Friday July 8, 2022 | SOOKE, BC
by Molly Pearce | Island Social Trends
See list of Sooke Fine Arts Show 2022 Sponsors
The Sooke Fine Arts Show is back in action for a live exhibit over 11 days.
Two years in a virtual format due to observing the public health guidance around the COVID pandemic in 2020 and 2021 has done little to deter the successful planning of the Sooke Fine Arts Show, which will open in-person for its 36th year later this month.
The exhibit of works by coastal artists will open its doors to arts enthusiasts from July 22 to August 1 in the arena at the SEAPARC Leisure Centre in Sooke.
Show hours:
The venue will be open 10 am to 7 pm daily, except Saturday night July 23 and Monday night August 1 when the closing time is 5 pm. On Thursday July 28 the show will stay open a bit later, to 9 pm for M-ART-ket night.
The show will be open on BC Day Monday, August 1, 10 am to 5 pm.
The gift shop will be open, after two years online during the pandemic.
There is plenty of parking in the SEAPARC Leisure Complex parking lot.
Strong volunteer component:
Volunteers operate the front admission table, the gift shop, and many other activities around the 11-day pop-up art show venue.
Not only does the community-based art exhibition rely heavily on a strong involvement by volunteers it offers a social opportunity to connect with people perhaps not seen since last time, and to engage with various members of the art and business communities.
Back after two virtual years:
This year’s show is likely to draw a large crowd, as the event will likely retain its loyal following despite being held online over the past two years.
In the 2021 online show, over 10,000 visitors passed through the virtual exhibition, which was accessible to visitors through a computer or mobile browser. That is even more traffic than that of the in-person show in 2019, which was attended by about 9,000 people.
Organizers of the show will be wondering if those additional visitors in attendance for the online show, which was available to people regardless of their proximity to Sooke, will have been inspired to make the trip for the in-person show this July.
Over 280 artist contributors:
There are over 280 artists with works on display in the show this year, including youth from local high schools. The artwork, which varies from paintings, to ceramics, to sculpture, will be on sale during the show on-site.
Over 300 volunteers will be working hard in the coming weeks to put together the exhibition space and prepare the event’s activities.
These activities include live music, including a performance from the ensemble Broke and Blue, as well as afternoon seniors tea, artist demonstrations, and lectures.
Thread of social commentary:
This year’s Sooke Fine Arts Show will showcase more social commentary and interactive pieces that previous shows, says Terrie Moore, Executive Director, Sooke Fine Arts Society.
This likely comes from artists experiencing the societal impacts of the pandemic, and now expressing that through the medium they create with.
The collection will make for great viewing and an exciting return for visitors of this highly anticipated in-person art show.
Admission:
Sooke Fine Arts Show Admission ranges from $10 for seniors 65 and up, to $15 for adults over 17, and to $30 for a show pass which will allow continued access throughout the 11-day event.
Children and youth 17 and under can visit the show for free.
Special event admission fees include:
- Family Afternoon – Tuesday July 26, 2022: 2-7pm – $5/adult
- M-ART-ket Night – Thursday July 28, 2022: 5-9pm – $5/adult
Purchaser’s Preview:
For those interested in the Purchasers’ Preview night, the ticketed event on Thursday evening ahead of the Friday show opening will allow visitors to browse and purchase artwork.
It’s a highly anticipated social event of the year for many in the Sooke creative and business communities.
Tickets for the Sooke Fine Arts Show 2022 Purchaser’s Preview are $45 and may be purchased online.
Grant funding:
There are many Sooke Fine Arts Show sponsors from within the Sooke region as well as from various levels of government.
The show received arts funding the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as the CRD Arts Commission and the Victoria Foundation.
===== SPONSOR:
Island Social Trends is proud to be a sponsor of the Sooke Fine Arts Show again this year, at the Platinum Sponsor level. Art and all forms of creative expression can have an impact on individuals and communities in ways that are oftentimes immeasurable.
===== RELATED:
Sooke Fine Arts Show recognizes sponsor support (June 11, 2022)
Sooke Fine Arts Show 2022: Call to Artists (March 28, 2022)
The in-person Sooke Fine Arts Show is back! (March 3, 2022)