Winter Art Market open for submissions at RVAC

Staff standing in front of a row of paintings for the Winter Art Market — RVAC staff catalog items in preparation for their winter market. **Photo by Emma Levy**

Local artists looking to get in front of holiday shoppers will soon have their chance to submit to Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre’s (RVAC) annual Winter Art Market. Hosted in all four galleries of the RVAC, the annual event turns the space into a festive market filled with art, textiles, jewelry, pottery and so much more.

“It’s a really fun way for artists to submit and sell their work in a gallery setting,” Taylor Sandell, RVAC programming director told Revelstoke Mountaineer. “It’s super easy and super approachable.”

Artists and crafters are encouraged to drop off their items for sale with RVAC staff and purchase a Revelstoke Visual Arts Society (RVAS) membership if they don’t already have one.

For newer participants, the market can be a way to stage work in front of an audience without having the pressure of creating an entire show, and Sandell stressed that the Winter Art Market is focused on making the staging process as easy as possible.

“If it feels too unknown and it feels too scary, we do really encourage people to just come in and chat. It’s a lot easier when you get the face-to-face rundown of things.”

There are few restrictions on what can be submitted, with food, alcohol apparel and marijuana apparel not allowed. Submissions over the years have ranged from woodworking pieces, knitted winter apparel, art cards, jewelry and pottery.

The market also offers residents another opportunity to support Revelstoke’s community instead of shopping outside the region.

“In my position, I can really see how shopping locally affects artists,” Sandell said. “People will come, they’ll see that their first-ever thing has sold, and they are so excited.”

“The amount of talent that lives in this town is ridiculous, and we’re definitely very proud to have one space that shows so much local talent,” Sandell added.

The Winter Art Market submission window runs Saturday, Nov. 9 to Saturday, Nov. 23. The market will run in all four galleries Thursday, Nov. 28 to Sunday, Dec. 22. Submitting artists must be a RVAS member and can purchase an annual membership for $25 when dropping off their pieces. All items for sale must be labeled with artist name and sale price before being dropped off at the gallery during open hours. 80 per cent of sales will go to artists with the RVAS taking 20 per cent.