A River of Voices Celebration & Opening
Multiple light installations along the Light Up Kelowna ArtWalk create a luminous public pathway. Artwork: David Wilson Photo credit: ARTSCO
Exhibition & Event Information
Exhibition Runs: March 2 – June 21, 2026
Ceremonial Celebration Details:
March 22, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Open to the public | Rotary Centre for the Arts Atrium & Art Walk
A River of Voices is an outdoor public art installation presented in Kelowna’s Cultural District through the Light Up Kelowna ArtWalk and the Light Up Kelowna Urban Screen at the Kelowna Community Theatre.
Exhibition Location:
Kelowna Cultural District – Light Up Kelowna ArtWalk & Light Up Kelowna Urban Screen at the Kelowna Community Theatre
Admission: Free
A new public art experience arrives in downtown Kelowna this March as A River of Voices animates the Light Up Kelowna ArtWalk and the Light Up Kelowna Urban Screen at the Kelowna Community Theatre through light, sound, and digital media.
This outdoor public art installation features digitized works by syilx artist David Wilson, alongside audio recordings from participating syilx Knowledge Keepers, artists, and community members. The exhibition uses technology and art to spark community conversation, foster intentional placemaking, and deepen connection to the land and waters of the Okanagan.
A River of Voices is a joint initiative by UBC Okanagan, the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan (ARTSCO), and the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA), developed in collaboration with the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) and the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP). The project brings together Indigenous knowledge, academic research, and community perspectives to deepen public understanding of riparian health, ecological connectivity, and climate resilience.
Riparian systems—where land and water meet—are among the most productive ecosystems in the Okanagan Valley, yet they are also among the most stressed. As communities grow and landscapes change, these corridors are increasingly impacted by habitat loss, fragmentation, and intensifying climate pressures such as wildfire, drought, and flooding.
Designed as a sensory and reflective journey through Kelowna’s Cultural District, the ArtWalk draws attention to what riparian zones quietly provide every day: cleaner water, richer biodiversity, and natural resilience in the face of environmental change. Through light-based artworks, sound, and digital storytelling, the exhibition invites the public to consider their relationship to these living systems and the shared responsibility of stewardship.
