This month鈥檚 exhibition at the Heritage Gallery features more than four dozen works by local artists.

The art show, the gallery鈥檚 largest to date, is unique in that all the works on display are the same size: 8鈥漻8鈥�. Yet according to organizers, that鈥檚 where the similarities end.

鈥淭his is the most diverse collection of art we鈥檝e had in the gallery this year,鈥� said Michael Riis-Christianson, curator of the Lakes District Museum. 鈥淲e have photography, watercolour paintings, fabric art, and mixed media masterpieces by artists of all ages. Some of the works even include organic items like grasses, flowers, and leaves.鈥�

The exhibition is part of the museum鈥檚 GR8-by-8 Art Project, an art competition designed to foster creativity and raise money for cultural programming in the community. Participants will have a chance to win more than $1,400 in prizes.

Cameron Hart, president of the museum society, says the community鈥檚 response has been overwhelming.

鈥淚nitially, we hoped to sell 24 eight-by-eight canvases,鈥� Hart noted. 鈥淭hose sold quickly, so we bought another two dozen. They went out the door, too. We ended up selling 74 canvases and receiving 55 entries in three age groups. It鈥檚 been amazing.鈥�

The two-month exhibition will conclude on November 20 with an awards ceremony and silent auction. All 55 works, many of them by well-known local artists, will be sold to the highest bidders. But potential buyers won鈥檛 know who created the works until the end of the silent auction.

鈥淭he big reveal will happen late in the evening of November 20,鈥� Hart said. 鈥淭here are some amazing entries, many by artists who aren鈥檛 well-known in the community, and we want to keep people guessing.鈥�

Art collectors will be able to bid in person and by email. They can also vote online for their favourite piece of art in the exhibition, according to Riis-Christianson

鈥淲e鈥檒l be producing a digital auction catalogue for people who can鈥檛 make it to the November 20 event,鈥� Riis-Christianson said. 鈥淲e are hoping to raise a couple of thousand dollars for arts programming in 2025 and beyond.鈥�

Anyone wanting more information on gallery programming can contact the Lakes District Museum by telephone (250-692-7450) or email (ldmuseumsociety@gmail.com).