Beginning in 2024, under the guidance of the Sunshine Coast Arts Council, the Sechelt Arts Festival connects art, ecology and climate change. We envision art as a means of calling attention to relationships – to our local ecologies, to our companion communities, and to the land, air and waters that make this part of the world so remarkable and unique. Art has the ability to help us think through difficult ideas through play, joy, community and belonging. It is in dance, theatre and music that we are able to move through and with ideas; it is through the language of visual art that we are able to give form; and it is through words and texts that we shape sometimes incomprehensible ideas.  And for many, the climate and our changing natural environment is one of those ideas. The Festival seeks to weave together environmental, cultural and social ideas as a means of inspiring our communities.

Since its inaugural year in 2004, the Sechelt Arts Festival has become a leading local platform for engaging the Sunshine Coast artistic community in innovative visual and performing art projects.

Festival Mandate

Connecting Art, Local Ecologies and Climate Change

The Sechelt Arts Festival provides accessible arts programming to all residents of the District of Sechelt and area, showcasing local talent to residents and visitors in a professionally produced event. The Festival supports and encourages Sunshine Coast artists by providing opportunities for collaboration among the multi-talented coast arts community and embraces all art forms, including dance, music, theatre, heritage, and the visual arts.

Art has the ability to help us think through difficult ideas through play, joy, community and belonging. It is in dance, theatre and music that we are able to move through and with ideas; it is through the language of visual art that we are able to give form; and it is through words and texts that we shape sometimes incomprehensible ideas.  And for many, the climate and our changing natural environment is one of those ideas. The Festival seeks to weave together environmental, cultural and social ideas as a means of inspiring our communities.