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ARTIST CALLS & UPCOMING SHOWS
Sooke Arts Council provides our members with fresh inspiration and opportunities to showcase their talent in themed gallery shows. You are invited to create, exhibit and share in the joy that is art!
Photo by My Pet Nanny
Be Still My Heart
Exploring Emotion, Connection, and Reflection
Be Still My Heart invites artists to explore the moments that make our hearts pause — whether through love, longing, wonder, or quiet introspection. This show celebrates the power of emotion, the beauty of human connection, and the stillness found in reflection.
Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme broadly: intimate portraits, tender gestures, evocative landscapes, or abstract expressions of feeling. The exhibition seeks to capture the spark that makes us stop, breathe, and truly feel.
Show Dates: Jan 14 to Feb 25
Submission Deadline: Jan 10
Intake: 1pm to 4pm, Jan 11
2026 Art Show Themes and Artist Calls
Becoming
Awakenings and Transformations
Description: Change is at the heart of creativity — and this show celebrates it. “Becoming: Awakenings and Transformations” invites artists to explore the many ways we evolve, renew, and emerge. From personal growth and shifting perspectives to the transformations found in nature, art, and community, this exhibition embraces the beauty of change.
Join us as we celebrate art that reflects the ongoing journey of becoming — awakening to change, embracing renewal, and transforming through creativity. We welcome all interpretations — literal or abstract, bold or quiet — across all mediums: painting, sculpture, photography, fibre art, mixed media, and more.
Show Dates: Feb 25 to Apr 12: 6 Weeks 4 Days
Submission Deadline: Feb 21
Intake: 1pm to 4pm, Feb 22
My Secret Garden
In Harmony with the Sooke Phil Secret Garden Tour
Description: The Sooke Philharmonic’s Secret Garden Tour inspires us to explore hidden beauty, private sanctuaries, and the magical corners of our world. In celebration, the Sooke Arts Council invites artists to participate in “My Secret Garden”, an exhibition that reveals the gardens of the imagination — literal or metaphorical.
We are looking for works that capture the wonder, mystery, and serenity of secret gardens. Interpretations can be lush and vibrant, quiet and reflective, whimsical or abstract. All mediums are welcome: painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, fibre art, and more.
Show Dates: Jun 3 to Jul 19: 6 Weeks 4 Days
Submission Deadline: May 30
Intake: 1pm to 4pm, May 31
Dog Days of Summer
Celebrating Heat, Haze, and Creative Fire
Description: As the long, sun-soaked days stretch on and the world slows beneath the summer heat, artists find inspiration in the glow, the stillness, and the restless energy of the season. The Dog Days of Summer invites works that capture the essence of this sultry time — from shimmering light on water and golden afternoons to the languid calm of a lazy day or the feverish heat of color and emotion.
Artists are invited to interpret those timeless, heat-drenched days when creativity burns brightest.
Show Dates: Jul 22 to Sep 13: 7 Weeks 4 Days
Submission Deadline: Jul 18
Intake: 1pm to 4pm, Jul 19
Abundance
Gratitude for Life’s Bounty
Description: Autumn is a time of bounty, color, and gratitude — a season that celebrates the fruits of the earth and the richness of life. The Sooke Arts Council invites artists to participate in “Abundance”, an exhibition honoring harvest, plenty, and the warmth of the season.
We welcome works that reflect the spirit of autumn, the beauty of nature’s cycles, and the idea of fullness — whether literal or metaphorical. All mediums are encouraged.
Show Dates: Sep 16 to Nov 8: 7 Weeks 4 Days
Submission Deadline: Sep 12
Intake: 1pm to 4pm, Sep 13
Holiday Maker’s Market
Small Works and Handmade Gifts
The holiday season is the perfect time to celebrate handmade, heartfelt gifts — and the Sooke Arts Council invites local artists and makers to share their creativity at the Holiday Maker’s Market!
We are seeking artisanal gifts and small works of art — unique, high-quality items that delight and inspire. Think: handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, textiles, woodwork, holiday décor, small paintings, prints, and other artisan creations.
Show Dates: Nov 12 to Dec 24: 6 Weeks
