Board of Directors
& Advisory Council

The Ryga Arts Festival is currently seeking enthusiastic new board members to join our team we are looking for board members who share our commitment to fostering arts and performance in the south Okanagan for diverse voices and being a catalyst for social change. We draw our inspiration from Summerland’s own George Ryga, a playwright, poet and novelist, whose work was driven by his values for social justice.

 The Responsibilities

We are seeking board members committed to the following responsibilities:
1. Working together as a team in line with Ryga Festival’s mission and values;
2. Provide strategic and financial stewardship of the Ryga Arts Festival;
3. Attend monthly board meetings, possibly sub committees where interested, and the Annual General Meetings for a two to three year term;
4. Connect Ryga Arts Festival activities and personnels with individuals and community to grow the festival, and foster and support community sponsors and individual partners and festival donors;
5. Support the performances and festival events through attendance and assistance when possible, with an eye to positive new and existing relationships in diverse communities.

Board members should have skills, interests, or experience in the following areas:
1. Non-profit board governance
2. Financial and accounting
3. Arts production
4. HR
5. Media relations and marketing

No board experience, but a keen interest and willing to learn? Why not shadow an experienced board member and build your community resume?

 The Commitment

The Ryga Arts Festival holds monthly meetings as well as an annual general meeting in October November or December. In addition members may expect  to 4 to 6 hours a month preparing for meetings and communicating board matters in between meetings. Directors shall be elected for two year terms, with a third year to transfer skills to their board position protégé.

How to Join the Ryga Arts Festival Board:
Please send an email expression of interest to our festival GM, Trista Bassett, at gm@rygafest.ca.

We will follow up to request further information about your intent, interest, and experience. Thank you in advance for considering this amazing opportunity to bring our community professionally led socially conscious art and performance to Summerland and the South and Central Okanagan and Similkameen.

Board of Directors

Cal Meiklejohn
President
Jan Schumacher
Vice President
Robert Wood
Treasurer
Dorthea Atwater
Standing Secretary
Caroline McKay
Secretary
Kim Stansfield
Director-at-Large
Elaine Brewer-White
Director-at-Large
Gordon White
Director-at-Large
Peter Hay
Director-at-Large
Donna Wong-Juliani
Director-at-Large
Kim Stansfield
Director-at-Large
Caroline McKay
Director-at-Large
Don Rubin
Director-at-Large
Mark Sylvestre
Member-at-Large
Peter Hay
Member-at-Large
Don Rubin
Advisor

MArKETING TEAM

Allison Markin
Communications
Erin Cronie
Website Developer
Artist picture of Trista Bassett

Trista Bassett

General Manager

Trista Bassett joined the Ryga Arts Festival as Festival Administrator and then GM in 2021, and is excited to be here for the 10th anniversary of the festival. In addition to her sometimes annoying obsession with organizing things, she is also a 3 time grant recipient for performance and professional development in music, a singer-songwriter, performer, playwright, visual artist and creator of musicals.

Her plays have been featured at Ignite the Arts and this year’s Kelowna Fringe Festival, and she has
performed her original music all across Canada. She brings her love of the arts into the mix when helping
to plan the festival.

Funders, Sponsors & Partners

We gratefully acknowledge the help and support of all our members in making the Ryga Arts Festival possible.

Funders

Government of Canada LogoBritish Columbia Art Council logoGovernment of British Columba logoSouth Okanagan and Simikameem Community Foundation logo
United Way logo

Sponsors

Summerland Review logoSummerland Chamber of Commerce logoOkanagan Regional Library logoLeigon logoSaxon Winery logo
Thornhaven Estates logoLightning Rock logo
SummerGate Winery logoHeaven's Gate logoNesters Market logoDetonate Brewing logoTn Whistle Brewing logoGiants Head Brewing logoNummerland logoAll She Wrote logoWaypoint Raymond James logo
Bella Vita logoBakehouse logoSass Boutique logo

Community Partners

Summerland Arts logocfuz 92.9 fm logo
SM&A logoOkanagan Regional Library logoSummerland Chamber of Commerce logoSummerland Singers and Players logoNesters Market logo
Oak Estates Logo
Lunessence Winery logoSummergate logo
Cannery Brewing Logo
Giants Head Brewing logoDetonate Brewing logo

We invite you to become a Ryga Arts Festival Partner!

Please complete the form below to submit an inquiry, and we will be in touch shortly. To view more information about each level, download the document here.

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