By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
The 55th Annual Bruce Peninsula Art Show will be held from 1 to 4 August 2025 at Bruce Peninsula District School (BPDS) in Lion’s Head.
Registration is now open for the 55th Annual Bruce Peninsula Art Show. Participation is open to all artists that are permanent or seasonal residents in Grey or Bruce County. The affordable cost of participation makes it an attractive opportunity for local and regional artists. Interested artists can contact organizers at the thebpartshow@gmail.com
Two rooms at BPDS are dedicated to the Art Show:
• Gallery 1 is located in the school’s auditorium. This is the main gallery and will showcase hanging original works of art, photography, paintings and fabric artworks.
• Gallery 2, located in a room across the hallway, will display artwork such as stained glass, pottery, sculpture, reproduction prints and art cards.
All art are of varying sizes and media and offer various pricing levels.
Each year this annual Civic Holiday event draws art lovers, who come out to view the latest original artworks of local and regional artists. Held in conjunction with the “Airing of the Quilts” at the school, and the Rug Hooking Show at the Friendship Club (Saturday only); the events create an art circuit as many visitors choose to tour all three venues.
Organizers of the Art Show say it is the largest of its kind and type in the Grey Bruce area, drawing artist participation from throughout Grey Bruce. Visitors to the Art Show come from throughout Southern Ontario from places such as Ottawa, North Bay, Guelph, Kitchener, London, Sarnia and the GTA.
For many locals and cottagers it is an annual tradition to go to the Art Show. Visiting families, friends and tourists stop by to check the Show out. Many of the visitors to the Art Show are repeat visitors, and consider it a “must see” while enjoying their Civic Holiday weekend holiday in Northern Bruce. Some visitors make a special day trip to see the amazing art displayed at the three shows. Saturday morning at the Art Show tends to be the busiest and quite the lively social affair. Some art patrons return during the quieter times to contemplate the art on display and/or to make their final purchases.
Volunteer-run event
Vince Elliott of Stokes Bay started the Art Show in 1967 and it has grown steadily each year in terms of artist participation and number of visitors. Due to pandemic restrictions and school construction/upgrades the Show was not held for three years (2020, 2021 and 2022). Nicole Gamble, who is very involved in the local arts community and owner of the Art Shoppe in Miller Lake, has taken over the overall management of the Art Show with the continued help of an all-volunteer crew.
Many of the artists volunteer during the event and it is a great opportunity for art lovers to chat with the local artists about their art. Additionally, a team of community volunteers from Northern Bruce Peninsula assist on the event days. Together the volunteers ensure a smooth operation of the event. Each year, the members of the local fire service donate their time to assist in the set-up and dismantling of the display boards in the main gallery.
Bursaries increased to $1,500
The Art Show, which is a registered non-profit organization, offers bursaries to graduating high school students who are continuing in the Arts in their post-secondary studies. The bursary awards are made possible through the proceeds from the sale of art works by Grey Bruce artists and by donations made at the Art Show.
In 2025, the amount awarded will increased to $1,500 and will be offered to students pursuing post secondary studies in Fine Arts. Eligible students are recommended by their art teachers, demonstrate a high level of talent in their work and plan to pursue post secondary studies in Fine Arts.
A total of 157 bursaries have been awarded to students of the Bluewater District School Board since 1990.
The Bursary is offered in two-parts, the first award is given at the end of the secondary school year, the following year the student is required to display their work at the Art Show to receive the final sum. Two bursary recipients Samantha Hess and Owen Morrison will display their work at the Art Show.
The Art Show also established an Endowment Fund at Georgian College to support students in the Fine Arts Program. Managed by Georgian College, four bursaries have been awarded to date.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted which goes towards the Bursary Fund.
A Meet the Artists reception will take place on Friday, August 1, 7 p.m to 9 p.m. The show will also be open Saturday, Sunday, Monday (2, 3 and 4 August) 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The events will take place at Bruce Peninsula District School located at 5 Moore St, Lion’s Head.
For more information visit https://brucepeninsulaart.ca/art-show/
