Arts, Culture and Heritage in Whistler

Whistler Flexes its Arts, Culture and Heritage Muscle

You can be forgiven if your image of Whistler is still dominated by skiers, snowboarders and winter daredevils jumping off cliffs.  But just to set the record straight, let’s take a look at another Whistler.  That’d be Whistler: Centre of Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Twenty-one different community groups, more than 300 local artists, and numerous art galleries make up the arts, culture & heritage sector of Whistler.

Our non-commercial cultural sector includes:
•    40 full-time positions
•    60 event production staff
•    600+ volunteer
•    800+ local and visiting artists/groups in specific programs or festivals
•    270 days of performances/exhibits
•    50,000+ attendance at ticketed cultural programs over the past year
•    250,000 attendance at free outdoor events
•    A rich First Nations heritage showcased at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

Whistler itself is blessed with multiple natural stages, making it a huge and varied venue for hosting outdoor and indoor arts, culture and heritage events, festivals and programs like the internationally renown Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival each spring, the internationally recognized Whistler Film Festival each December and the ever-popular Whistler Children’s Art Festival each summer.  These, and dozens of other events throughout the year, help to bring the world to Whistler — over 2 million people a year and growing — and make Whistler an incredible place for visitors and residents alike.