Art exhibit and auction to raise money for Okanagan Science Centre

Photo: Copyright original Roxi Hermsen

Roxi Hermsen's Shooting For The Stars will be just one of the artist's works featured during the upcoming fundraising exhibit and sale to benefit the Okanagan Science Centre.

For more than 30 years, the Okanagan Science Centre in Vernon has helped the public see what lies beyond our Earth.

Now, it needs the community’s help to keep showing visitors the stars.

After the impact of the pandemic cut its membership in half and thieves stole the last bulbs for its aging and outdated projector during a break-in, the science centre is launching a fundraising campaign to replace the projector and help fund programming and exhibits.

As part of the fundraising campaign, starting Dec. 8, the centre will launch an immersive art and science exhibit featuring the work of artist Roxi Hermsen as a fundraiser to help pay for a new projector for the planetarium.

Hermsen's exhibit is described as stepping into the cosmos with the ability to experience her art.

According to Hermsen, her Into the Cosmos with Seeds of Hope art experience is dedicated to her parents, Marg and Bill Sim, the founders of the Okanagan Science Centre.

The artist has donated artwork in the centre in the past, to help fund a continuing scholarship in the memory of her parents.

“But I am aware that the science centre could also use help in funding new projects and to recover from the pandemic,” she says. “Therefore, I am offering this entire series of artwork, based on the cosmos.

“Since its start, in 1985 in my dad’s garage, the centre has become a focal point in the community of Vernon. Many local families, children and tourists enjoy the centre. The summer camps are wonderful, and the programs offer science education to the community. The community built this centre, based on my dad’s philosophy of win, win, win.”

Fifty percent of all funds raised from the art sale will go to the science centre.

“We are hoping to bring awareness to the science centre (with the exhibit and fundraising sale),” says the centre’s executive director Dionne Chambers.

The Reaching for the Stars fundraiser will help upgrade the planetarium, the only one in the B.C. Interior, and sell new memberships, which is a key funding component for the science centre.

Over the years, many young people have had the chance to learn about the cosmos and see the planetarium show, either at the centre or through its “Star lab” which visits schools across B.C.

“We reach more than 25,000 visitors annually,” says Chambers. “Even last year, during Covid, we managed to still run more than 195 school field trips and believe it is important that youth in rural communities have equitable access to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) opportunities as larger centres.”

The goal of the fundraiser is $40,000. The centre has already received funds from the Foord Family Foundation and the Telus Friendly Future Fund.

The community can support the fundraiser in a number of ways, including:

• Buying a family membership

• Donating through Canada Helps

• Bidding on Hermsen’s work

• Buying a star for the centre’s SpaceRoom wall

• Corporate sponsorships

To kick off the fundraising drive, today (Nov. 30)—Giving Tuesday—as a way to help promote charitable giving, all funds raised by the centre will go to help pay for exhibits at the centre and its STEAM programming.

Photo: Tourism Vernon

The Okanagan Science Centre has helped thousands of children learn about science, technology, engineering, art and math.