http://www.cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca/, https://cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca/event/call-to-artists-cvfas2026/

Cowichan Valley Arts Council, 2687 James Street, Duncan, BC (2026)

06/10/2026

As we roll into the summer, we have various learning opportunities for those wanting to dig into art at every experience level!

🖌️

Elevate Your Art: Mondays En Plein Air

The plein air season has officially returned! 🎨 🌲
Artists of all skill levels are invited to join Kathy Hill for weekly outdoor painting and sketching meet-ups across the beautiful Cowichan Valley.

How to Participate:

These sessions are open for drop-ins at any scheduled location. Participants are highly encouraged to sign up for the official plein air mailing list on our website to receive the latest updates and site details.

Pack your favorite gear and join a community of local creators capturing the region’s natural beauty

🖼️

She Who Creates
July 6 - 9
10 am to 3 pm daily

She Who Creates is an adult Summer Art Immersion hosted by multidisciplinary artist Laura Sirmul. It is designed for anyone longing to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with their creative source.

No prior art experience is required. She Who Creates welcomes those who feel curious, blocked, rusty, or simply ready to reconnect with the joy of making. This is a space to explore process over product, trust over perfection, and creativity as a way of coming home to yourself.

Course Fee (Art supplies included)
$500 for CVAC Members
$550 for non Member
$460 for Students

🎨

Exploring Abstraction: A Painting Intensive with Mitchell Villa
August 5 – August 8
10 am to 3 pm daily

Exploring Abstraction is a four-day summer art intensive for adults and older teens (16+) who are curious about moving beyond representation and into a more intuitive, expressive painting practice.
This intensive is well-suited for artists who want to loosen their practice, gain confidence with abstraction, or integrate abstract elements into their existing work.

No prior experience with abstraction is required—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

Course Fee
$550 for CVAC Members
$580 for non Members

🧡

For more details & to register, visit our website:
Cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca/whats-on/category/workshops/

06/09/2026

Get ready for our events happening THIS WEEK!

🍄

Rare Ground: Inside BC’s Most Endangered Forest
Wednesday, June 10 @ 7 – 9 p.m.
Presented by Andy MacKinnon
Admission by Donation.

Andy MacKinnon has been described as the guru of British Columbia plants. And with good reason. Andy worked as forest research ecologist with the provincial government for three decades, and served as lead BC scientist during Environment Canada’s ranking of our province’s threatened and endangered fungal species.

He has also co-authored six best-selling books on plants of western North America, including the iconic, ‘Plants of Coastal British Columbia’ in addition to the Royal BC Museum Handbook, ‘Mushrooms of British Columbia.’

During his presentation, Andy will talk specifically about our coastal Douglas-fir forest — what makes it special, why it is at risk, and what its future might hold.

This event is part of the exhibition Art of the Six Mountains, presented by the Cowichan Valley Arts Council and SixMountains.ca.

🕺

Art of Drag: A Figure Drawing Evening
June 11 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
$20 fee

Join us for a unique evening of art-making: Celebrate performance, presence, and creative expression in a special drag life drawing session. Working from a live drag performer in costume, participants will explore figure drawing through gesture, character, fashion, and theatrical poses.

About the model & performer: olivethistea

Olive ThisTea (he/they) is a bright and charismatic drag king based out of the unceded Lekwungen territory (Victoria, BC). Known for his shows at They Them Theirs (Nanaimo) and Cafe Runway (Victoria), Olive ThisTea is a producer of drag shows across Vancouver Island that focus on fostering alt-drag and all ages drag spaces. Olive has been performing in drag for almost 7 years, performing from coast to coast. His art focuses on his trans identity and positive representation of masculinity.

This inclusive studio event is open to all skill levels and offers a relaxed, respectful environment for creativity and connection. You can register on our website: cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca

06/05/2026

Thank you for coming to the opening! We are glad you had a great time. The exhibition is on until June 29! 🎨🧡

06/04/2026

Art of the Six Mountains: Group Exhibition 🌲 ⛰️

June 3 – June 29

Presented in collaboration with environmental writer Larry Pynn and SixMountains.ca, Art of the Six Mountains celebrates the beauty, diversity, and significance of the six mountains connected to the Municipal Forest Reserve: Mount Prevost, Mount Sicker, Richards Mountain, Maple Mountain, Mount Tzouhalem, and Stoney Hill.

Inspired by one of British Columbia’s most endangered ecosystems, the exhibition brings together artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, fibre art, mixed media, and other disciplines to explore the landscapes, plants, wildlife, and stories that make this region unique.

The exhibition invites visitors to experience these places through the eyes of artists, to slow down, observe, and deepen their connection to the natural world. From sweeping vistas to intimate studies of native species, the works celebrate both the beauty and fragility of the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem.

Created by artists with diverse relationships to the land, Art of the Six Mountains explores themes of stewardship, place, memory, biodiversity, and belonging while encouraging conversation about the future of these remarkable landscapes.

The exhibition is presented in conjunction with SixMountains.ca, a community initiative dedicated to raising awareness of the ecological and cultural importance of the Municipal Forest Reserve and the six mountains that surround it.

Admission is free. Everyone is welcome.

06/03/2026

Happy Pride Month from the Cowichan Valley Arts Council 🏳️‍🌈 🎉

We are kicking off June with our first Pride Art exhibition in partnership with Cowichan Pride

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 4, 7–9 p.m.

Presented in partnership with Cowichan Pride Society, Resilience celebrates the creativity, courage, joy and lived experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Inspired by this year’s Pride theme, the exhibition brings together artists from across Vancouver Island and beyond, including established artists, emerging artists and community members sharing their stories through art.

