The City of Kamloops is inviting residents with a passion for arts and culture to apply for two open positions on its Arts and Culture Engagement Group, a volunteer advisory body that helps guide arts funding, public art decisions, and broader cultural planning in the community.

The call for applicants comes as current members complete their terms and step away from the group.

“Like any volunteer situation, people serve some terms and then step away,” said Dusan Magdolen, the City’s Cultural Services and Events Manager. “We’ve had a couple of people step back, so that’s why we’re needing to fill them.”

The Arts and Culture Engagement Group meets quarterly and serves as an advisory resource to the City’s Cultural Services and Events Division, as well as the Livability and Sustainability Select Committee. While the group contributes input on a wide range of arts and culture topics, Magdolen said a significant portion of its work focuses on evaluating grant applications.

“The bulk of their work is adjudicating the BC Festival of the Arts Legacy Fund Grant and the Community Arts Grants,” he said. “They also weigh in when murals come in, depending on whether they’re public or private. In general, if there’s something of an arts and culture nature, we’ll usually go to them as an advisory group.”

Magdolen noted that while arts projects often spark public interest — particularly large infrastructure initiatives like the future Performing Arts Centre — the engagement group does not currently have a direct role in that project.

“There’s nothing direct at this point,” he said. “If council or leadership had something they wanted to run by the group for feedback, that might happen, but mainly the group deals with arts grants, murals, and arts and culture advice as items come up.”

The City is encouraging applications from residents with experience or backgrounds in arts and culture, though the opportunity is open to all.

“We do want folks that have an arts and culture background because you’re weighing in on all arts and culture aspects,” Magdolen said. “It’s not a hard-and-fast rule, but in general it’s leaned toward getting folks who have that lens.”

While there may not be a major public art project immediately on the horizon, Magdolen emphasized that the grant adjudication work carries significant impact for local organizations and artists.

“Our community arts grants are up to $10,000 for different groups,” he said. “It’s probably one of the biggest in the community grant-wise. Supporting local groups and making sure the money is going to the right types of things is an important role to play.”

Applications are due by 4:00 pm on March 13, 2026, through the City’s engagement portal at LetsTalk.Kamloops.ca/Engagement-Groups. The Arts and Culture Engagement Group is expected to select new members at its April meeting, with successful applicants notified in May and invited to attend their first meeting in June.

Terms are typically around three years, allowing for regular turnover and new perspectives.

“It’s always a fun time to see who’s interested and to get some new voices at the table,” Magdolen said.

The City thanked all applicants for their interest, noting that only those selected will be contacted.