After 40 years, Arts Jasper continues to serve the community as a "low-key, non-profit" organization.</p>
The organization began in 1973 with a meeting of 17 people seeking to address four key areas: assist the high school band program, re-establish a town band, establish a group of people to help bring choirs and bands to Jasper, and put in place a fundraising group to pay for everything.
After outlining these ideas, the group realized that they would need to establish a committee.
The group began primarily to fundraise, and then performances were added on the side, said treasurer Angie Lemire, who has been involved with the organization since 1985.
鈥淲e want to add something a little different,鈥� said Lemire.
The first performances organized by Arts Jasper happened in 1974. A total of six concerts were staged in the community, all hosted in the high school gym. 鈥淢any people attended,鈥� she said, quoting a 聽speech she wrote for Arts Jasper鈥檚 37th annual general meeting.
There have been many motivated, selfless and creative people who serve and have served Arts Jasper during the past 40 years, said Lemire. Their efforts are the reason the organization continues to bring the arts to Jasper.
Early in the group鈥檚 existence, two long-standing members made their debut: Helen Schwarz and the late Fred Kofin. Kofin was a master bookkeeper, while Schwarz, with other members, helped to secure a band program in the school. She continued to work with Arts Jasper until her retirement from the organization in 2010.
Throughout the years, Arts Jasper has branched out and tried new fundraisers. Taste of the Town transpired as one of these endeavours, which was 鈥渁 huge undertaking,鈥� said Lemire.
The now infamous rib feast was more popular than organizers expected. 鈥淭oo many people came, there wasn鈥檛 enough food.鈥� After two years, Taste of the Town was passed off to another organization and Arts Jasper continued to explore other options.
Since the organization鈥檚 inception, Jasper鈥檚 demographic has changed and the town has grown, noted Lemire. 鈥淛asper is a busy community.鈥�
Many businesses and organizations bring in performers and artists, so the seven current Arts Jasper members seek to introduce 鈥渟omething different鈥� to Jasper. The organization is looking to get into more cultural events. 鈥淲e鈥檙e maybe thinking that鈥檚 a niche.鈥�
And, of course, Arts Jasper is still fundraising and supporting other community groups, like Habitat for the Arts, to whom they provide a yearly $500 scholarship. Arts Jasper aims to bring three annual performances to town, including the popular dinner theatre.
A special event is planned tonight (April 18) for Arts Jasper鈥檚 40th birthday celebration. Christine Hanson and Bruce MacGregor from Scotland are in town to play a highland fiddle and cello concert.
The show begins at 7 p.m. at the United Church. Tickets are $12 and available at Tekarra Color Lab or at the door. Cake and tea will be served.
The celebration marks 40 years of volunteer efforts and dedication that鈥攖hough most of them are too modest to admit鈥攈ave impacted the community.
