Territory Acknowledgement:
Metchosin ArtPod is located on the traditional territory of the Schian’exw (Beecher Bay) First Nation. This place is also shared with the neighbouring communities of the Ts’ouke (Sooke) and the Lekwungen peoples. We acknowledge the Schian’exw (Beecher Bay) First Nation, and the lands on which we live, work, play, create art and offer community programs. We also give thanks to those who have gone before us, and for the living beings who are the stewards of this place.
Mission Statement:
Metchosin ArtPod is an artist-run collective and gallery located in the rural village of Metchosin, on Greater Victoria’s West Shore. We endeavour to support local visual artists by offering opportunities to learn, create, show, and sell original work, and to promote the health of our community by providing a venue for the public to engage with the Arts.
To meet our mandate, we offer:
- Open calls for art submissions to artists in our region and beyond
- Externally juried art shows and sales in a gallery setting
- Show opening events, featured artist talks, and discussion forums
- Weekly drop-in art sessions
- Art workshops, resource networks and learning opportunities
Anti-Discrimination Policy:
Metchosin ArtPod membership criteria for acceptance is based on the applicant’s artistic merit, and their personal fit with ArtPod’s ethos, mission and approach to engaging with the public. Metchosin ArtPod does not engage in discrimination based on race, colour, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, political affiliation, union membership, or veteran status, other than as allowed by law. Individual members of the Metchosin ArtPod Artists’ Collective must be willing and able to attest that they do not discriminate on any of these grounds in order to be a member of this society.
Accessibility:
We are a volunteer-driven organisation and, as a not-for-profit society, we function on a very slim budget in order to make visual arts opportunities as financially accessible as possible. We collaborate to arrange low-cost artist drop-in groups, workshops and art events and encourage artists to submit their work for our juried shows by keeping our fees reasonable. Additionally, our gallery is open to the public three days a week. There is no entry fee, though we do appreciate donations from visitors who are able to manage a contribution toward our operating costs. Our collective includes a balance of male and female artists with Indigenous and LGBTQ+ representation. Our gallery has physically accessible off-road parking, a level entrance, wheelchair ramp and wheelchair accessible washrooms.