White Rock youth-led gala aims to boost arts access<\/p>\n
Published 1:30 pm Wednesday, October 21, 2026<\/p>\n
A youth-led arts foundation in White Rock is preparing for its biggest fundraiser of the year, with a cabaret-themed gala aiming to raise $15,000 to help local children and youth access arts education. <\/p>\n
The Playful Palette Foundation will host their annual Love of the Arts Gala on Nov. 13 from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Bayside Rugby Clubhouse in South Surrey. <\/p>\n
The Foundation shared that the event will feature a full-course meal, live performances, speeches, dancing and a silent auction, with proceeds supporting their work in removing financial barriers to arts education. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe gala essentially is going to be our biggest fundraiser for the organization,\u201d said Sabine Lapointe, the foundation\u2019s president and a Grade 12 student at Earl Marriott Secondary. <\/p>\n
Lapointe, one of the Playful Palette founders, said the event is an opportunity to bring the community together to celebrate the arts while raising awareness about the barriers that can prevent young people from participating in creative programs. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want people to come together to celebrate the arts in White Rock because arts are super important in our local community and everyone cares about them a lot,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
According to Lapointe, since its founding less than two years ago, the organization has helped fund arts education for nine young people. <\/p>\n
The Playful Palette\u2019s programs are aimed to help children and youth pursue interests in dance, theatre, music and visual arts, regardless of financial circumstances. <\/p>\n
Lapointe said she hopes the gala will help people recognize the importance of arts education and the need for continuing community support. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think for us, the mission of our organization is to make sure every kid gets access to the arts. We\u2019re all artists, it\u2019s really important to us,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want people to come away from the event knowing that they are supporting something that they didn\u2019t realize how persistent of a problem it actually is,\u201d explained Lapointe. <\/p>\n
She said the foundation also wants to demonstrate that young people can organize professional events while making a meaningful contribution to their community. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want people to come to this event to celebrate the arts but also learn and realize that this is something we do need to support and we need to come together more because art is really a community and that community has to happen for these things to continue to grow,\u201d shared Lapointe. <\/p>\n
This year\u2019s gala is also said to mark a light transition for the foundation\u2019s leadership, as Lapointe and her vice-president will be graduating at the end of the 2026-27 school year. <\/p>\n
The event is being organized with the involvement of younger members, including Grade 11 student Ava Liang, the foundation\u2019s social media direction and one of several students interested in taking on leadership roles in the future. <\/p>\n
Lapointe said she and her vice-president are working to give younger members opportunities to develop their leadership skills and help carry the organization forward. <\/p>\n
The gala will be the foundation\u2019s second, following last year\u2019s small event held at Peninsula Productions. <\/p>\n
Lapointe shared that she and her vice-president attended other galas over the past year to learn more about gala event planning and help bring new ideas to their own fundraiser. <\/p>\n