Whether you’re a new or emerging artist from the Thompson-Okanagan area, taking your art from the studio out onto a gallery wall can feel intimidating. Fortunately, the Kamloops Art Council makes it easy to display your art. At the KAC, we offer many different ways to showcase your work, whether you’re a youth picking up a brush for the first time, an emerging creator testing the waters, or an established local professional.

To exhibit your work, you must first become a member of the Kamloops Art Council. Once you’re a member, visit our program page and choose the exhibition option that best suits how you want to showcase your art. You can feature your work through Art Exposed, Art in Public Spaces, Art in the Park, Gallery Space, or SMALL//works.

Art Exposed

Art Exposed is our annual and largest exhibition of the year, featuring regional artists of all ages. We know how daunting it can be to enter the local art scene, so Art Exposed showcases hundreds of artists from all walks of life, helping them experience participating in a professional art show and find audiences in our community!

Steps:

1. Pick out your favourite art pieces of yours to be displayed
2. Sign up for newsletters or follow our socials to see when Art Exposed is open
3. Head to our Get Communal and register as either an emerging or established artist
4. Optional; sign up for feedback from the jurors
5. Once the gallery coordinator has approved your submission, gather your artwork to bring to the gallery on set up day
6. Arrive to the Kamloops Art Council with your art to set up
7. Come to the Opening Night Gala and enjoy refreshments and snacks while viewing other artists works
8. Stay for the juror awards

Art in Public Spaces

Our Public Spaces Galleries host a continually rotating body of works at Kamloops YKA Airport Terminal, the Sagebrush Theatre lobby, TNRD Libraries (Downtown and North Shore Locations), Royal Inland Hospital and North Shore Urgent & Primary Care Center (in collaboration with the Indigenous Resurrection Project).

Steps:

1. Make sure you have a couple of art pieces for the public spaces
2. Become a KAC member
3. Sign up for newsletters and follow our social media to see when an Art in Public Spaces call is open
4. Head to our Get Communal to sign up for one (or multiple) public space(s)
5. Once the gallery coordinator has approved your submission, gather your artwork to bring to the gallery for drop off
6. Once your art is dropped off, relax, as the KAC staff handles the rest!

Art in the Park

On July 1st, Canada Day, the KAC creates a day-long, family-friendly celebration which showcases the artworks of visual artists, musicians, cultural performers, and community organizations from all over the TNRD area! 

Steps:

1. Make sure you have enough art to sell for the entire day
2. Become a KAC member
3. Sign up for newsletters and follow our social media to see when the sign up date is for Art in the Park
4. Head to our Get Communal to register for a space for your booth
5. Once the gallery coordinator has approved your application, gather your artwork to bring to Riverside Park on Canada Day
6. On July 1st, arrive to Riverside Park at your set up time and set up your booth
7. Spend the day selling your art/product
8. At 4pm pack up your booth and head out

Gallery Space

The Kamloops Arts Council’s Main, Hallway, Alcove and Vault Galleries are a non-curated, open exhibition space for community artists and arts groups that feature 2D and 3D art on a rotating basis, totalling over 25 shows a year!

Steps:

1. Make sure you have enough art for a gallery space, if not start painting!
2. Have a collection of art ready to be displayed
3. Become a KAC member
4. Sign up for newsletters and follow our social media to see when a gallery space call is open
5. Head to our Get Communal to sign up for a gallery space in the KAC
6. Once the gallery coordinator has approved your submission, gather your artwork to bring to the gallery on set up day
7. Arrive at the Kamloops Art Council with your art to set up!

SMALL//Works

Our annual holiday fundraising event where the art work must be within the dimensions of 200 square inches, including the frames! This exhibition has a grand variety of small, one of-a-kind original artworks.

Steps:

1. Have some small art ready to be displayed
2. Become a KAC member
3. Sign up for newsletters or follow our socials to see when a SMALL//Works call is open
4. Head to our Get Communal to sign up for SMALL//Works
5. Once the gallery coordinator has approved your submission, gather your artwork to bring to the gallery on set up day
6. Arrive to the Kamloops Art Council with your art to set up your art!

Whether you’re an emerging or established artist, we want to make displaying your artwork an easy and accessible experience. We offer five different programs to help artists build their careers, connect with the community, and showcase their work. We hope this article can help you get the confidence to submit your artwork for exhibition for the first time or inspiration to create more artwork to continue submitting more pieces to one of our (or other) art exhibitions.

By Abby Farnsworth

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