Arts, culture and heritage are central to the social, cultural and economic life of Nelson and the wider West Kootenay region. With the 2026 provincial election now underway, we invited local candidates in the Kootenay Central riding to share their perspectives on the sector and the priorities they would bring to the Legislature if elected.
The Provincial Arts, Culture & Heritage Candidate Survey is conducted by the Nelson & District Arts Council, Nelson Museum, Archives, and Gallery, Oxygen Art Centre, Kootenay Regional Arts Council, Tapatía Collective, Kootenay School of the Arts Society, The Civic Theatre, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism, and The Capitol Theatre.
The 2026 provincial election will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026. You can find more information at Elections BC.
In this survey, we hear from Hunter Corrigal, a candidate running for the OneBC Party.
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Your Experience & Connection to the Sector
What experience and perspective would you bring to the role of MLA?
My experience and perspective are those of being a consumer of art and a public participant in cultural experiences. What that means and how it will shape my role is that I see and experience the intangible value and connections it has in forming strong bonds in communities.
How do you currently engage with arts, culture and heritage in our region—as an attendee, volunteer, participant, donor, purchaser, practitioner or supporter?
As an attendee, volunteer, and purchaser. My girls attend art camps; we frequent the markets on weekends and attend sporting events and ceremonies in our community and others.
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Understanding Arts, Culture & Heritage
What role do you believe arts, culture and heritage play in the social and economic wellbeing of communities like Nelson and others throughout the West Kootenays?
I’d describe them as being the spirit of a community. If we want to be whole and thriving, then we need support, balance, and harmony amongst all facets of life, and the arts are a vital part of that.
What do you see as the most significant challenges currently facing artists, cultural workers and non-profit arts, culture and heritage organizations in our region?
- Financial stability
- An artist’s ability to sustain their daily lives and activities with autonomy.
- Stable institutional financial support.
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Provincial Arts & Culture Funding
Many arts, culture and heritage organizations rely on provincial operating and project funding while facing increasing costs for wages, insurance, facilities, programming and artist fees.
What role should the Province play in ensuring the long-term sustainability of B.C.’s arts, culture and heritage sector?
- Financial stability
- An artist ability to sustain their daily lives and activities with autonomy.
- Stable institutional financial support.
Will you work to ensure that artists and arts and cultural institutions are sustainably funded? What improvements do you think could be made in this area?
I am not yet familiar with the details of the funding frameworks for arts and culture, so this will be something that I’ll have to spend time and energy on exploring the data and understanding the factors influencing the system.
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Rural & Regional Equity
Artists and cultural organizations in rural and remote communities face different challenges than their counterparts in major urban centres, including smaller funding bases, limited infrastructure, transportation barriers and fewer professional development opportunities.
How would you work to ensure provincial arts, culture and heritage policies and funding programs reflect the realities of rural and regional communities, specifically the ones we live in here, in this region?
I would ask of and work with the Kootenay Columbia riding to create a comprehensive inventory of the arts, culture, and heritage assets so that a complete picture of the region could be made. First, identifying what we have and then collectively assessing where we can have the greatest or most important impact that aligns with Kootenay values and culture.
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Truth, Reconciliation, Equity & Accessibility
What learning or relationship-building have you undertaken related to Indigenous peoples, histories and communities connected to this territory, and to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility?
I am Metis, and members of my family have worked in and currently work within the indigenous community. What I have learned is that most people are making a genuine effort to improve the lives of their neighbours and friends.
How would you ensure that equity, diversity and inclusion translate into meaningful access to funding, cultural spaces, leadership and decision-making, not only representation or participation?
To ensure equitable opportunity, I would start by identifying issues and opportunities, then use publicly available data to guide decisions, support reasonable conversations, and focus on outcome-based solutions.
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Affordability & Cultural Infrastructure
The affordability and availability of housing, studios, performance venues and other cultural spaces directly affect whether artists and cultural workers can continue living and working in our communities.
What role should the Province play in supporting affordable cultural spaces and helping artists and cultural workers remain in the communities where they work?
Financial stability
An artist’s ability to achieve financial stability, so they can afford to live and work in the communities they love and keep the independence to pursue their craft.
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Your Commitment
If elected, what is one concrete action you would advocate for during the next provincial term to strengthen arts, culture and heritage in Nelson, the West Kootenay region and British Columbia?
My number one priority is to advocate for tax reduction. Get Kootenay Central residents their hard-earned money into their pockets first. When people aren’t forced to take a second job or cut spending on their creative outlets and passions to simply survive, they will have time to be creative and have autonomy to pursue the passions that help us all thrive.