The SFAS program provides an opportunity for businesses and artists to reach 9,000+ visitors to the Sooke Fine Arts Show. The program is a high quality, full-colour reference brimming with information such as artist listings, scheduled events, prize-winning art, sponsors & donors, resources, and local business listings. It often becomes a keepsake for many visitors.
Booking due by May 15. Artwork & payment due by May 31
The Sooke Fine Arts Society respectfully acknowledges the territory of the T’Sou-ke First Nation, upon whose land we gather in celebration of the arts.
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SFAS supports the rights of artists and requires that all submitted artwork be the originalcreation of the submitting artist. It is incumbent on all artists to familiarize themselves with Canadian copyright laws to ensure that they are not infringing on another artist’s rights.
Copyright Law
Copyright law gives artists certain exclusive rights to their own original work, and the reproduction or resale of that work. Copyright arises automatically when an artistic work is fixed in a material form.
It is advised that all artists ensure that their work does not breach any copyright. See the links below for further reading.
Original Art
Artists are encouraged to submit artworks that reflect their own original, personal vision and style. If an artwork is recognizably based on the work of another artist, or uses a part of another artist’s artwork as a creative base, it may be subject to copyright infringement. Such works are discouraged for submission to a juried art show and sale. Eligibility of any artwork is up to the discretion of the jurors and the SFAS adjudication committee.
Using Photographs as Source Material
It is important to note that there have been recent policy changes within the Federation of Canadian Artists with regards to using photographs as reference. SFAS supports the following statement:
“While using photos as reference for painting is a long held accepted practice, making substantive use of stock imagery or photos taken by professional photographers is not permissible, even with their permission. Photographs by professional photographers are considered artworks in and of themselves. Reference photos must be taken by the artist themselves or provided to them by an amateur photographer with their express consent. Stock images may only be referred to for anatomical study and must be incidental to the completed artwork to be permissible.”
The Sooke Fine Arts Society retains the right to remove any artwork from adjudication that may contravene copyright laws or show standards.
If you are still unsure whether or not your work would be eligible, you can email the SFAS office at sfas@sookefinearts.com, however we ask that you please do so well in advance of the submission deadline (midnight, May 25, 2021).
Game Day Fundraiser FAQ for Artists
How many auction pieces can I submit?
Each artist can submit one auction piece for sale.
Can I play for free if I submit art?
The Sooke Fine Arts Society is a not-for-profit organization, and the Game Day Fundraiser was created to help manage the rising costs of putting on all our programs at the show each year. As such, we are not able to offer complimentary tickets.
Are there any mediums you don't accept?
All mediums are accepted, but if you are not sure about the piece you are considering entering, please reach out to Shannon Lee Rae at fundraiser@sookefinearts.com.
Do I need to submit a set of game pieces if I'm submitting an auction item?
Yes! There has been a high number of auction submissions, but it is important that we get game pieces to run the game. We are asking artists who are submitting items for auction to also provide at least one set 4 x 6 game pieces. If you have any further questions, please email Shannon Lee Rae at fundraiser@sookefinearts.com.
Congratulations to the SFAS 2025 Raffle Winners!
1st Prize – Trip for 2 to the Yukon (sponsored by Air North & NVD Hotels) – Carole E.
2nd Prize – Homemade Artisan Quilt (by Erin Baye & the Sooke Quilters) – Linda G.A
3rd Prize – 1 night stay @ the Sooke Harbour House – Suzanne V.
4th Prize – Starlight Sailing Adventure for 4 – Marjorie B.
Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket! Your contribution helps us put on our show programs and keep the show running!
About the Jan Johnson Award for Social Commentary
The Jan Johnson Memorial Award is in honour of long-time Sooke Fine Arts Show exhibitor and volunteer, known for his metal sculptures that used powerful symbols and mythical figures to expose injustice and reveal the frailties of human nature.
Born in Wyoming on a cattle ranch, Jan turned to art after serving in the Vietnam war. Jan’s voracious reading of religion, philosophy, poetry and economics underpinned the often-complex themes of his work, and his ever-present sense of humour would in turn soften the harshness of his commentary, or lend it a searing irony. He created pieces that were poignant, painful, satirical and whimsical.
Prior to his passing in November 2011, Jan and wife Mary Alice conceived of an award to encourage artists to explore the use of social commentary in their work. The prize of $500 is awarded annually to Sooke Fine Arts Show artists whose work makes a statement about human society and the thorns of our shared existence.
