Sweetgrass Arts and Music Society of Salt Spring Island, BC June 18 — 21, 2026 Indigenous Peoples Weekend Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands
June through July 3 at ArtSpring · Salt Spring Island

The Indigenous Art Show

A community exhibition celebrating Indigenous creativity, culture, and storytelling. Open to the public at ArtSpring from early June through July 3, 2026, with extended hours and meet-the-artists events during IPW weekend.

Visiting

The show is open to the public at ArtSpring from early June through July 3, 2026. Extended hours during IPW weekend (June 18–21).

Submitting

Indigenous artists of all Nations and mediums are invited to submit. Submission details below. Deadline: May 30, 2026.

Submission Deadline
May 30, 2026

Submissions close at 10:00 AM (Pacific Time). Email your work, your statement, and any questions to the address below.

Submit your work by email
About the Show

A welcoming space for Indigenous voices.

For the entire month of June, ArtSpring's gallery and lobby become an exhibition of Indigenous creativity. From traditional practice to contemporary expression, this show is a place to share stories, celebrate culture, and connect across Nations and generations.

We are grateful to work with ArtSpring, Salt Spring Island's main arts centre, to host this exhibition. The show runs alongside the four days of Indigenous Peoples Weekend (June 18 to 21) and continues through the rest of the month.

A Children's Gallery

We are especially honoured to include a dedicated Children's Gallery, uplifting the voices and artwork of our young ones. Submissions from young Indigenous artists are warmly welcomed, with support for first-time exhibitors.

How to Submit

What we need from you.

  • Your name and Nation How you would like to be credited in the exhibition.
  • One to three pieces of work Photographs, scans, or detailed descriptions. All mediums welcome: painting, beadwork, carving, photography, textile, drawing, mixed media, sculpture.
  • Title, medium, and dimensions For each piece. If the work is for sale, please tell us the price.
  • A short artist statement One or two paragraphs. Tell us about you, or about the work, or both.
  • How to reach you Email and phone. We will be in touch by mid-June.

If email is a barrier, please reach out and we will find another way.

Good to know

A few common questions.

Who can submit?

Any Indigenous artist, of any Nation, at any stage of practice. First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists are all warmly welcomed. Self-identification is respected; no documentation is required.

Is there a submission fee?

No. Submission is free and open. Sweetgrass and ArtSpring cover the gallery costs.

Can I sell my work at the show?

Yes. If you would like to offer your work for sale, please include the price with your submission. Sales are between you and the buyer; ArtSpring and Sweetgrass do not take a commission.

Will all submissions be accepted?

We aim to be as inclusive as possible. Wall and floor space at ArtSpring is finite, so we cannot guarantee every piece will be hung, but we will respond to every submission with care.

When do I drop off the work?

Drop-off and installation dates will be confirmed with accepted artists by early June. Most artists drop work off in the week before the show opens. Off-island artists, please reach out to us about shipping or delivery; we will help you figure it out.

Ready when you are

Submit by May 30.

Email your work, your statement, and any questions. We will respond to every submission.

sweetgrassartsandmusicsociety@gmail.com
Territorial Acknowledgement

IPW 2026 takes place on Salt Spring Island, within the ancestral and unceded homelands of Hul’q’umi’num and SENĆOŦEN-speaking Coast Salish peoples, including Nations with deep cultural, historical, and ongoing relationships to these lands and waters.