SASKATCHEWAN - In a release by SaskGalleries, it was announced that Saskatchewan’s premier fine art fair, Art Now, is once again choosing a hybrid approach for the annual fair. After a wildly successful hybrid on-location and online event in 2020, the fine art fair is keeping the formula customers enjoyed for the sixth edition of the show this September.
“More than 30,000 people attended Art Now online last year and we had breakthrough numbers in person,” says Melanie Metcalf, Art Now committee chair. “Last year, art buyers made the shift to attending and buying art online easily as well as enjoying the option to go to galleries on location. For now, being hybrid has turned out to be a great fit for customers, galleries, and artists,” Metcalf adds.
Art Now will be the largest fine art fair of modern and contemporary art on the Canadian prairies featuring 17 commercial galleries and more than 600 works of art available for purchase. All artwork and programming will be hosted on artnow.ca from September 16-26, 2021, with the online opening reception kicking things off the evening of September 16. Participating galleries will also be hosting on-location events, taking place September 25 and 26. All details can be found at artnow.ca.
This year’s Art Now participating galleries are from across the province, making 2021’s event an all-around Saskatchewan approach with new galleries and artists on show as well. Attendees will be able to enjoy a variety of art works displayed by galleries from across the province. Art will be available in a variety of sizes, styles, mediums, and price points, so whether you’re an established art lover or just starting to buy, there is something for everyone.
This year’s programming includes an online opening reception on September 16 at 6pm. Opening night attendees will have first access to purchase works, are invited to chat with gallerists online, and can enter for a chance to win one of 16 door prizes. In addition, there will be virtual artist talks, panels and Zoom sessions. The opening night reception can be accessed by visiting artnow.ca.
For 2021, Art Now invited Saskatchewan curator, Jesse Campbell, to shape the panel sessions for the show. “The Art Now panel sessions are about the lives of artworks, from their journeys through artists’ hands to the homes and spaces they come to inhabit,” says Campbell. “We’ve designed the panel discussions with themes of interest for everyone.”
On-location events will be taking place with a host of participating galleries on September 25 and 26, featuring art installations, pop-up exhibitions, artists on site, live painting, and more. A complete list of on-location galleries and events can be found at artnow.ca. All on-location visitors are eligible to win a $100 SaskGalleries gift certificate just by completing a short online survey.
For family programming, organizers are excited to bring the “next gen creators,” some engaging activities and inspiration featuring Saskatchewan’s up-and-coming artists. More information can be found at artnow.ca.
COVID-19 – attendees are asked to please check the gallery protocols and provincial COVID-19 guidelines before attending. All activities will respect current guidelines set out by the Saskatchewan's Chief Medical Health Officer at the time of the event.