The 2021 Show is free to view, but it kicks off with an exciting one-night only virtual Purchasers’ Preview event on Thursday, July 22, 7-10pm – which is an exclusive access event that allows the keenest of art lovers an advance preview of the 2021 artworks. Tickets for this one-night event are just $25, and can be purchased here on our website, as of May 31, 2021. Please come back then!
The Gallery is now closed. Thanks for visiting!
The Sooke Fine Arts Show has closed for the season. Visit us next year from July 23 through August 2, 2021 to view a whole new collection of world class Island art.
Books Mentioned in This Talk
Mona Brooks
“Drawing with Children: A creative teachings and learning method that works for adults too”, 1986 and revised edition 1996
“Drawing With Older Children and Teens”, 1991
Virginia Cobb
“Discovering The Inner Eye”, 1988
Shawn McNiff
“Trust The Process An Artist’s Guide To Letting Go”, 1998
“Imagination In Action Secrets For Unleashing Creative Expression”, 2015
“Art Heals. How Creativity Cures The Soul”, 2004
Maxine Masterfield
“Painting The Spirit Of Nature”, 1996
“In Harmony with Nature”, 1990
Heather Spears
“The Creative Eye: Drawing, vision and the brain, revisited”, 2020
GENERAL SHOW INFORMATION
About the Virtual Show
The 2020 Virtual Sooke Fine Show includes 373 pieces of unique island art for purchase online, along with a youth art gallery, live events, links to artist demonstrations & live talks, music links, activity pages for kids, an online auction – i.e; most of the usual elements of the physical Sooke Fine Arts Show, in a virtual format. The live events, auction, and People’s Choice voting system close when the show closes August 3, 2020. However, the art will be available for sale on the website until September 30 to provide added exposure for the artists in this difficult year. All other static elements – the recorded demonstrations & talks, music, the youth art gallery, kids pages will also remain online until we begin preparations for next year’s show – our 35th anniversary – when we mount an entirely new, exciting display of world-class island art.
Purchasers’ Preview Evening
Purchasers with special access can browse the site from 7pm onward on July 23. Access to the site continues until the show opens to the public at 9:00am on July 24th, but the office closes at 10pm on Thursday, so representatives will no longer be available to assist after that time. Access pass holders can continue to browse and purchase items after hours. If an item is purchased, a representative will get back to the purchaser in the following days. Please Note: Holds are not permitted during the Purchasers’ Preview event.
Purchasing an Artwork
When you purchase an item and complete the checkout process, you will receive notification that the order is being processed. As soon as you receive this notification, the artwork is yours – congratulations! At that point the item will be marked online as Sold. An SFAS representative will get back to you to coordinate delivery of the item. Please do not be concerned if you do not hear from a representative right away – they are likely dealing with other purchases, and will get to yours in due course. Thank you for your patience.
Holds on Artwork
Holds are accepted during the show period (except during Purchasers’ Preview) but are limited to one hold per person at a time for a length of four hours during show times. Credit card information will be required as a guarantee to hold the art piece. To put an item on hold, please contact the office office via the chat icon below or phone 250-642-7256. Wait lists will be established for pieces designated as on hold.
Shipping Information
Shipping will be handled after each sale, on a case-by-case basis. A number of shipping and delivery options will be discussed, depending on the addresses of both the purchaser and artist, and the availability of the artist to deliver or receive visitors at their studio/home. Once a sale has been processed, a representative will contact you to manage the arrangements.
Most of the images of the artwork on this site are have reduced resolution in order to provide image security for the artist’s work. If an image appears less crisp, it should not be taken as a true representation of the artwork. Please feel free to contact us if more information is required.
Contact Us
There are several ways to reach us if you have a question: Chat – click on the chat icon bottom, right corner of any of our webpages Email – sfas@sookefinearts.com
Phone – 250-642-7256
Office Hours
Sooke Fine Arts office representatives will be available to assist during the following hours:
July 23 (Purchasers’ Preview event): 7-10pm
During the Show (July 24 – August 3): 10am – 5pm (Mon-Sun)
After the Show (August 4 – Sept 30): 10am – 5pm (Mon-Fri)
Any sales or queries outside those hours will be dealt with the next business day.
The 2021 guidelines will be released soon. Please check back again.
You can vote for your favourite piece!
Click on the Vote tab to cast your vote within the detail page for a particular piece..
The piece with the most votes by the end of the show (August 3 @ 5pm) will be awarded this year’s People’s Choice Award.
