37th Annual Young Artists Exhibition
Celebrating Creative Youth on the Coast

April 25 – May 17, 2025

Are you, or do you know a young person creating art? The Young Artists Exhibition is an annual celebration of the creativity of young artists living on the Sunshine Coast. Each year we invite young artists (ages 5-18) to submit three works to be included in an exhibition at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt. This is a fantastic chance to share your creativity with the public, to receive feedback from professional working artists about your work, and to see your work installed in a professional gallery.

Important Dates:
Deadline to Submit: Thursday April 17, 2025 at 4pm
Exhibition Dates/Hours: April 25 – May 17, 2025 (Wed-Sun, 12 – 4pm)
Artwork Pickup: Saturday May 17, 2025, 12 – 2pm

Thank you to our long-time sponsors of the YAE: The Rotary Club of Sechelt , Claytons Heritage Market, and The Painted Lady Art Supplies & Framing

Some things to keep in mind:

  • Up to 3 works of art can be submitted by each young artist, and can include drawings, paintings, prints, mixed media, digital media, photography, videos, ceramics, fabric arts or sculpture.
  • Work can be made either at home or in school, as long as it wasn’t created for an assignment.
  • Work submitted should be made by the young artist in 2024/25

How to apply:

  • Complete the entry form below, along with the art work, at the SC Arts Council by Thursday April 17 at 4pm.
  • Each artwork should be labeled on the back with the label form.
  • Package the artwork together, carefully, as the SCAC cannot be responsible for damaged or unlabeled work.
  • Artwork should be exhibition ready. Works intended to be wall mounted should have a wire, works on paper should be unframed and preferably mounted with a paper matte frame.
  • If you are submitting video work, then please ensure that it can play through Quicktime (file formats must be .mov or .mp4). If you require specific technology, we ask you to provide this with the work so that it can be displayed as you intended.

Exhibition Closing 
On Saturday May 17 from 12:00pm – 2:00pm all participants and their families are invited to visit the gallery to pick up their works.

2023/4 Young Artists

2023’s exhibition was held in Spring 2024, with the theme of “The Salish Sea”.

Ada Logan, Ashley Bruce, Aviva Shay, Darwin Aho-Caroll, Dawson McDougall, Daphne Sutherland, Della Parr, Devin Green, Frankie Walton, Jacqueline Robinson, Lauren Grace, Layla Ateb, Lilian Robinson, London Allcock, Mirelle Parr, Myra McDougall, Nova Aho-Caroll, Olivia Rose, Phat Cat, Reed Spence, Rya Simpson, Stella Spence, Tala Swaffield, Theo Rogowski, Violet Rose

2022 Young Artists

2022’s exhibition featured 130 artworks by 63 artists!

Ages 5-: Alice Oxley, Allie McEwen, Briar Bergh, Coco Mitchell, Damian Dustin, Declyn MacDonald, Della, Farley Rutherford Hathaway, Gwynevere MacDonald, Lilian Robinson, Phoenix Ripper-Ami, Quinn Jeans, Setaycea May Weflen Willson, Simon May Weflen Willson, Simon Hargrave, Tala Swaffield, Winnie Hjanes

Ages 8-10, Charlotte Altenburg, Dalila Dustin, Declan Kush, Douglas Staver, Francis Oram, Gizelee Fontenelle, Ivy Suffron, Jacquline Robinson, Jessica Davie, Lauren-Grace Robinson, Lennon Budd-Blake, Liana Kraukamp, Lily Gilroy, Lucas Budd-Blake, Molly Jean Wilson, Noah Fritz, Nova Aho-Carroll, Ryker Tyler Babcock, Sawyer Battié, Stanley Gerlock, Thea Hargrave, Willow, Zoe Gleerup, Danika Masi, Mirelle Parr, Thane Fearn, Zack Bothwell

Ages 11-14, Ayla Suffron, Darwin Aho-Carroll, Dylan Gilroy, Farrah Autry, Hazel Hovenes, Katana Callies, Lilo Hjanes, Miyo Shinagawa, Pheonix Nimilawich, Rowan Sawatski, Taho Shingawa, Taho Shingawa, Diesel Kush

Ages 15-18, Aedrian Salazar, Cassandra, Elise Williams, Kayla Evenson, Salma Star Atoui, Ashley Bruce

2021 Young Artists

Ages 5 to 7

Ava Durrant, Annie Durrant, Stanley Gerlock, Fern Gerlock, Zoey Gower, Bowen Jeans, Danika Masi, Dawson McDougall

