Local artist? Want to show off your work? Arts Council can help (5 photos)

Local artists now have a new opportunity to have their work displayed for a period of time at the Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie & District’s Dawaa Dahzi Gallery, located in the city’s downtown. 

“It’s a way to get the artists who don’t have big places to show their work to get promoted, to let people see their art,” said Marilyn Hug, Arts Council of Sault Ste. Marie & District project coordinator, speaking to SooToday.

While such an idea is certainly not a first for the Arts Council, Hug said this time around, artists will be promoted, for the first time, with short videos which will be shown at the gallery alongside an artist’s work and on the Arts Council’s website

“Every artist wants to be recognized for who they are and for the work they produce, and to have a place to display their work,” Hug said.

The Dawaa Dahzi Gallery is located next door to the Arts Council’s office on the first floor of 369 Queen St. E.

‘Dawaa Dahzi’ is an Ojibway term, meaning ‘space for everyone,’ the Dawaa Dahzi gallery first opening three years ago.

The latest artist promotion idea was Hug’s.

“I’m trying to get the Arts Council to get people more visible with their art. It’s for youth, Indigenous, any local artists.”

“There are some rules and regulations. You must be an Arts Council member or a group. You can come in and have your art promoted by the Arts Council,” Hug said, inviting Arts Council members to contact the organization’s office as to when they prefer to have their work showcased. 

“The artists have to have ‘clean art,’ we don’t want anything that’s not appropriate,” Hug added.

Interested artists may put the process in motion by contacting the Arts Council by email with the subject ‘Gallery Submission’ and a sample of their work.

An Arts Council staff member will then contact the artist and arrange a period of time for him/her to exhibit their work at the gallery.

If not already an Arts Council member, the artist would pay the annual $35 membership fee.

Each artist will sign a contract and set up their work for themselves in the gallery, each artist being promoted on the council’s website and its outside billboard with a photo and bio, each artist also agreeing to be available to meet gallery visitors.

Hug said she hopes to have two artists exhibit their work per month.

“I’m already waiting for two ladies to get back to me. The call has been put out to artists on the website (beginning Tuesday of this week).”