Photo Credits: Elizabeth George
This year's funded projects reflect the creativity, diversity, and community spirit that enrich the region and help make it a vibrant place to live. A big focus of these grants is improving access to the arts by supporting projects that break down barriers to participation.
We’re deeply grateful to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee, a group of dedicated local volunteers, for the time and care they put into reviewing each application. We would also like to thank the West Coast Sustainable Tourism Association for contributing $5,900 in funding to support the Wickaninnish Community School’s projects. To learn more about all the initiatives they supported over the years, visit their website at wcsta.ca/projects.
To learn more about the projects or connect with a project leader, email jason@clayoquotbiosphere.org.
Afterschool Language Program | Wickaninnish Community School Society
The Afterschool Language Program offers free afterschool sessions that introduce students to ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ (Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation) language and nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) culture while building cross-cultural understanding and inclusion. Led by a local language knowledge holder, participants learn foundational language skills alongside storytelling, songs, games, and cultural teachings. Open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, the program also encourages intergenerational learning by welcoming family and community members.
Beading and Crafting Workshops with Elizabeth George | Tofino Arts Council Society
These free weekly drop-in sessions take place at ʔuušmaʕukʔas (pronounced: ‘oosh-mah-uhk-ahs’), a welcoming creative space under the Tofino Legion. Led by nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) artist Elizabeth George, the gatherings focus on beading, crafting, and cultural connection, and include a shared meal prepared by her mother, Annie George. The sessions have grown into a lively, intergenerational workshop that brings together about 12 participants each week, including community members from Ty-Histanis and Esowista, as well as Tofino residents and visitors.
Building and Maintaining Our Path to Truth and Reconciliation | Wickaninnish Community School Society
This project provides orange shirts for all students and staff at Wickaninnish Community School to support ongoing learning and reflection on truth and reconciliation. Each participant is encouraged to personalize their shirt with imagery that reflects their own journey, creating a meaningful and visible reminder of their commitment. Inspired by Elder-in-Residence Grace George, the initiative encourages wearing the shirts on Mondays throughout the year, extending learning beyond September and reinforcing a collective commitment to honouring survivors as well as to keep supporting those who are still affected by generational trauma.
Cultural Heritage Festival "Queers of the Coast" | Pacific Rim Arts Society
The 2026 Cultural Heritage Festival, themed “Queers of the Coast,” is a multi-day, community-based arts and culture event celebrating queer histories, identities, and contributions within the West Coast region. Developed in partnership with the Coastal Queer Alliance and local collaborators, the festival creates space for visibility, dialogue, artistic expression, and connection in a rural coastal context. Through a mix of workshops, performances, discussions, and community events, the festival promotes visibility, inclusivity, and cultural exchange while supporting local artists and strengthening regional partnerships.
Immigrant Family Gatherings | Westcoast Community Resources Society
The Immigrant Family Gatherings brings together several of the Westcoast Community Resources Society's programs to host welcoming gatherings for immigrants and their families. Responding to a growing need for connection and support, the initiative creates safe, informal spaces where participants can share meals, build community, and access information about local resources, language supports, and immigration pathways. By centering the experiences of newcomers, the project helps reduce isolation, foster belonging, and provide culturally inclusive opportunities for people to share their traditions and navigate life in the region.
Our School, Our Story: A Youth-Curated Exhibit | Tofino-Clayoquot Heritage Society
The project engages youth in hands-on arts and culture by researching and interpreting the history of their school and community. Through guided workshops, students get to explore archival photographs, documents, and local stories, and learn how museums preserve local history. The guided workshops support students in building skills in storytelling, writing, and visual design while contributing to two exhibit panels featuring historical images and youth perspectives. The project strengthens connections between the museum, school, and community, and will culminate in a public exhibit and unveiling event.
Supporting the Tla-o-qui-aht Culture Group:12th Annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival | Friends of Clayoquot Sound
The Clayoquot Salmon Festival is an annual event that invites residents and visitors to reflect on and deepen their appreciation for the irreplaceable role of salmon in Clayoquot Sound. Each year, the festival creates space for nuučaan̓uł and regional First Nations leaders and Elders to share their knowledge, teachings, and strong cultural connections to salmon and its ecosystem. This project supports the participation of the Tla-o-qui-aht Cultural Group at the 12th Annual Clayoquot Salmon Festival, enabling them to share traditional knowledge and cultural performances that highlight the importance of salmon to community, culture, and the environment.
Tofino Market Free Arts & Cultural Workshops | Tofino Public Market Society
This project delivers a series of free, inclusive arts and culture workshops at the Tofino Market, creating a welcoming space for locals and visitors of all ages and backgrounds. Held at the Village Green gazebo on Saturday mornings throughout the market season, the program offers eight to ten hands-on sessions led by local artists, knowledge keepers, and organizations. Workshops span a range of creative and cultural practices, including cedar weaving, beading, lino cutting, wood carving, knitting, felting, and fine art, alongside interactive sessions focused on ocean health and community makerspaces. By offering accessible, drop-in learning opportunities, the series fosters cultural sharing, creativity, and community connection in a vibrant public setting.
As both the local community foundation and the organization stewarding the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region designation, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust is proud to provide annual funding to local partners who are carrying out vital work that strengthens community well-being and supports the long-term health of ecosystems across the region.