Ages 8 to 10

Nova Aho-Carroll, Keeli Gower, Jackson Izen, Michelle Kerie, Myra McDougall, Lilo Mjanes, Lauren-Grace Robinson, Rowan Sawatski, Miyo Shinagawa, Ayla Suffron, Ivy Suffron

Ages 11 to 14

Darwin Aho-Carroll, Salma Star Atoui, Jasmin Brown, Ashley Bruce, Ciana Lowis-Holiday, Kendra Hood, Sahara Isis, Phoenix Nimilowich, Taho Shinagawa, Reign Wade, Peyton Willis

Ages 15 to 18

Adam Cimbala, Kayla Evenson, Althea Hume, Isaac Izen, S. Martin

2020 Young Artists

Ages 5 to 7

Ryan Jamal-Swettenham for ‘Marie and Toad Meet Pikuniku’ and ‘Nessie Meets the Kayakers’
Danika Masi for ‘The Wild’
Ava Durrant for All Three Works
Stanley Gerlock for ‘All Three Works’
Orca Coates Franklin for ‘The Black Days’ and ‘What’s Happening Here?’
Chiara Hampvent for ‘3 Ways of Fall’
Jamie Jamal-Swettenham for ‘Battle of the Atlantic’

AGES 8 to 10

Nova Aho-Carroll for ‘Fairy Fox’
Jackson Izen for ‘A Jumble of Faces’
Sophia James for ‘Bright Bill Goes to Kindergarten’
Lauren-Grace Robinson for ‘Fall Leaves’
Lilo Parker Mjanes for All Three Works
Jada Mielke for ‘The Rose Patch’ and ‘Horse Valley’
Caine Uchida for ‘Where to Get a Haircut’
Taya Lily Bruce for All Three Works

AGES 11 to 14

Paylin Hudrick for ‘Red Sus Neon Painting’
Taho Shinagawa for ‘My Mom at Beach’
Darwin Aho-Carroll for ‘The Hive Mind’ and ‘The Golem’
Ava Meketich for ‘Art Rocks’ and ‘Mandala’
Salma Star Atoui for “We Take Pride’ and ‘Blind Pedestal’
Ashley Bruce for ‘Happy Sunset’ and ‘Mommy’s Elephants’
Hanna Buchanan Breit for ‘Wrapped’
Isaac Izen for ‘Kindergarten Line Rider Video’
Tyson Meketich for ‘Venom’
Lance Mooney for ‘Mockingbird’
Althea Hume for All Three Works

AGES 15 to 18

Julianna Conyers for ‘Freaks of Nature’
Anais Bayle for ‘Emerging’ and ‘Moths’

2019 Young Artists

Ages 5 to 7

Ava Durrant for ‘Nature’s Treasures’
Stanley Gerlock for ‘Colourful Neighbourhood’ & ‘Meatballs and Spaghetti’
Katie Wilson for ‘Cat Hotel’
Orca Coates Franklin for ‘Halloween of Terror and the Light of Christmas’
Kinley Murphy for ‘The Strong Team’
Raiden Oke-Glowacki for All Three Works
Jacqueline Robinson for ‘Sealife’ Fynn Reid for ‘Cobra Nest’
Lauren-Grace Robinson for ‘Spooky’ & ‘Stinky’
Louis Daniel Southwood for ‘The Beach’

Ages 8 to 10

Lilo Parker Mjanes for All Three Works
Miyo Shinagawa for ‘I Can Fly!’ & ‘Untitled’
Julia Stansfield for ‘Road Trip’
Oliver Benko for ‘Fun On The Roller Coaster’
Talus Lily for ‘Mis Fit Rainbow’
Lorelei Poirier for ‘Bird’
Taho Shinagawa for ‘Untitled’, ‘Heaven’ & ‘Trees’

Ages 11 to 14

Darwin Aho-Carroll for ‘Child and Kaiju’
Ava Meketich for ‘Dangle’
Phoenix Nimilowich for ‘Amy – The Deer Girl’
Ashley Bruce for ‘Waiting for the Bus’
Tyson Meketich for ‘Squiggled Skulls’
Salma Star Atoui for ‘The Coming Sway’ & ‘The Fallen Wings’
Althea Hume for ‘Apricots and Cyanide’ & ‘The Treehouse Neighbourhood Committee’
Isaac Izen for ‘A House (mine)’

Ages 15 to 18

Vivian Selmes for ‘Demontober: day 9 “flesh”’
Sarah Marshall for ‘Farmhouse in Winter’
Bela Ord for ‘The Heart’