The winner will be announced after August 7.
Thanks for voting!
Ken Francine Street People's Choice Award
Sheltering Janet Rayner Thorn District of Sooke Award
Tranquility Maureen Elmer Honourable Mention
Bremerton Glass Terry Murray Award of Excellence
Seasonal Colour Linda Johnson Honourable Mention
Screamers #4 Seth Berkowitz Award of Excellence
Welcome Figure Richard Hunt Award of Excellence and Juror's Choice Award (Juror - Cate Rimmer)
Nurse Log Diego Narvaez Juror's Choice (Juror - Rick Leong)
Don's Workshop #3 Lynne Patrick Award of Excellence
Clearcut Emma Banner Honourable Mention
Lady with Violin Clement Kwan Designers' Choice Award
The Departed Cory Scott Award of Excellence
Cold On The Lake (Bobcaygeon) Seth Berkowitz Award of Excellence
The 2020 Award-winners will be announced on July 25th at 2pm at the Artist Celebration live-streamed event.See event info.
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Keep mouse off-screen to play, hover over to pause, click to view an artwork
History of the Sooke Fine Arts Show
The Sooke Fine Arts Show stems from humble beginnings when the Sooke Region Museum featured work from local artists in their upper gallery. In 1986, spurred by the buzz of the year’s Expo, a committee of five artists conceived the idea of a show to bring attention to art and artists of the region. The inaugural SOOKE FINE ARTS SHOW was born.
The show was a spectacular success, and under the admirable coordination of Elida Peers, the sponsorship of the Sooke Region Museum, the Sooke Region Historical Society, and teams of hard-working volunteers, it flourished and grew each year. In 2006, coordination of the show moved from the hands of the Sooke Region Museum and into the newly-formed Sooke Fine Arts Society.
That first show displayed 200 pieces from 49 artists in SEAPARC’s ice arena and eventually grew to fill the entire 16,000 square foot space, transforming it into the world-class exhibition that you see today. Today, the show features on average 375 pieces from approximately 260 artists from all over Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal islands, with prizes totaling over $12,000. It is now so much more than a gallery, housing a stage with live music and youth performances, artist demonstrations, a large gift shop, and a separate youth art gallery, expanding the exhibition beyond the main arena.
The Sooke Fine Arts Society is grateful for the efforts of all the previous organizers, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and friends that have made the show the success that it is today.
Information on Copyright & Derivative for the Artist
SFAS supports the rights of artists and requires that all submitted artwork be the originalcreation of the submitting artist. It is incumbent on all artists to familiarize themselves with copyright laws and the concepts of derivative and transformative art to ensure that they are not infringing on another artist’s rights.
Copyright Laws
Copyright law gives artists certain exclusive rights to their own original work, and the reproduction or resale of that work. Copyright arises automatically when an artistic work is fixed in a material form.
It is advised that all artists ensure that their work does not breach any copyright. See the links below for further reading.
Derivative Art
“Derivative” refers to work that is based upon one or more preexisting works by another artist, and can include the use of source material as a creative base. Derivative work is not permissible (unless it can be considered “transformative” – see next section & links below). The nature of derivative work is very subjective, and eligibility is up to the discretion of the jurors and the SFAS adjudication committee.
Using Photographs
It is important to note that there have been recent policy changes within the Federation of Canadian Artists with regards to using photographs as reference. SFAS supports the following statement:
“While using photos as reference for painting is a long held accepted practice, making substantive use of stock imagery or photos taken by professional photographers is not permissible, even with their permission. Photographs by professional photographers are considered artworks in and of themselves. Reference photos must be taken by the artist themselves or provided to them by an amateur photographer with their express consent. Stock images may only be referred to for anatomical study and must be incidental to the completed artwork to be permissible.”
– FCA Policy, section 7.1.5
Transformative Art
There are some cases in which art that has been derived from another’s work can be considered “transformative” – demonstrating a significant creative departure from the original (i.e: new expression, meaning or message), and creating an altogether new work of art. The nature of transformative work is very subjective, and eligibility is up to the discretion of the jurors and the SFAS adjudication committee.
The Sooke Fine Arts Society retains the right to remove any artwork from adjudication that may contravene copyright laws or show standards.
If you are still unsure whether or not your work would be eligible, you can email the SFAS office at sfas@sookefinearts.com, however we ask that you please do so well in advance of the submission deadline (midnight, June 1, 2020).
