ARTS CORNER: Craft fair returns Nov. 13

My guess is that if you’ve lived in Burnaby for more than a couple of years, a part of your holiday gift-giving ritual includes a visit to the annual Heritage Christmas Craft Fair, presented by the Burnaby Arts Council.

Opening its doors to the community on Nov. 13 for the 38th year, a visit to this event has likely become a generational ritual for many Burnaby families.

In his book The Reinvention of Work, author Matthew Fox says, “ritual is what makes community happen… and a community is a group that shares a common task together.”

Year after year, by creating a space where artists and artisans can showcase and sell their works to the community, the Burnaby Arts Council helps create a sense of community, where locals can share the common task of preparing for the holiday season.

Creating and belonging to a community is an invisible but vital part of our well-being, and artists are often at the centre of such activity. The festivals, gatherings and events that help generate a sense of community-belonging are the work of artists—of writers and singers and dancers, of painters and potters and storytellers.

Building community through the arts not only enhances our sense of social well-being, it builds economic stability because artists are also business people. For example, did you know that the number of people in B.C. employed in arts and culture is greater than those employed in the fishery and forestry industries combined?

So this year, when you come to the Heritage Christmas Craft Fair, take satisfaction in knowing that not only are you enjoying a family ritual, but you’re also contributing to a richer community—socially and economically.

• The 38th Christmas Craft Fair runs Nov. 13 to 15 and Nov. 20 to 22 at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Info at 604-298-7322.

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