When the 2009 Sidney Fine Art Show takes over the Mary Winspear Centre it will anchor Arts Week in Sidney.

“The arts provide intellectual stimulation, sensory enrichment and emotional fulfillment. From a very practical standpoint the arts are an important economic force in our town, bringing visitors who stay with us and enjoy the ambiance of the town and its character,” said Sidney Mayor Larry Cross.

The fine art showing starts Friday, October 16 and runs through to Sunday, October 18, carrying on a tradition of showcasing excellence. The show, which is run by the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula, is not for profit and run totally by volunteers — more than 300 working more than 5,000 hours on the show.

As well as visiting the show, Arts Week visitors can follow the  Sidney Art Walk in the show catalogue and take in the many locations where the local business community supports artist by displaying work. They will have the opportunity to see Sidney’s first juried public art installation, situated alongside the new Beacon Park Pavilion, which will be unveiled at 11:30 a.m. on October 16. The work comprises two sculptures by Sooke artist and blacksmith Jake James and was selected by a panel of three jurors from 27 submissions.  Visitors can also admire  Art on the Streets — power boxes wrapped in art, and the interpretive signs along the waterfront displaying the richness of Sidney’s history.

This year, the show is especially important to the local art community. Not only do artists receive 85 per cent of their sales revenue, but also any surplus from the show will go back to the Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula to support their many diverse programs. At the Union of BC Municipalities conference in Vancouver last week, Cross spoke to the provincial government about the serious impacts the loss of gaming grant funding and other financial support for the arts, culture and recreation was having on local communities, and received strong support from other mayors and council members when he asked that the government reinstate such funding.

Show hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

There will be artist demonstrations every day. Saturday, October 18 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. is Meet the Artists night.

Admission is $5 per day, or $10 for a three-day pass. For more information, go to www.sidneyfineartshow.com or call 250-656-7412.