Arts & Culture

Mark Twain famously said of Montreal that you couldn’t throw a brick without breaking a church window. Here in the West Kootenay, the window you’d break with your proverbial brick would be on a museum or gallery or an artist’s studio. Or the marquee on one of the many theatres that you’ll stumble upon in just about every small town: intimate spaces like the Langham Cultural Centre in Kaslo and the larger halls like Capitol Theatre in Nelson or Charles Bailey Theatre in Trail. These showcase Canadian and international performers as well as local productions like Nelson’s famous Christmas Pantomime.

Opposite the Castlegar airport is the regional Kootenay Gallery of Art, History and Scienceand Castlegar itself has become known as the Sculpture Capital of Canada because of its brilliant Castlegar Sculpturewalk. The Touchstones Museum of Art and History, in Nelson, is in a fine old stone building right downtown, and just about every village, no matter how small, has a community-run gallery or historical museum. For some villages, like Crawford Bay and Riondel on Kootenay Lake’s East Shore, the arts is the main industry. The North Woven Broom Company in Crawford Bay is famous for producing brooms for the Harry Potter book promotions and Disney. One village, the very-nearly ghost town of Sandon, is a museum trip in itself!

So many stories, presented in every manner and medium, imbued with mountain culture. That’s Kootenay style! 

1505 Bay Ave, Trail, BC V1R 4B2, Canada
250-364-0829
1501 Cedar Ave, Trail, BC V1R 4C7, Canada
250-368-9669
652 Baker Street, Nelson, BC, Canada
778-463-3936
Yes Please
277 Columbia Ave, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G3, Canada
250-365-7665
408 Front St, Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0, Canada
250-353-2566
Cultural Centre
447 A Ave, Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0, Canada
250-353-2661
Ghost Town & Museum
Sandon, BC, Canada
250-358-2141
Nelson Museum & Archive
502 Vernon St, Nelson, BC V1L 1S7, Canada
250-352-9813
1505 Bay Ave, Trail, BC V1R 4B2, Canada
250-364-0829
Nelson, BC, Canada
250-505-5505
Live Music Management
Kootenay Gallery Gift Shop
120 Heritage Way, Castlegar, BC V1N 4M5, Canada
250-365-3337
Nelson Electric Tram Society
Lakeside Park, Nelson, BC, Canada
250-352-7672
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More Arts & Culture…

  • Kootenay Gallery of Art: Website | 250-365-3337

  • Chances Castlegar: Website | 250-304-6300

  • Artisans of Crawford Bay: Website |

  • Doukhobor Discovery Centre: Website | 250-365-5327

  • Castlegar Sculpture Walk: Website |

  • Skimmerhorn Winery & Vineyard: Website | 250-428-4911

  • Torchlight Brewing: Website | 250-352-0094

  • Nelson District Arts Council: Website |

  • CPR Station Museum: Website | 250-365-6440

  • Capitol Theatre Nelson: Website | 250-354-1510

  • Trail & District Arts Council: Website | 250-364-3003

  • Cannafest: Website | 250-442-1666

  • Baillie-Grohman Estate Winery: Website | 250-428-8768

  • Columbia Kootenay Cultural Alliance: Website | 250-505-5505

  • Nelson Brewing Company: Website | 250-352-3582

  • Trail Beer Refinery: Website | 778-456-2827

  • Creston Valley Blossom Festival: Website | 250-428-4284

  • Hills to Valley Garden & Art Tour: Website | 250-231-8671

  • Starbelly Jam: Website |

  • Artisans of Crawford Bay: Website |

  • Rossland Gold Fever Follies: Website |