Volunteers Wanted: Help Shape the Oceanside Arts Magazine

The Oceanside Community Arts Council is looking for volunteers to help grow and develop the Oceanside Arts Magazine, our free online publication celebrating artists, exhibitions, and creative life across Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and beyond.

We’re looking for people who enjoy connecting with artists, sharing stories, and helping strengthen the arts community. You don’t need formal journalism experience — curiosity, enthusiasm, and a love of the arts go a long way.

Volunteer Opportunities Include:

• Finding and connecting with artists who may be interested in being featured
• Conducting informal interviews and gathering material for articles
• Writing short features, profiles, or exhibition highlights
• Helping promote the magazine and grow its readership
• Supporting outreach and membership growth for OCAC

These roles are flexible and can be shaped around your interests, availability, and experience. Whether you enjoy writing

Artists and creatives with a connection to Qualicum Beach are invited to submit artwork to be featured on street banners throughout the community, as part of the Town’s new Street Banner Artists Program.

The program aims to animate the downtown core by celebrating the unique landscape, culture and character of Qualicum Beach. Submissions are being accepted now until January 18, 2026.

“The launch of this program celebrates creativity and adds to the vibrancy of Qualicum Beach,” shares Mayor Teunis Westbroek. “We're eager to see how artists with a connection to our Town view our community, and we’re excited for the opportunity to showcase their works in a public space.”

Artists are invited to submit up to three existing works or new concepts, under five program themes: Celebrating Qualicum Beach, Nature, History & Heritage, Arts & Culture and Active Lifestyle. Eligible applicants do not have to live in Qualicum Beach but must have a connection to the area.

Submissions will be

Click HERE to Join

To donate click HERE.

For immediate release. MEET YOU AT THE MAC!

McMILLAN ARTS CENTRE, 133 McMillan Street, Parksville

GALLERY EXHIBITIONS

OPENING RECEPTION – Saturday, April 6, 1-3PM

FEDERATION OF CANADIAN ARTISTS

ARROWMSITH CHAPTER

Spring Juried Exhibition

The local Arrowsmith Chapter of the Canadian Federation of Artists (FCA) is presenting their annual Spring Exhibition to be held at the McMillan Arts Centre located 133McMillan St. in central Parksville, BC. You will be able to enjoy the creative talent selected from the best of local artists and the show offers you the opportunity to enhance or begin a collection of original art.

You are invited to attend the reception where you can meet the artists at the Awards Presentation on Saturday April 6th 1 -3 PM.

And…. you will be able to participate in the choosing of the coveted “People’s Choice Award”. Please vote for your favourite artwork. A prize package of art-cards from our member artists will be randomly drawn from participants.

The Arrowsmith FC

Seeing Canada through the eyes of artist Susan Schaefer in her latest exhibit

Click HERE to see Chek News Video

TRANSITIONS: National Mosaics Conference 2023: We are so thrilled to be hosting this National Mosaics Conference at the MAC this summer! We will be welcoming Mosaic artists from across Canada, who will be hosting a wonderful series of Artist Talks, Workshops & Classes AND a community mosaics project, for all of our summer visitors to participate in! Bring your summer visitors and come and be a part of this exciting, innovative, educational, juried exhibition.

Running July 1- August 27, 2023. Opening Celebrations: July 1st, 1-3pm. Check out the MOSAICS Artist Talks and Classes and be a part of the wonderful activities this summer at the MAC!

More details HERE

On this edition of PQBeat, Jennifer Bate, the Executive Director of the McMillan Arts Centre, chats with host Peter McCully about upcoming events.

Click here to view video.

IceBear's latest fine art exhibition,

The Modern Age Dreams of a Dreamer! Please come in and wander around! What you will see here? Indigenous, nature based and contemporary art: huge acrylic on canvas paintings, bronze sculpture, mixed media and wood sculpture, metal work. Please join us for a stroll through the gallery.

This video is shot from the point of view of a visitor wandering in the open door. Have a look around, imagine you are present; pause if you want to look at something more closely. Background music from Ed Peekeekoot's haunting native flute is a wonderful accompaniment. (Ed is joined here by his wife Gail (vocals)and cellist Corbin Keep).

This was IceBear's first solo exhibition since before Covid, and the largest collection of his original work ever shown in one place. Collectors from two provinces leant work for the event.

Around 1,000 people came through the doors. But with summer ferry cancellations and overcrowding, massive traffic jams on the highway from here t

AGENDA – OCAC Annual General Meeting

Sunday, October 2, 2022, 1pm

McMillan Arts Centre, 133 McMillan Street, Parksville, BC

1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Approval of minutes from October 20, 2021 Annual General Meeting

3. Business arising from those minutes

4. Treasurer’s Report – Amanda Nixon

5. Nominees for election to the OCAC Board of Directors for 2022-2023

6. Election of Directors at Large

7. Adjournment

The following article appeared in the PQB News on July 19 2022 and is published here by kind permission of Kevin Forsyth.

The McMillan Arts Centre (MAC) in Parksville is currently home to a unique piece by artist Robert Held.

Held’s glass waterfall, which contains more than 500 drops, was not inspired by any specific waterfall, but out of a desire to raise awareness about the plight of Shelly Creek — Parksville’s last salmon-bearing creek.

“The rest of it is gonna be overdone with houses and buildings and stuff soon,” he said. “So, this is a cool thing to do to try to save the little cutthroat guys.”

Held said since he moved to Parksville a decade ago, he has witnessed many large construction projects go up near the creek.

Creating the drops took five days of work by Held and two assistants, in addition to many more days on other aspects of the project. They experimented with glass drops of different shapes and sizes. The final product is a result of letting gravity do the work, Held said.

“

EXHIBITION OVERVIEW
Millions of people in Canada have successfully resolved a problem with substances, but we
rarely see or hear their stories compared to the stereotypes of addiction in media and film.
This exhibit visually illustrates the powerful narratives/accounts of those who have and are
rebuilding their lives: reconnecting with their families, finding work and stable housing, and
developing meaningful relationships with partners, peers, and others who offer support.
Also featured are the perspectives of recovery partners, treatment providers, and harm
reduction service providers who offer practical support and connection for those feeling
overwhelmed and isolated.
Recovery is rarely a solo journey, and it sometimes involves setbacks and hurdles, but the more
we talk about it, share ideas, and embrace different paths, the more people will find their way.
‘Gifts of Recovery’ will be on display September 27th from 4 to 8 pm, and September 28th from
noon to 6 pm, 2022.

CALL FOR ENTRIES
Forward H