for seasoned artists to activities designed to get kids and families making things.
For Marianne Garrah, the Habitat’s cultural coordinator and a longtime arts promoter, one of the organization’s biggest goals has always been to get young people involved in the arts.
“One of Habitat’s biggest dreams is to inspire youth to get involved in the arts,” she said.
That dream is showing up in unexpected ways. In recent years, a team of young people has taken on the technical side of theatre and live performances, learning the behind-the-scenes skills that help bring productions to life.
It’s one small example of what the Habitat has offered over the past decade: a place where people can experiment, learn something new and find their way into the arts—whether that means picking up a paintbrush, getting their hands dirty with clay, stepping onto a stage or running the lights behind it.
The result is a space where art isn’t simply something to look at, but something to try.
Friday’s celebration is an opportunity to recognize that legacy—and the many people and organizations that have contributed to it.
The 10th anniversary celebration takes place all day, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2, at the Jasper Library and Cultural Centre. Live music and cake will help mark the occasion, with the celebration centred on the community that has grown around the building over the past decade.
Jasper Local staff // info@thejasperlocal.com
