From November to December 2021, we ran the 2nd annual Opus Art Brings Us Together giving program, where 5% of almost all Opus brand products proceeds contributed to our giving program. Each Opus location had selected two low-income schools or arts organizations to receive $1000 gift cards but we raised much more than that! With the extra $6,000 raised by our community, we asked you, who should received the remaining six $1000 Opus gift cards?

 

Well the community has spoken, after sorting through thousands of nominations and votes for your favourite local arts organizations and/or low-income schools, we have the top 6 most-voted for organizations…

 

The following schools or organizations will each be awarded a $1,000 Opus gift card, raised by you during the Art Brings Us Together fundraising round in November and December:

South Kamloops Secondary School (SD73)

Nominated and voted for many many many times for having the “most dedicated art teacher who is truly in it for the students and the art” and leaving a lasting impression  “that has stuck with [students] years after graduation”!

The art program teacher, Lisa Yamaoka, responded to the announcement by expressing “I feel grateful every day to witness student artists who show up, engage, and enjoy our time together in the art room at South Kamloops Secondary. Also, the community support through the ‘Art brings us together’ campaign has been so positive & heartwarming! The support will directly impact students as they investigate the world we live in through their personal expression and sharing art.”

Pemberton Arts Council

The community showed their support for the “growing not for profit arts council in the small town of Pemberton” for having the most “hard-working team”!

The arts council shared their gratefulness to the community: “It’s fantastic to have such great support from Pemberton locals and to be able to give that same support right back with arts and culture events for everyone!” and mentioned the gift card “will be used to create an awe-inspiring mural in Pemberton and will help us provide art workshops with this fall”! 

Ladysmith Arts Council

“To find out we were nominated was such an honour, and then to hear that the impact we have in our community and surrounding area was strong enough to award us a gift card—well, we are elated! We have been dealt many difficult hands over the past few years, but with the support of so many individuals and businesses, our hard-working members, board, and staff, we pushed through and continued to thrive.” explains the arts council.

 

They continued “This is a beautiful reminder that the Arts Council of Ladysmith and District is making a positive impact, and we can’t wait to carry on celebrating the arts in our vibrant community and beyond.”

AesthetiKs LAB

The community showed their support for the “growing not for profit arts council in the small town of Pemberton” for having the most “hard-working team”!

The arts council shared their gratefulness to the community: “It’s fantastic to have such great support from Pemberton locals and to be able to give that same support right back with arts and culture events for everyone!” and mentioned the gift card “will be used to create an awe-inspiring mural in Pemberton and will help us provide art workshops with this fall”! 

Kamloops Arts Council

The Kamloops arts council received their $1000 gift card raised by the community through Opus Art Supplies’ Art Brings Us Together Program which “will be used to purchase art supplies for our Crossing Bridges workshop program. This interactive multidisciplinary program unites the arts community and social service agencies, and delivers high-quality arts workshops at no cost to children, youth, families and adults in the Kamloops area. This gift card supplies us with good quality art supplies and a broader selection of mediums”.

They “feel honoured that [their] organization is so loved and supported by our community. They overwhelm us some days”. 

It’s so special to see our community come together and share the gift of art.

Our final recipient of a $1,000 Opus Gift Card is Lena Shaw Elementary School in Surrey B.C.! They shared how “super thrilled and excited” they are “to be the recipients of this.  [They] have a huge musical that [they] are preparing for, and the art supplies will be significant in our preparation for this”.

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to nominate to help compile a list of the most impactful organizations in our communities. Plus, everyone who voted, shared, and help raise money for this exceptional program. Opus has so much love for our community and it’s so special to see everyone come together to raise money for the organization making a difference. Keep an eye out for the Art Brings Us Together program next holiday season – and start thinking of which organizations are important to you and the art community.