SWITCH

SWITCH raises over $70,000 to support the Community Arts Fund

The Community Arts Council of Vancouver and Premier Sponsor RBC hosted an inaugural event – SWITCH, an evening of art and entertainment on October 18, 2012 featuring singer John Mann, St. James Academy Choir, poet Muriel Marjorie and Project Soul Dancers B-Boy and Popping. The event was held at District 319 in Vancouver and attended by 200 guests, raising over $70,000 for the Community Arts Fund (CAF). The CAF is led by co-chairs Yulanda Faris and John Montalbano and managed by the Vancouver Foundation. The CAF was established in 2011 with an initial sum of $125,000 donated by 2010 Legacies Now and a further $32,000 had been raised by the Downtown Eastside Community (DTES) prior to SWITCH. The goal is to create a $1 million endowment fund, using interest earned to support programming. The CAF was created with its first priority to support the Downtown Eastside Community arts organizations working with populations who otherwise have little or no opportunity to learn and grow through the arts—Aboriginal people, women and children, people with addictions and mental health challenges.

“At RBC we believe in the power of art to enrich our lives and enhance our communities. We are proud to support organizations like the Community Arts Council of Vancouver and programs that strengthen communities and provide life-changing opportunities for individuals. SWITCH was a fantastic representation of artists who live and work in the Downtown Eastside,” says Heather Owen, Director, Brand and Communications, RBC.

To achieve a healthy and inclusive community, CACV is focused on a community led renewal through the arts. “We are very grateful for RBC’s sponsorship of SWITCH and the generosity shown by everyone in attendance. Their support will make a profound difference in the quality of the life of the residents of the Downtown Eastside,” says Michael Clague, President, Community Arts Council of Vancouver.

The CACV is in the process of selecting programming eligible for funds raised at SWITCH. Stay tuned for more details!