This year, the annual art show has been transformed into a virtual exhibition. The Show runs from July 24 - August 3. Online sales continue until September 30, 2020. The Show kicks off with a Virtual Purchasers' Preview event on July 23rd.
Saturday, July 25th at 2pm we hosted a live-streamed presentation announcing the award-winning art pieces chosen by this year's jurors. Click play on the video below to view the presentation. Thank you to all the presenters, and congratulations to all the award-winners! You can view more details about the award-winning pieces here on our website.
Congratulations, you’ve just invested in a beautiful original work of art from the Sooke Fine Arts Show! Now what? This talk will give you some important guidelines on how to care for your new art piece; where and where not to place it; and how to hang or mount it. Examples and practical recommendations will […]
Join accomplished artist Catherine Fraser in a Zoom talk about creativity - what is it and where does it comes from? Kids of all ages are welcome to share their inspiration and artworks and learn from others. Catherine Fraser is an accomplished multi-media artist, art therapist and public speaker. She works in oils, acrylic, watercolour, […]
Join accomplished artist Catherine Fraser in a Zoom talk as she discusses her technique for using smoke and charcoal underpainting Catherine Fraser is an accomplished multi-media artist, art therapist and public speaker. She works in oils, acrylic, watercolour, graphite and pastels, and is constantly exploring and experimenting with new artistic responses to the world around […]
Join photographer mary e coakley via Zoom and explore the great continent of Australia. Mary's slide show will take you on an outback walkabout featuring Uluru and other incredible geological landscapes, sacred Aboriginie sites, flora and fauna and a few learning moments of her photography process. Click here to register and receive instructions, or email: […]
Glass Artist Bill Jamieson explains his process for creating large architectural glass pieces. Click here to register and receive instructions, or email: sfas@sookefinearts.com.
Join Fibre Artist Lydia Miller in a Zoom talk that focuses on weaving 3D works from her environment, whether using local found materials like wood, plant matter and animal matter to create sculptures or sourcing organic fibre, such as wool, cotton, and silk to weave on a loom. Lydia will connect the conversation to the […]
Enjoy our collection of 2020 artworks from emerging youth artists in our region.
The 2020 artworks will remain for sale on the website until September 30, 2020.
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 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 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.
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 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 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.
Click here to view our Sales Policy.
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.
There are several ways to reach us if you have a question:
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 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.
