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Express yourself in art and culture

Arts & Culture Week, April 10-16

The arts are no joke. Some say arts and culture are just frills and there are more serious ways to spend time, but the fact is that the arts and culture sector contributes $5.2 billion into the province’s economy each year. This is not chump change, it’s a vital part of the local economy.

Our galleries, theatres, festivals and performances attract people from around the world and the Sooke area thrives on the wealth of artistic and cultural expression.

With those facts in mind, the Sooke Community Arts Council and SEAPARC are joining forces to host an art fair for the community. The Family Arts Fair is being held in conjunction with Arts & Culture Week, April 10-16, in B.C.

On April 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. SEAPARC will be the venue for a host of art-related activities. From painting to pottery, drawing to dance, kids of all ages can participate in a day of creative expression.

This year the theme of the Family Arts Fair is “Family.” An art contest is held each year at the fair and this year the challenge will be to make a mask.

“Could be your goldfish, could be your brother,” said one of the organizers, Pat Phillips.

It is still weeks away, but there is a deadline for entries.

The mask can be made out of recycled materials, paper plates, paper mache, just about anything. There is a size restriction though.

“We want to be able to display all the entires, so we cannot accept anything larger than 12”x18” and nothing smaller than 6” x 9” and we’re offering great cash prizes,” said Phillips.

The Family Arts Fair is taking place at the same time as the annual garage sale at SEAPARC and there is always a big turnout for that. Organizers are asking people to hang around a little longer and take in the arts fair.

Mask entries should be dropped off at SEAPARC no later than April 14. Contest entry forms are available at SEAPARC Leisure Centre, 2168 Phillips Road in Sooke.

Other youth-oriented activities at SEAPARC include Friday night teen swims for those in grade 6 and up. Hang out and play Wii, Rockband and host crazy pool parties (regular youth drop-in rates apply for swimming). On Saturday nights downstairs at the Sooke Community Hall hang out and listen to music, play ping pong, Guitar Hero, or get into a game of pool. Free snacks.