The Sooke Fine Art Society's mission is to foster the role that art plays in the region's culture, economy and community spirit .

Our purpose? To encourage and promote a greater understanding and appreciation for the arts by organizing an annual art show, hosting public learning opportunities for artists to demonstrate their techniques and offering student scholarships to further art studies.

The Sooke Fine Arts Show is a multi-faceted, annual 11-day arts event showcasing over 375 juried artworks from 275+ artists from Vancouver Island and BC’s coastal islands. Over 300 local volunteers help transform the ice arena and lobby of the local leisure centre into a 17,000 square foot art gallery, attracting 9,000+ art lovers and patrons from local, regional, provincial, national and even international areas.

In its 35^th year in 2021, the show is an economic driver and the most prominent summer event for the community of Sooke. Normally, the show is presented in a live format however, the COVID pandemic necessitated the move to an online format in 2020 and again in 2021. Most of the traditional aspects of the event have been successfully adapted to this online format. It is our intention to return to a live format once health regulations permit.

Special events for seniors, children and youth as well as daily arts demonstrations, lectures, live music, guided tours, and poetry readings provide access to and a platform for a wide variety of cultural aspects of this community.

Interactive games help children understand, create and experience art through a hands-on art creation experience mentored by professional artists. In addition to performances by professional musicians, children and youth have the opportunity to perform on stage in front of live audiences in dance, musical and theatrical performances.

The Youth Art Gallery is a show staple, featuring up to 200 artworks from local area high school students. All proceeds from youth art sales are returned to the students. The Society also allocates up to two scholarships each year for those students intent on furthering art studies at a higher level of education.