Arts, Culture, and Heritage Centre Sponsorship Opportunities

A new destination is being created in the Township of Langley, which will showcase the local arts, cultural, and heritage community in a unique combined facility.

Salishan Place by the River will feature the Township’s new museum with dedicated community and Indigenous gallery spaces, a library, and convention centre with amenities that include a 167-seat theatre, a reception/banquet hall with commercial kitchen, and a rooftop gathering space with views to the Fraser River and Golden Ears Mountain.

The Township of Langley is seeking responses from interested parties to an Invitation for Sponsorship Opportunities at Salishan Place by the River. This includes name branding opportunities, partnership proposals to help complete spaces within the new facility, and other opportunities that would provide benefits to a Sponsor, the Township and users of Salishan Place. The opportunity can be viewed at www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/submitLogin?disID=47524925.

Salishan Place by the River is being developed by the Township of Langley, in partnership with Kwantlen First Nation, and in collaboration with Katzie, Matsqui, and Semiahmoo First Nations, on whose traditional territories the Township was established, the Waceya Métis Society, and the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society. Representatives from these communities and organizations are currently visioning exhibitions and programs for the community and Indigenous galleries at Salishan.

“Salishan Place by the River will strengthen tourism in the Township of Langley by providing a new home for year round activities such as festivals, arts and craft fairs, music and theatre performances, conventions, and lectures, drawing visitors to the community and helping Fort Langley to rebound,” said Peter Tulumello, Director of Arts, Culture and Community Initiatives with the Township of Langley.

The BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport recently awarded the Township of Langley $711,354 through the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) for the new facility. By way of the Destination Development stream of CERIP, the funds are intended to support economic resilience, tourism, heritage, and urban and rural economic development projects in communities impacted by COVID-19. Fort Langley has been affected by the pandemic, with a reduction in, cancellation, and/or postponement of many events and festivals. Local businesses are expected to benefit from the year round operations of this new tourist attraction and convention centre. A second grant of $75,000 was received from the Province, earlier in the year, through the BC Arts Council for the creation of a print making studio supporting regional artists.

The Government of Canada is also contributing $3 million in Federal support for Salishan Place by the River through the Canadian Cultural Spaces fund.