‘Worried for the future of the art community’; TRU students concerned over cancellation of fine arts program

KAMLOOPS — The faculty of the fine arts program at Thompson River’s University (TRU) were called into a meeting last week with the dean. They were expecting to hear about new facilities, instead they learned of the demise of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program.

“They said they were basically going to put their resources into something else. That was shocking for all of us. I think at this point, we are in a stage of mourning,” said associate professor Darlene Kalynka.

Students currently enrolled in the program, like Kendell Gunderson, who’s art is currently on display at TRU’s gallery, will still be able to graduate but it’s the next generation of artists she’s concerned about.

“It’s upsetting that there is no support for the artists here. This should be a good area to come when you are leaving high school because what I learned starting TRU versus now is completely different. And I’m so happy that I’m able to do that in the town I grew up in,” said Gunderson.

Meradith Moses Jackson is from the Nicola Valley. That proximity to Kamloops lead her to the program four years ago. Without an option here, she would have been forced to move down to Vancouver to peruse her dream.

“It makes me really worried for the future of the art community in this town because it’s suppose to be an avenue for artists to take to enrich their careers and further their experience in town,” said Jackson.

The soon-to-be-bachelor graduates hit on the importance of having artists in the community, and having Kamloops known as an artistic community, saying that could be lost without the program.

“The students who graduate from this program, the students in this program, we are the main supporters in art. The second we are kicked out of this building, where are they suppose to go? I feel like a lot of the other art around town, the art gallery, the art council — my biggest fear is they are going to fizzle away right after that,” said Gunderson.

More than half the staff at the Kamloops Art Gallery came directly from the BFA program at TRU. Executive director Margaret Chrumka understands the university is looking at the bottom line, but believes what the program brings to Kamloops will shine through.

“I think this kind of upswell from the community demonstrating how much this program brings to our community and how it puts Kamloops on the map as an arts place — I think that will be put into consideration,” said Chrumka.

As well as supporting the local gallery, former students have had their work showcased around the world.

“Those students go out into the community, they practice their art, they support the art gallery, they go to the art openings, they have their own exhibitions. That’s all part of the bigger picture, I think,” said Kalynka.