Artists, museums, art galleries, heritage sites and more will open their doors to the public—for free—during the Columbia Basin Culture Tour. 84 venues, located in communities and rural areas throughout the Columbia Basin, are featured in the 17th annual tour taking place on Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The Culture Tour offers a meaningful way to connect with the creative and cultural life of the Columbia Basin,” says Kallee Lins, Executive Director of the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council. “It’s a chance to meet artists where they work, explore heritage sites, and experience the diversity of talent in our region. There truly is something for everyone, whether you’re a fan of pottery, painting, heritage, or even want to try your hand at making something yourself.”
In Fernie, Fernie Forge @ Eye of the Needle and the Fernie Arts Co-op will be participating, this is what you can enjoy:
Fernie Forge @ Eye of the Needle
The dedicated yarn room and wet felting area of Eye of the Needle studio continues to welcome visitors inside the 1908 former Salvation Army Church, but the gallery downstairs has recently been refurbished. Selling Canadian-made metalwork, fibre art and glass, more locally produced items have been added, such as cotton rope bowls, copper jewellery, wool pellets, jams, jellies and pickles by other artisans.
This year the owner/operator of Fernie Forge, blacksmith and feltmaker Sandra Barrett, will be demonstrating the craft of peg-loom rug-making at her heritage building Eye of the Needle in downtown Fernie, using either Corriedale wool from Fernie sheep or alpaca fibre from her acreage in Hosmer.
She looks forward to sharing her finished rugs and fibre wall art with you, happily answering any questions you may have about different breeds of sheep or the technique and process of working with wool. Some of Sandra’s metal, felt and glass sculptures will also be on display.
Fernie Arts Co-op
Their artist-run shop features 40+ local artists and makers who offer painting, photography, pottery, woodwork, jewellery, leather-work, textile art, handmade soaps and home products, letterpress art and multimedia works, which are on display seven days a week.
As an artist-run space, members volunteer as store attendants, giving our customers an opportunity to meet the maker, providing insight on creative processes and local knowledge about the landscapes featured. The gallery has grown professionally over the years to be locally renowned as the premiere outlet for Fernie art.
About the Columbia Basin Culture Tour:
A project of the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council, the Columbia Basin Culture Tour is supported by Columbia Basin Trust, with additional support provided by Nelson and Kootenay Lake Tourism.
With exhibitions, artwork displays, creative-process demonstrations and performances, there is something new to experience at each venue. The tour is self-guided and suitable for all ages.
“Absolutely enriched my day,” shared a past participant. “Spoke to several artists and really loved every aspect of it.”
One past participant declared, “Beautiful artwork. Inspirational!” while expressed, “I love the uniqueness of the locations.
To learn more about the Culture Tour, discover the venues and view a map of locations, visit cbculturetour.com. Printed copies of the Columbia Basin Culture Tour directory are also available around the region in locations like art galleries, visitors’ centres, chambers of commerce, hotels and cafés.
