Thursday July 21, 2022 | SOOKE, BC [Last update: 5:30 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Now in 2022, the Sooke Fine Arts Show is now 36 years strong. Opening night is tonight July 21, with the popular Purchaser’s Preview for keen art buyers at 7 pm.
Then tomorrow the full run of the 11-day show starts July 22, through to BC Day holiday Monday on August 1. All of it at the SEAPARC Leisure Complex in Sooke, after two years of being online during the COVID pandemic.
The Sooke Fine Arts Show (SFAS) community arts exhibit is the largest juried art show on Vancouver Island, all 380 pieces in this year’s show by artists from coastal communities.
Pre-pandemic, over 9,000 people attended in-person in 2019. More than 10,000 visitors viewed the show online in 2021 in the second year of the pandemic.
The list of 2022 Sooke Fine Arts Show participating artists was released last month. The 2022 Sooke Fine Arts Show jurors selected pieces from photos of submitted works.
Sponsors are key:
“Sponsors are critical to making the Show possible and many of its long-time sponsors are considered to be part of the SFAS family,” says SFAS Executive Director Terrie Moore.
Brian Butler and his son Travis Butler have made sponsorship of the local arts community a key part of their family business. Butler Brothers and Butler Concrete & Aggregate have been sponsoring the Show for a combined total of 13 years.
Langford’s Keycorp Development & Marketing has also made the SFAS part of its overall commitment to supporting local arts and culture.
While financial support is critical to SFAS’s annual costs, many local businesses from Sooke and the Western Communities play a key role by providing goods and services for the Show.
That includes the gallery’s piano provided by Tom Lee Music, and design services from A Sea of Bloom and The Artisan’s Garden.
Local hospitality sponsors include the Prestige Oceanfront Resort and Westcoast Grill.
SFAS describes the media support as provided by Sooke News Mirror, Island Social Trends, Times Colonist, and CFAX and CTV-VI as ‘critical’. Without lots of promo, it’s tough to get a robust turnout.
Full 2022 Sooke Fine Arts Show Sponsor List:
The full list of 2022 Sooke Fine Arts Show Sponsors is also on the SFAS website.
PARTNERS: Government of Canada | Province of British Columbia | District of Sooke | CRD Arts Commission | Victoria Foundation
DIAMOND – $5,000+:
Butler Concrete & Aggregate Ltd. | Bell Media: CFAX 1070 | Bell Media: CTV News Vancouver Island | Keycorp Consulting Ltd. | SEAPARC Leisure Complex | Tom Lee Music | Times Colonist | Used.ca
PLATINUM – $2,500+:
Island Social Trends | Marsden Group | Point No Point Resort | Times Colonist | West Coast Grill
GOLD – $1,000+:
Clarkston Construction | Croy & Co Stage Lighting Ltd | Dr. Chris Bryant & Staff | Monk Office / Island Blue Print Co. Ltd. | Prestige Oceanfront Resort | Re/MAX Marketing Group | Sooke Arts Council | Sooke Home Hardware | Sooke News Mirror | The Artisan’s Garden | VIMEX Contracting Ltd | West Coast Super Storage | Yvonne Cabot
SILVER – $500+:
4M Bobcat & Trucking Ltd. | Citta Construction Ltd. | Dumont Tire Ltd | Island Vacation Homes | Inspired + Magazine | Lannon Creek Holdings | Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty | Otter Point Dental | Spinnakers Soda Co. | Totangi Properties Ltd | Village Food Markets | Westhills Land Corp | YAM Magazine / Page One Publishing
BRONZE – $250+: 17 Mile Pub | Carolyn’s Boutique | Hallgreen & Faulkner Law Corp | On Point Project Engineers Ltd. | Plan Contracting | Preview Guide Magazine | Sooke Backhoe Services Ltd. | Sooke Eyecare | Sooke Lions Club | South Shore Gallery | Tammi Dimock Personal Real Estate | Titanium Tents | Western Foods Ltd
COPPER – $100+: Cheri Sutherland Realtor | EnerTech Solutions Ltd | Forbes Pharmacy | Fosters Moving & Storage | Island Arts Magazine | Janet Evans | Len Banner Construction Ltd | Little Vienna Bakery | Menard Plumbing & Heating | Nexgen Hearing | Ocean Breeze Drywall | Seaside Magazine | Sooke Fax & Copy Centre | SookePoint Ocean Cottages | VanDop Art Guide
Illuminating local talent:
“Sponsors like the Butler family are an inspiration and their commitment to local artists and the arts helps to illuminate local talent, nurture emerging artists in the community, and inspire other sponsors and volunteers to support the Show,” says Moore.
“From corporate sponsorship to individual donations, and from goods and services to the gift of time that all of our volunteers give, the Sooke Fine Arts Show runs on the energy, gifts, and contributions of local businesses, families, and art lovers for which we are so grateful.”
Purchasers’ Preview Night:
The Sooke Fine Arts Show is unveiled each year with Purchasers’ Preview Night (this year on Thursday July 21) — that’s an exclusive, ticketed event which allows seasoned and new art collectors and purchasers first access to view and purchase their favourite unique artworks.
This year guests at the Preview Night enjoy beverages and assorted hors d’oeuvres by 4 Beaches Catering, live music with Broke and Blue, and the excitement of experiencing a live art event again.
Purchaser’s Preview Night July 21 tickets are available for $45 at sookefinearts.com .
