The launch of the first Carving Festival in 2010 was developed with an expansive program on which future festivals could grow.  Relationships were forged with artists, community partners, businesses, local governments, Pacific Rim National Park and the Nuu-chah-nulth communities of Hesquiaht, Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ucluelet, and Toquaht First Nations.

This year’s festival featured a 10-day retrospective art show of the late Henry Nolla’s work as well as a 12-minute documentary film produced about Henry Nolla and his work. Ron Hamilton presented “Nuu-chah-nulth Artifacts from Captain Cook”, a slideshow feature on Nuu-chah-nulth history. The festival hosted a screening of the film ‘The New Canoe – a Visit to Nuu-chah-nulth Territories”, at the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. 

A 3-day Nuu-chah-nulth Carving Forum and four carving workshops designed for youth, families & future carvers shared knowledge and techniques with all ages. Six workshops hosted at the Ucluelet & Tofino elementary schools in collaboration with the Alberni Valley Museum featured historical native art works and techniques. A regional carving map, showcasing 33 public artworks by local carvers and numerous carving demonstrations hosted by galleries in Ucluelet and Tofino, was also published. 

The festivities culminated in a community salmon BBQ at the Nuu-chah-nulth Carving Forum. The closing celebration and market at WYA Welcome Centre in Ucluelet brought the first festival to a close and set the tempo for all festivals to come.