2018 Young Artists

Ages 5 – 8

Olive Boyd for “Spiky”
Orca Salmonberry Coates Franklin for “The World of Scariness”
Katie Wilson for “Berry Trees”
Nova Aho-Carroll for “Girl by the Sea” & “A Bird Flies”
Jackson Izen for “No Name” & “Scrambled Eggs”
Lauren-Grace Robinson for “Cindella”
Tailu Guerin for “The Big Fish”
Ciana Lowis Holliday for “Whistling Whale & Bathing Birds”
Jordyn Mcnea for all Three Works
Kadence Pelly for “Goul Face”

Ages 9 – 12

Paylin Hudrick for “Tea Cup Bear” & “Baby Panda”
Talus Lily Jackson for “Bear”
Taho Shinagawa for “The Weather”
Mya Tosczak for “Sky Meadows”, “A Puzzle” & “Open Minds”
Darwin Aho-Carroll for “Bugzilla” & “Blue Thornhead”
Maathai Cole for “Tiny Tim” & “Bon appétit . . . Oui”
Salma Star Atoui for “It’s Not a Cat”
D’arcy Donovan for “Aurora Borealis”
Althea Hume for “Mystery” & “Drooling”
Isaac Izen for “Art in Motion: Basketball”

Ages 13 – 15

Erik Krutsky for “Autumn Beach” & “A Dream”
Lucy Wolchock-Brown for “The Periodic Table of the Elements” & “Apples on China Plate”

Ages 16 – 18

Anais Bayle for “Insectarium” & “Harmful Softness”
Trinity Goodsell for “Cloud Rainforest”
Bela Ord for “Two Birds” & “Jared and His Son”
Mekia Bakewell for “Carefree Black Girl

2017 Young Artists

Ages 5 – 8

Lilo Parker Mjanes for both illustrated books
Lauren-Grace Robinson for all three works
Jordyn Mcnea for all three works
Oliver Benko for all three works
Erick Benko for “Firefighters to the Rescue”
Amelia Brock for “Woven Wand”
Cadence Stelter for “Mushroom Flower”
Elsa Bradley for “Chilly Days”
Raphael Naspinski for “Owl”
Talus Jackson for “Abstract Thought”
Taho Shinagawa for “My Interest” & “Under the Sea”

Ages 9 – 12

Sarah Kraus for all three works
Lydia Bradley for both works
Claire Bathgate for “Lion”
Mattahi Cole for “Looking Up”
D’Arcy Donovan for “Snowy Mountains”
Martin Krutsky for “Parrot in the Jungle”
Katelyn Halvorson for “The Inner You”
Tianna Fenton for “Ash”

Ages 13 – 15

Isabel Diebel for all three works
Erik Krutsky for both works

Ages 16 – 18

Bela Ord for all three works
Trinity Goodsell for “Blurred Memories of a Starry Night”
Emily Picard for “Dia de Los Muertos”

Photos by Paul Clancy

2016 Young Artists

Ages 5 – 8

Lilo Parker Mjanes for her drawings
Miyo Shinagawa for all three works
Jordyn McNea for all three works
Erick Benko for all three works
Amelia Brock for ‘Butterfly’
Taho Shinagawa for “Wind Fairy” and “Fairy World”
Oliver Benko for “Captain Oliver” and “Japanese Ninja”
Charlotte Lowe for “The Monster and the Icicles”

Ages 9 – 12

Sol Battaglio for all three works
Isaac D Izen for “Rabbit” and “Walking in the Rain”
Nina De Leo for “Fox” and “Women”
Megan Kraus for “Constant Companion” and “Trying for Peace”
Martin Krutsky for “Jumping Orca Whale”
Ruby Foss for “Bird and River”
Kristoff Krutsky for “Seagull Relaxing on a Rock”

Ages 13-17

Bela Ord for all three works
Eric Krustky for “Bald Eagle Photograph” and “The Escape”
Anais Bayle for “The Gentleman” and “The Waiter”
Emily Picard for “Lion Fish Mermaid” and “Al-Mi’raj”
Peyton Lavery for “Christmas Skull”

2015 Young Artists

Selma Starr Atoui
Oliver Benko
Liam Nestman
Daphne Kubicek
Jordyn Mcnea
Hunter Lewis
Ruby Foss
Isabel Diebel
Jonah Byron
Taho Shinagawa
Martin Krutsky
Isaac D Izen
Erik Krutsky
Sofia Kardos-Machado