For CVAC, this exhibition is more than a collection of artwork. It is an opportunity to celebrate creativity, foster connection and help create a community where everyone feels welcome, valued and seen.

Admission is free. Everyone is welcome.

06/02/2026

We are excited to announce this year’s CVFAS 2026 People’s Choice Award winner!

Congratulations to Victoria Blouin for her piece “Another Chance” receiving the most votes for this year’s people’s choice award! 🧡

We also wanted to shout out the runner ups who tied for second as their votes were very close behind! Those who tied for runner up were artists Bill Hibberd for his piece “Warmland Snow” and Jon Gugin for his piece “The Weight”

And thank YOU everyone who came in to vote and see the show!

We are sad to see the CVFAS gone until next year, but ever so excited to announce our next exhibitions are now open! 🥳 come down to see our first Pride exhibition in the annex until June 16 and enjoy the Art of the Six Mountains in our main gallery until June 29!

🎨

Artist Statement for Victoria Blouin’s Mixed Media piece “Another Chance”

“Born from a “creative” mishap when my dog shattered my mirror, this piece explores the beauty of second chances. I transformed the fragments into a whimsical portal. Featuring hand sculpted clay mushrooms, watercolor painted Luna moth wings and hand-embroidered mossy embellishments, I embraced my mixed media skillset. Anything broken can be revived & reimagined.”

05/29/2026

Happy Friday! ☀️ June is right around the corner, and we have exciting events planned to kick it off!

With two brand new exhibitions coming in, don’t miss their respective artist opening receptions! 📅

🧡

Art of Six Mountains
Opening Reception: Wednesday, June 3 @ 7–9 PM
Show Dates: June 3 – June 29

In partnership with environmental writer Larry Pynn of SixMountains.ca, let us welcome a group exhibition exploring the plants, wildlife and landscapes of BC’s most endangered forest.

🎨

Pride Exhibition: Resilience
Opening Reception: Thursday June 4 @ 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Show Dates: June 2 – June 16

The Cowichan Valley Arts Council (CVAC) in partnership with Cowichan Pride Society for a community group exhibition in celebration of Pride Month.

🌹

Don’t miss out on these events attached to our upcoming exhibitions this June!

Rare Ground: Inside BC’s Most Endangered Forest
Wednesday, June 10 @ 7 – 9 p.m.

Presented by Andy MacKinnon
Admission by Donation.

During his presentation, Andy will talk specifically about our coastal Douglas-fir forest — what makes it special, why it is at risk, and what its future might hold.

This event is part of the exhibition Art of the Six Mountains, presented by the Cowichan Valley Arts Council and SixMountains.ca.

🥳

Art of Drag: A Figure Drawing Evening
June 11 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
$20 fee

Join us for a unique evening of art-making: Celebrate performance, presence, and creative expression in a special drag life drawing session. A special Pride event in conjunction with our Pride exhibition.

About the model & performer:

Olive ThisTea (he/they) is a bright and charismatic drag king based out of the unceded Lekwungen territory (Victoria, BC). Known for his shows at They Them Theirs (Nanaimo) and Cafe Runway (Victoria), Olive ThisTea is a producer of drag shows across Vancouver Island that focus on fostering alt-drag and all ages drag spaces.

You can register on our website: cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca

05/28/2026

Our Fine Arts Show is almost over 😭

Your last chance to see this amazing exhibition with over 130 different unique artworks will be on Saturday May 30!

This will also be your last chance to place your vote for this year’s People’s Choice award! 🎟️ 🏆

We hope to see you before the exhibition is gone for good 🧡

Don’t worry if you miss it - as we have two new exhibitions coming in on June 3! Our first ever Pride art show in the annex and the Art of Six mountains will be in our main gallery 🥳

Have an amazing week 🧡

05/27/2026

Do you need a creative escape this summer?

We have two exciting 4-day art workshops coming soon here in the Cowichan Valley!

🖼️

She Who Creates
July 6 - 9
10 am to 3 pm daily

She Who Creates is an adult Summer Art Immersion hosted by multidisciplinary artist Laura Sirmul. It is designed for anyone longing to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with their creative source.

No prior art experience is required. She Who Creates welcomes those who feel curious, blocked, rusty, or simply ready to reconnect with the joy of making. This is a space to explore process over product, trust over perfection, and creativity as a way of coming home to yourself.

Course Fee (Art supplies included)
$500 for CVAC Members
$550 for non Member
$460 for Students

🎨

Exploring Abstraction: A Painting Intensive with Mitchell Villa
August 5 – August 8
10 am to 3 pm daily

Exploring Abstraction is a four-day summer art intensive for adults and older teens (16+) who are curious about moving beyond representation and into a more intuitive, expressive painting practice.

This intensive is well-suited for artists who want to loosen their practice, gain confidence with abstraction, or integrate abstract elements into their existing work. No prior experience with abstraction is required—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

Course Fee
$550 for CVAC Members
$580 for non Members

🧡

For more details & to register, visit our website:
Cowichanvalleyartscouncil.ca/whats-on/category/workshops/

05/26/2026

This is the LAST WEEK to see this year’s Fine Arts Show! 😨

Don’t miss out seeing this amazing exhibition in person and placing your vote for people’s choice before it closes!

2026 Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show

Show dates: May 4–30, 2026

The Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show is the largest open, non-juried art show on Vancouver Island. The exhibition features emerging and established artists working in painting, sculpture, jewelry, furniture, photography and more.

Have a favourite piece? Be sure to vote for it in person for a chance to win this year’s Peoples Choice Award! The award will be announced early next week 😉 ⭐️ 🎟️

Cowichan Valley Arts Council

06/10/2026

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06/05/2026

06/04/2026

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