A feasibility study is underway to determine whether the Kootenay School of the Arts (KSA) building in Nelson can continue operating as a community-led space.
Selkirk College announced in October 2025 it would close the campus in July 2026 and cancel its ceramics, textile arts and blacksmithing programs offered there.
Since then, a coalition of artists, instructors and cultural organizations has been working to assess whether the facility could remain open under a new governance and operating model.
“What prompted this [study] was a need to have some answers and information really fast. So there’s a couple of things we’re aiming for,” said Kallee Lins, executive director of the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council, which is coordinating the study collaboratively with the Nelson and District Arts Council.
“The first is to have a really good understanding of what would it take to keep this space operational as a space for arts education and as a community resource for arts and culture. And then the second is to understand, is there a solid future here that we could make a request to the city based with.”
Lins said uncertainty around the building’s future prompted the idea, especially after Selkirk College fully withdrew from the lease and no new tenant stepped forward.
“The future is uncertain. If we’re going to make a proposal to the city, we being the arts community, for the community to take it over, what is the basis of that and what does that ask need to look like in order to ensure sustainability?”
A steering committee of more than 20 people has been meeting regularly since November.
The committee is made up of current Kootenay School of Art instructors and representatives from local arts and culture organizations who have been exploring how existing programs could continue and whether other organizations could expand or relocate programming into the space.
“Basically, everyone has been coming to the table with a real enthusiasm about doing what they can and bringing what they can bring to the table to help this space continue,” Lins said.
Lins said Nordicity, an international consulting firm specializing in arts, culture and heritage, has been contracted to conduct the study. Louisa Plant, a B.C.-based consultant with experience working in Interior communities, is leading it.
The study will examine operating costs, revenue scenarios and potential mixes of tenants and programming to help the space remain financially viable.
Lins added it will also explore governance options, including the possibility of an existing community organization taking over the lease.
“Most likely it would be an organization that’s already functioning in the community who would take over the lease. It would basically be a self-governing entity where the folks who are providing programming and services in the space have a hand in governance.”
The work is under a tight timeline, with preliminary findings expected within six weeks.
Those findings will be presented to Nelson city council on Feb. 17 as part of a delegation, while a full report is expected by the end of February.
Lins said she feels optimistic the city will be supportive.
“They are warm to conversations, certainly. But really when we make our presentation as part of a delegation to Nelson city council, that’s when hopefully we’ll get a little more feedback about our specific proposal,” she said.
“That’s our opportunity to put our pitch forward in a really grounded way with very well-costed numbers and see what they have to respond with.”
Lins added the importance of the Kootenay School of Art to the region is reflected in the community’s response since Selkirk College announced the closure.
“The number of people with a personal connection to this space is huge. There’s just such a legacy. And there’s artists all over the country, all over the world who have had a connection to KSA and they understand the depth of education that it provides, that depth of hands-on arts education that is really unique.”
While the core planning work will wrap up in February, Lins said some decisions, including who will govern the space and which group gains tenancy, will come later.
“Those are the conversations that will need to happen after February, but everyone around the table and everyone who’s been involved in conversations so far are focused on continuing arts and culture activity in July and onwards, as soon as Selkirk College steps out.”
Community members are encouraged to attend the Feb. 17 delegation to city council and to follow updates on the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council’s website.
Recommendations from the feasibility study, including options for the building’s future once July arrives, will be made public once the report is complete.
The study is being supported by several community organizations, including Greater Nelson Economic Development, Osprey Community Foundation, Oxygen Art Centre, the Nelson Lions Club, the North-West Ceramics Foundation, the Capitol Theatre and the Slocan Valley Threads Guild.
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