Whistler's Public Art Program

Whistler’s cultural landscape has grown significantly over the past several years, and while its essential cultural values haven’t changed dramatically, the expression of these values has flourished.

In the spirit of keeping the arts scene alive and thriving, the Whistler Public Art Program was created by the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) Municipal Council in 1996. Since that time, projects have been created by the municipality and by the private sector. The Projects are located throughout the Village, Village North, Upper Village and Whistler Creek. Projects are located in the Village and on the Valley Trail. Click here to view some of Whistler’s public art projects.  

The Whistler Art Program allows visitors and residents alike to experience Whistler art first-hand as they walk through the Village, Village North, Upper Village and Whistler Creek.   They can take a stroll on their own, sign up for a tour via the Village Host program or download Whistler’s Village podcast self-guided tour from iTunes.   

As part of the Resort Municipality Initiative, resources are given to the Municipality to help grow the tourism economy.  “By adding dynamic art pieces to the Village and surrounding areas, we are making Whistler more interesting and attractive to visitors,” said Kevin McFarland, Parks Planner with the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and staff member working with the Whistler Public Art Program Committee.

In working with the passionate volunteers that make up the Public Art Committee, Kevin knows how important art can be to a community.  “The Whistler Public Art Program encourages artworks that reflect our community, regional diversity, and history,” said Kevin.  “The projects we’ve selected to-date also promote relationships between the artists, their artwork and the public. Some of the projects have involved the public in the making of the art and some have placed the working artist in a public place where they interact with passers-by. ”

The Program’s most recent endeavour involved the creation of a public art project inspired by Whistler’s experience of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.  The RMOW and the Whistler Public Art Committee invited artists to submit proposals for the project and acclaimed artist Susan Point won the juried competition process.  Point has completed a number of high-profile installations, including other pieces associated with the 2010 Winter Games.

For this project, Point reflects the art tradition of her people, the Coast Salish First Nation, in the creation of a contemporary sculpture. The circular format of the artwork incorporates a range of human faces, and each one is unique, celebrating the diversity of cultural and ethnic backgrounds of the athletes, visitors, volunteers and hosts that travelled from around the world to be a part of the 2010 Winter Games. “This project demonstrates both the culture and history of B.C., but it also reflects the artist’s personal reflections of our Games,” said Kevin.

Five, double sided solid segments will be cast and mounted, creating a circular form inspired by the Coast Salish spindle whorl. When the piece is put together, from a distance it will look like a snowflake with overlapping layers.

This latest project of the Whistler Public Art Program will be installed at Whistler Olympic Plaza in the fall. 

Click here for more information on the Whistler Public Art Program and the Committee.