The Arts & Culture Council for The Gallery at the L.E. Shore Library is excited to present the L.E. Shore Gallery Artist of the Year art competition!
Overview of Event
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Time: 9:30am-4pm
The L.E. Shore Gallery Artist of the Year will be a one-day art competition loosely inspired by the hit TV show Landscape Artist of the Year (UK) [available on Amazon Prime TV and YouTube], and its Canadian iteration [available on Amazon Prime TV and YouTube].
Set on the lawns of the L.E. Shore Library, the clock is ticking as five artists contend to complete a painting within just four hours. And there’s a twist: a sixth spot in the competition is up for grabs, but there’s nobody yet to claim it! That’s where our 15 “wildcard” artists enter, each competing for a chance to fill this final spot and join the running for the L.E. Shore Gallery Artist of the Year title.
A panel of judges composed of local artists, art enthusiasts, and art professionals will jury and select the competition winner, who will be awarded a monetary prize and have their piece displayed in the library for 1 year.
This is an exciting new venture for The Gallery, and we hope it offers a fun opportunity for artists to connect and explore and provides our community with another outlet to experience the incredible local art scene.
Deadline to Apply
The deadline to apply is end of day April 28, 2026.
Who Should Apply?
If you’re looking to break out of an artistic slump, challenge yourself artistically or try something new, you should apply! This will also be a “low-pressure” competition, so don’t be afraid to apply if you’re newer to the art scene. All experience levels are welcome. Come on out for some fun!
As part of your application, you will be able to indicate if you’d like to apply to be one of the 5 main competitors or one of the 15 wildcards. If you apply to be one of the main competitors, but are not selected, you will be invited (pending availability) to participate as a wildcard.
Need More Details?
Please see the first page of the application form linked below to learn more about joining the competition.
How to Apply
Please proceed to the form linked below to begin your application! Submissions will be reviewed by The Gallery's Arts & Culture Council.
General Tips:
- Consider completing the application on a computer. While the form can be completed on a phone or tablet, this is not recommended.
- As you work your way through the application form, we strongly encourage you to record your answers in a separate document (for example, in an email, in a Word document etc.) in case of any technical glitches.
- Please note that you cannot close the form and return to it later to complete and submit. Your progress will NOT be saved and you will need to restart the application.
2026 Artist of the Year Application Form
Questions?
If you have any questions or need help with your application, please email TheGallery@TheBluemountains.ca. We're here to help!