Gabriola Arts Council (GAC) respectfully acknowledges that the land on which we live and create is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial. GAC respects and affirms the inherent rights and title of Snuneymuxw First Nation.
We endeavour to honour Coast Salish land and its treaties by strengthening our relationship and responsibilities to them. We are grateful to Snuneymuxw First Nation, who continue to share their knowledge about the history of the lands and water and their relations to them. We believe that the Arts can contribute to the healing and decolonizing journey we all share together and commit to honouring Indigenous self-determination, sovereignty and resurgence.
Gabriola’s Thanksgiving Studio Tour has been a success since its inception almost 30 years ago, and it continues to be one of the grandest art events in the Pacific Northwest. Now more than 1500 visitors from near and far enjoy the Tour today.
This year, 48 artists participated in the Tour, with 2 of them participating for the very first time. Artists are numbered on this website in advance of the tour and the printed guidebook is available at businesses across Gabriola Island and in Nanaimo. A downloadable digital copy is available on our homepage. Some artists have open studios year-round and can be contacted to make an appointment for viewing. Please see the artists page for information about specific artists and their availability.
While some Gabriola artists have physical studios, others might share their work with you on their kitchen table or in their workshop. It’s all about the art, not the space.
Gabriola is a small island in the Salish Sea off the coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Gabriola Island consistently ranks among Canada’s communities with a high concentration of practicing artists. The island’s creative energy — from painters and potters to writers and musicians — is a central part of local life and continues to flourish today.
Whether you stroll among the giant cedar trees in the Elder Cedar (S’ul-hween X’pey) Nature Reserve, kayak the beautiful sandstone shores, wonder at the rock formations at Malaspina Galleries, or enjoy a walk along one of the many beaches, Gabriola is rich in natural wonders. This richness is the perfect backdrop for any artist and provides inspiration to many.
Only a 20-minute ferry ride from Nanaimo, BC, a relaxing Hullo Ferry trip from downtown Vancouver, or a scenic float plane flight to our very own Silva Bay — Gabriola is closer than you think. Come and experience what the island has to offer: the creativity of nature and the inspired vision of the many artists who call it home.
The Gabriola Arts Council’s mission is to engage, enhance, and inspire the community’s cultural vitality through collaboration, leadership, and service.
Originally formed as Festival Gabriola Society on April 15, 1997, the organization became the Gabriola Arts Council effective October 19, 2006. We are a not-for-profit society under the Society’s Act, and a charitable organization under the Charities Directorate. We represent a broad section of the arts community on Gabriola. The “Isle of the Arts,” Gabriola is home to more than 200 artists and artisans who contribute to the cultural diversity of the island.
Our central programs include the annual Thanksgiving Studio Tour, the Isle of the Arts Festival, the Cultivate Festival of Music, Theatre, and Art and our Healing Power of Arts program. We have collaborated in or contributed to the creation of other arts-related events throughout the years such as poetry, musical performances and concerts, workshops and other educational forums. The Council also provides funding for artists through the Gabriola Artist Support Program and works with community groups on a regular basis.
