The Pemberton Arts Council (PAC) has a new executive director. After serving as interim executive director since July 2024, Cléa Thomas kicked off her two-year contract with the PAC on Feb. 1
Thomas is a multi-talented artist who brings her love of painting, felting and stop motion to the Council. She pursued film and animation in Sydney, New Zealand and Montreal.
“I love film. I love animation. But I would ask all the animators ... so you do that full-time? And they said no,” she said with a laugh.
So, she pursued a masters in geology, pairing a more stable living with her love of the outdoors and the mountains. Naturally, that zeal for spectacular nature—along with job opportunities for her and her partner—prompted her move to Pemberton six years ago.
But Thomas never abandoned her love of the arts. She joined the Arts Council last year, after being referred by the community centre. She pitched a finger-painting class during the PAC’s 2024 annual general meeting.
“You know, if you go to an AGM, you never leave the AGM,” she said. She promptly joined the board of directors after that.
“I just thought I could help. I wanted to help," she said. "So I decided to step up.”
Thomas wants to see the PAC grow to offer the kind of programming offered by Arts Whistler; regular workshops, diverse artistic mediums and massive projects. She knows it’s a tall order, given the constraints of a town several times smaller than the resort municipality, but that’s not stopping her from swinging for the fences.
The Arts Council recently put out a call for proposals for local artists to cover the side of the Pemberton Valley Supermarket. After that, Thomas says the PAC is partnering with FireSmart to design and put up a fire safety mural on Signal Hill, on a northwest-facing side of the building. They’re still figuring out the details of the project, but expect it to be underway by summer. The PAC will also host the popular Mountain Muse Festival again this year.
To help inform priorities moving forward, the PAC surveyed Pemberton residents in December 2024, asking for input into what villagers want to see from the area’s arts scene. They got more than 100 responses.
The headline for Thomas was a desire to see more arts programming options in the village. Pottery was frequently requested by residents, and she says she’s looking for ways to expand into drama clubs and music lessons.
But the takeaway for her was the calls to have a dedicated arts space.
“I don't think people can gather right now," she said. "We don't have a space, and I feel like it's something that we need to have for artists and people to come together and do workshops."
Once a space is secured, Thomas is hoping to branch out by running weekly workshops where local artists can share their skills with audiences. Respondents to the survey were asked if they were willing to lead workshops, and to leave their contact information if they were game. Thomas said the PAC intends to reach out and give Pemberton's artists a chance to shine.
“Our mission for the Arts Council is to promote the arts, but also promote the artists,” she said. “So I just feel like this would be perfect for everybody to give a chance to all the artists that want to lead a workshop, to have the possibility to do so.”
The Arts Council is funded through the Pemberton & District Initiative Fund, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, grants, memberships and by donation. But to pay for a dedicated PAC space, diversify programming options and put on weekly workshops, Thomas says they’re in need of more money.
The next opportunity to contribute to the PAC is the Arts Fest; a fundraiser on March 8 at the Sunstone Golf Club, from 7 to 9 p.m.
In addition to live music and a local artist market with art for sale, the PAC will have 12 local artists and artisans—some of whom will provide live demonstrations of their skills.
The door price is $45 for PAC members and $55 for non-members. Youth tickets (for ages 12 to 18) are $30. Ticket prices cover the appetizers provided by Sunstone. An annual PAC membership costs $15, and provides discounts on PAC events and local business discounts.
PAC is asking locals and businesses to contribute items for a silent auction. Interested parties can reach out to [email protected].
