A Grade 10 student from Cochrane High School is using her passion for art to spark conversations about culture and community. Bella , a student in the Cochrane High ROAMS program, is hosting a unique art showcase on Wednesday that aims to celebrate the cultural diversity of Cochrane and the surrounding areas.
The exhibit, which runs from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Station, is part of a school-wide initiative in which students explore how their personal interests can contribute to building a sustainable and connected community. While her classmates pursue other projects, Bella chose to spotlight multicultural art as a way to bring people together and broaden representation in public spaces.
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“I noticed that we don’t really have a lot of visuals for diversity in Cochrane,” Bella said. “So I decided to reach out to different ethnic communities in Cochrane and Calgary to borrow artwork that reflects their heritage.”
So far, Bella has secured woven basket trays from the Filipino Association of Cochrane and is coordinating with the Nepal Association of Calgary and the Korean Art Club of Calgary to feature more works. Though the art will not be for sale, it will be on public display during the showcase.
The event is one of many projects organized through the ROAMS program—short for Rivers, Oceans, and Mountains School—an outdoor education semester academy where students combine traditional coursework with real-world, community-oriented experiences.
Community members interested in attending Bella’s art showcase can visit The Station on Wednesday from 12:30 to 4:00 p.m. Bella also plans to share photos of some of the featured pieces, including the vibrant woven art from local Filipino artists.