Cariboo artists can apply for funding to brighten up Williams Lake

Local artists can apply to get an art piece funded that will brighten up the Lake City.

The Williams Lake Public Art Committee opened applications for the 2026 Public Art Grants funding earlier this week.

This year’s grants will offer a total of up to $10,000, split between two grants: one of up to $5,000 grant provided by the City of Williams Lake and another of up to $5,000 grant provided by the Downtown Williams Lake Business Improvement Association(BIA).

Sherry Yonkman, the Executive Director of the Downtown Williams Lake BIA, says most of the art pieces that have been funded by the Public Art Grants have been murals, with many still able to be seen across the city.

“There’s an amazing thing that happens with murals, very few people put graffiti on a mural,” she says. “The mural itself protects the building, and it just stays beautiful all year round.”

Yonkman adds that there have been other pieces the Grants have funded, such as what Yonkman says is the first non-mural piece, a painting of Farwell Canyon by Brandy Stecyk in 2023 that is hanging in the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex.

Another non-mural piece funded is the Spirit Bear chainsaw carving in the Williams Lake and District Credit Union, which was carved by Spirit Carver Dean.

Yonkman says the grants are primarily awarded to local Cariboo artists, and each piece is tied to a local business owner.

“They [the artist] have to arrange the location of their project, and come to an agreement with the property owner that the piece will be available to the public, and that it will remain in place for at least 10 years.”

Since the Public Art Grants started to be given out in 2012, Yonkman believes that only one has actually been taken down by the building owner after the piece hit its 10-year mark. The rest are still up across the City, and give it a lively feel.