Two weeks after Yvonne Sisley started in her new position as administrator of ArtsForward, she’d already pulled together a large event for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation connecting the schools, the arts and cultural centre, and the surrounding First Nations. That, she hopes, is what will set the tone for the programming they do going forward.

She has also been strengthening the link between ArtsForward and the local settlement services office, focusing on the ‘culture’ end of arts and culture. In the new year they are planning monthly country-themed karaoke nights - not the musical genre but taking a journey around the world through music and food to a different destination each month. These, she says, will be leading up to a United Nations day in May or June, in partnership with the Town of Neepawa.

Arts accessibility for everyone is one of her focuses in planning programming at the centre, which involves not only offering a diverse range of programs informed by the cultural make-up of the region, but also finding funding for the programs so that they are not limited to those people with disposable income. The Patron’s Program, which looks for sponsorships by individuals or families, is a big part of funding activities such as after-school arts programs for kids.

Other things that happened right out of the gate when the facility reopened in the fall were a few more physical programs such as pilates and yoga. These were specifically chosen, Sisley says, because of the link between physical activity and mental health, to cater to people coming out of COVID-related isolation and needing that kind of social and physical but not necessarily sporty activity.

COVID-19 also had an effect on instructor availability for lessons and classes, which she is seeing particularly in the music programs but has impacted others as well. The facility, like all recreational facilities in the province, requires users to be fully vaccinated whether they are teachers, students, or spectators. Still, Sisley has managed an impressive roster of classes already this fall, not to mention a full slate of local artists in the Manawaka Gallery, and hopes this will continue into 2022.