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].
The event will take place on the grounds of the L.E. Shore Library in Thornbury, with the public invited to attend and observe. Competing artists will have four hours to complete a single painting.
The event will feature 5 artists as the competition’s main competitors, all contending for the L.E. Shore Gallery Artist of the Year title. In addition to these 5 main competitors, 15 wildcard artists will also participate. During the competition, 1 wildcard artist will be selected to join the 5 main competitors to contend 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 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!
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
Competition Conditions
Please see the application form above for all competition conditions.
Questions?
If you have any questions or need help with your application, please email TheGallery@TheBluemountains.ca. We're here to help!