Art in the Alley is celebrating its fourth year of creativity from June 28 through to Sept. 13.
This year's Art in the Alley, which is part of the Cowichan Public Art Gallery's Summer Art Fair, and ties into the Duncan Farmers Market, offers up a space to feature visual artists who live in the valley. The event will take place every Saturday over the three months from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the Heritage Green Door property located at 126 Ingram St. in Duncan.
'It feels really great to have such a project in the Cowichan Valley," said gallery founder Jock Hildebrand. "It really allows a new venue for both local artists, and artists from the south end of the island to participate in something that can bring them really, really good returns. It really is a wonderful tag into the Farmers Market and brings something completely unique to the valley. I’m sure there’s many communities that are doing this, but the idea just struck me four years ago when I was still president of the Cowichan Public Art Gallery as a way to market and exhibit south Island artists' work."
The mission of the gallery is to advance the public’s appreciation of the arts by producing public art exhibitions, presentations, as well as arts events by providing a forum for qualified artists to exhibit, present, or perform their artistic works through participation in such events.
The proof is in the pudding. As it embarks on its fourth year, Hildebrand noted artists who have participated in previous years have made well over $1,000 in a day. In the past, Art in the Alley has had up to 10 tents, each accommodating two people at a time.
"We are anticipating other events to take place such as some children’s art programming and grant applications have been sent out requesting funding," said Hildebrand.
Art in the Alley is looking at having up to 15 tents this summer. Aiming to keep it a true service for artists the fee for tent space rental is $35 per day. Those looking to join in can either visit cowichangallery.ca or reach out to Hildebrand at info@jockhildebrand.com.
"The project is on a first come, first served basis so I encourage artists to get their application in really quickly," said Hildebrand. "Many artists really are sort of shut in their studios which aren't open to the public, and so they just don’t get that kind of concentrated mass of people coming through to take a look. We have had over 1,000 people come through the alley in just one Saturday alone which is a testament to the interest in the arts in the valley."
