A career as an artist can be a challenging one, not to mention doing so in small, rural communities. Despite that, B.C.’s Cariboo is bursting with life when it comes to creativity, with artists of all kinds showing their colours.
A new video podcast called Colours of the Cariboo explores this idea, inviting its audience in on eight interviews with local artists to understand why they create art in the Cariboo.
Created by Rohan Keenan, a local artist who was born and raised on a small farm in the Horsefly area, the podcast opens a conversation around the unique experience of art and its creation in smaller communities.
“It's much more challenging to succeed in rural communities, but people do it anyway,” Keenan said in an interview with simplymastery. “What drives them,” they asked while explaining what inspired them to create the podcast.
Growing up with a love for theatre, Keenan often felt there was an understanding that artists can only succeed in big cities. Overtime, however, they found that an artist’s relation to the people and land around them, especially in small communities, makes for a special kind of artistic experience.
It took many hours of research and learning to be able to create the podcast, but Keenan wasn't alone. Their wife Lucille Keenan has helped with the logistics of communications and finances, and as life got hectic, local filmmaker Rick Magnell helped out with editing.
“There was a lot of late, sleepless night, but it’s been good,” Keenan said.
They also had access to training through TELUS, whose STORYHIVE Video Podcast program provided Keenan with a grant to create the podcast.
STORYHIVE has provided over $66.9 million since its creation in 2013 to support creators in underrepresented communities across B.C. and Alberta in sharing their stories. Keenan was among the program’s 65 recipients in 2024 to be granted $12,000 to produce a video podcast in their community.
The podcast premieres on April 8 on TELUS Optik TV, Apple podcasts, Spotify, Stream+ and the STORYHIVE YouTube channel.
Keenan will also be hosting a live screening of the first episode on April 8 at the Williams Lake Limelight Theatre. Open to all ages, entrance will be by donation with all proceeds going towards sponsoring art classes for children through Cariboo Art Beats. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m. Guests appearing in the podcast will be present to answer the audience’s questions.
Keenan plans to keep the podcast going and is applying for another grant from STORYHIVE to get started on the second season.
They encourage their fellow Cariboo residents to spark conversations about art in the Cariboo with each other, and to reach out to STORYHIVE with their own ideas for content creation.
To attend the premiere in Williams Lake, register on Eventbrite or contact the creators on their social media page @coloursofcariboo.
