The Sidney Fine Art Show is a world-class juried art show featuring work by artists primarily from around B.C.
Presented by the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula, this Show is for serious artists and patrons of the arts. The first Show in 2003 was an outstanding success and each year the Show has attracted thousands of visitors to the town of Sidney.
John July 2nd, 2009
The July 15th deadline for entries to the 2009 show is coming up fast. Please ensure that your entry applications are received at the Tulista office by this date – late entries will not be accepted.
John April 10th, 2009
The Call To Artists and Entry Form for the 2009 show are now available and can be downloaded from the site using the link at the right of this page.
Hard copy versions will also be available in all the usual places by April 15th.
Please note that the deadline for entries is earlier this year - July 15th.
John January 28th, 2009
I’ve been a juror with the Sidney Fine Art Show for the past three years. Each year I’ve seen an increase in participation and quality of work. I’ve also seen an increase in excitement between participating artists. I’ve made presentations and given seminars to quite a number of local artists groups over the past year and in each case, I’ve seen that this show has become an important part of their artistic plans for the coming year. I’ve also been asked on several occasions to speak to artists groups and critique work that was submitted, but not accepted, with an eye to learning what the jurors might be interested in for next year. There is definitely an already large buzz of excitement around the 2009 show and it is still growing.
The Sidney Fine Art Show has become one of, if not the, largest and most anticipated shows in British Columbia. The Show is also a highlight on the cultural calendar of Vancouver Island.
As artist participation grows, so does the competition and prestige at being included or perhaps even a prize winner. This has, in turn, attracted higher and higher profile artists from ever greater distances. Its shows like this that grows a community. Members of the artistic community know that a show of this size will expose them to unique work and new styles. It’s this exposure that creates a vocabulary for individual’s artistic style.
More and more, Southern Vancouver Island is becoming internationally known for the quality of it’s artists. Thanks to the building of a close community, all learning from and sharing with each other in a forum such as this.
For attendees of the show, it exposes them to styles and art they might never have seen. Without a doubt, the Show opens minds, expanding tastes and challenges perceptions for young and old and perhaps even finding something for their own walls in the process. I’m sure the 2009 show will be another landmark year. I’ll be there!
Lastly, I can’t say enough about the people who coordinate and present this show. Each year they are forced to become more and more proficient at the various processes. From tallying, judging, hanging and presenting, they need to keep pace with the growing number of entries. They have refined these processes to be art forms, themselves. I’ve been involved in other shows in the past, but none of this size and complexity. Without outstanding people, there would be no way to put on a show of this scale and in this time frame. They can be trusted to really get it done, and done well.
Mark Heine
John October 20th, 2008
Despite the current economic downturn, the 2008 Sidney Fine Art Show held October 17th – 19th at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney, was a record-breaking success. Following a record 1,242 entries from over 500 artists being entered for adjudication in September, this year’s Show broke attendance and sales records with attendance up around 15% and sales up almost 25%. Many comments praised the scale, diversity and the quality of the show with a number of first time visitors vowing to return again next year. The town of Sidney was packed with visitors, with many businesses experiencing one of their busiest weekends of the year.
Once again, the Show Committee, and almost 300 volunteers did an outstanding job of organizing and running what is quickly becoming recognized as one of Western Canada’s most distinguished adjudicated art shows.
Now, planning starts for the 2009 Show (it actually started some time ago!) - mark your calendars now - key dates are:
Call to Artists April 15th
Entry deadline July 15th
Adjudication:
Work dropped off Sept 13th
Adjudication Sept 14th - 15th
Work picked up Sept 16th
Show:
Work dropped off Oct 13th
Opening night Oct 15th
Show Oct 16th - 18th (work picked up 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm on the 18th)
If you haven’t already done so, sign up to our newsletter (using the “Join Our Mailing List” box to the right of this post) to ensure that you receive up to date information on the Show.
John June 19th, 2008
Ted Harrison, our 2006 opening night speaker, was recently featured with extensive coverage in the Times Columnist - to read the article go to The art he left behind
John June 19th, 2008
Pat Martin-Bates, our 2007 opening night speaker was recently featured in the Times Colonist - to read the article go to The art of Pat Martin Bates
John June 19th, 2008
2008 returning juror, Mark Heine, was recently featured in the in the June edition of Focus Magazine, as well as the Times Colonist - to read the TC article, go to Change of life
John June 19th, 2008
Sheryl Mackay, host of CBC’s North by Northwest, has been a great supporter of our show, giving out the prizes at our last two shows, as well as interviewing the artists, and playing the interviews on her show. Recordings of her interviews with our 2007 Best in Show winner, Tara Juneau, and others can be found on the North by Northwest website . When you get to the site, scroll down under the “Visual Arts” heading and you will find the interviews.