— About Us
Have you
Heard About Harold?
It’s the messenger on a mission to promote arts and culture in the Central Okanagan and celebrate how they shape healthy, flourishing communities!
Our message
Heard About Harold is a grassroots movement to promote arts and culture in the Central Okanagan. Founded by the region’s arts and culture community, Heard About Harold is a messenger and rallying point for artists, creators, organizations, fans and funders.
We work together to build an active community of cultural supporters while fostering collaboration and cross-promotion between groups. Our vision is a flourishing community that fully supports the arts, ensuring artists and creators no longer struggle to survive or compete for limited grant funding. We see a future where people regularly attend, support and participate in events, exhibits and cultural experiences that create a sense of belonging and improve mental well-being.
Together, we will create a community where art and culture thrive as part of the everyday lives of its citizens.
Meet Harold
Harold is a reliable friend who always seems to know what’s going on. Harold is helpful, kind, smart, a little silly, and very supportive. If you’re looking for art and culture, you should turn to Harold.
Harold is a fun and memorable take on the word herald. A herald is an official messenger that brings news. As a verb, herald can be a sign that something important (and often good) is about to happen, or it can celebrate and “sound the praises” of something being made public.
Heard About Harold is the messenger we’ve been waiting for.
The Quail
Harold takes the form of a curious and bold quail. Like the quail, Harold is a highly sociable bird that likes to gather in a flock and is known to ‘chat’ with friends and neighbours.
Harold, like many of us, is not native to the region. California Quail is an introduced species in the Okanagan Valley, and our region is one of the only places in Canada where we find these delightful birds. As an introduced species, quails can thrive without harming the natural ecosystem. Heard About Harold aims to do the same.
Purpose
Our mission
To promote arts and culture within the Central Okanagan and emphasize its role in creating healthy, flourishing communities.
Goals
- Increase awareness, attendance and support for cultural events and organizations.
- Build an active community of cultural supporters.
- Foster collaboration and cross-promotion between groups.
- Help creators flourish through education, advocacy, sharing resources and open communication.
The vision
A flourishing community that fully supports the arts, ensuring artists and creators no longer have to struggle to survive or compete for limited grant funding.
- Art and culture thrive as part of the everyday lives of its citizens.
- People regularly attend, support and participate in events, exhibits and cultural experiences that create a sense of belonging and improve mental well-being.
- Artists and organizations are financially stable and able to live in the Central Okanagan while producing diverse works and experiences that appeal to all kinds of people.
Principles
Equity
Notice inequalities and try to improve the imbalances.
Inclusivity
Treat everyone with respect and welcome as many as you can.
Trust
Be reliable and tell the truth.
Autonomy
Be free to act independently.
Curiosity
Never stop wondering.
Participation
Join in and take part often.
Tenets
Operate as an independent, collective community asset not reliant on individual organizations or people.
Be sustainable in design and operation, reducing the need for superfluous administration or resources.
Stay focused on our mission and vision, never straying from our purpose.
Be inclusive and accessible to creators and the public.
Act for the benefit of the organization, re-investing revenue and never sacrificing our mission or principles for the sake of commercial interests or profit.
Founding Supporters
Heard About Harold is a collective vision of the Central Okanagan arts and culture community. Our heartfelt thanks go to the following organizations for their participation and early commitment to this movement.
Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art
Creative Okanagan
Sncəwips Heritage Museum
Rotary Centre for the Arts
Okanagan Regional Library
Kelowna Community Theatre
Rio Branner Milliner & Merchant
By Jove Co.
City of Kelowna
Arts Council of the Central Okanagan
Lake Country Art Gallery
Opera Kelowna
Rebellious Unicorns Production Company
Inner Fish Theatre Society
Festivals Kelowna
Kelowna Museums Society
Chamber Music Kelowna Society
Kelowna Art Gallery
Ballet Kelowna
Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
Lantern Folk Roots Music Society
We are grateful to the staff at Sncəwips Heritage Museum for their gracious support and generous guidance. Without their efforts, Heard About Harold would be a shell of itself.
Funders
City of Kelowna
Central Okanagan Foundation
Creative BC / Province of BC
City of Kelowna
Central Okanagan Foundation
