Sicamous banner project participants upset after council opts for branding on Main Street

Although it’s going strong in its 23rd year, the Sicamous Community Banner Project has to downsize.

For the 2023 season, Sicamous council decided at its Jan. 11 meeting that of the 60 spaces where banners will be displayed in town, only 20 of those will feature the groups’s hand-painted banners, and spots on Main Street will only showcase the district’s branded banners.

Organizer Vreny Bieri said that while she understands the marketing decision to have the branded banners along Main Street, she feels the group wasn’t included in the discussion about how many banners they’d get to paint, and said she wan’t invited to the council meeting to collaborate or hear the final decision.

“Most of the painters are not really happy with that decision and they think their banners are so important they should be on Main Street,” said Bieri. “I really do understand how it looks more professional, but council decided different from previous years without having a conversation with me about it.”

This is the project’s second year based out of the Red Barn, having previously gathered and painted elsewhere in town. After years of pandemic restrictions and a period of time where the Red Barn was closed due to air circulation issues, Bieri said the group is recovering and she thinks 20 banners is a good goal for them to accomplish.

The issue, she said, was the lack of conversation with council.

“I just think it’s not really excellent support from council for a community project that’s been around for 23 years,” said Bieri.

Bieri said she had multiple people calling her asking about council’s decision, and said it shocked the community.

This year’s banner theme is bees and butterflies, and the project is still welcoming more painters to create their vision. Painting continues until March 14, every day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Vreny Bieri at 250-836-4396 to arrange a time.

The cost is $15 for a banner and paint and an additional $15 if you want to take your banner home after the season is over. There will also be a final showcase March 25 to 26 at the Red Barn, alongside other artists operating out of the barn like the photography club.

@willson_becca
rebecca.willson@saobserver.net
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Art City Council Community Sicamous