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With literally hundreds of visual artists in residence along British Columbia's Sunshine Coast, the area has a well-deserved reputation as an artists' haven. However, most of these artists work in relative isolation, and marketing their products is often difficult and expensive. Conchita Harding, a resident of Gibsons Landing, thought there must a way to unite Sunshine Coast artists under one organisation. The idea of forming a co-op was suggested, and over a hundred artists attended the first organisational meeting in the fall of 1997. The Sunshine Coast Artists Co-operative was incorporated in 1998 and has grown steadily since then.
Only steps away from Molly's Reach, the restaurant made famous by the CBC Television show Beachcombers, the co-op's Gibsons Landing Gallery is well-placed to serve the growing tourist market. Filled with paintings, hand-woven scarves, pottery, candles, hats, and jewellery, the gallery is a welcoming place to visitors. The co-op has no paid staff, so artists themselves take turns working in the gallery. For visitors, the chance to browse through the gallery and speak to one of the artists enhances the experience of shopping for a piece of unique art to take home.
 At any given time, works from over twenty artists line the gallery walls. Currently the co-op has forty-two members. Most of the members are artists who sell through the co-op; however, some are honourary members. Today, Conchita Harding supports the co-op by acting as a resource person. Members who volunteer are given priority in exhibiting their work, and are charged 20 percent commission on sales. The co-op charges 35 percent commission on all sales for non-volunteering members. Members of the co-op have come from around the world to live and work in Gibsons, and their art is first-class. World-renowned sculptor Jack Harmon was a member of the co-op before his death last year. Soon after his passing, art collectors swept into the co-op and purchased the remaining two sculptures from the Gallery.
The natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the Howe Sound area have made Gibsons Landing a popular tourist destination. At the co-op, sales rise and fall with the tourist season, and members rely on the busy summer months to make it through the slower winter season. Visitors are often excited to learn the gallery is run co-operatively, say co-op members Lyle Nanson, Greta Guzek, and Barby Paulus. They also appreciate that all the work displayed was made on the coast.
The co-op has been financially successful, which has allowed members to develop their organisation. They hope to hire a manager for the gallery as soon as possible, and they envision creating satellite galleries all along British Columbia's coast. The Sunshine Coast Artists Co-operative has proven that, unlike some private galleries in Gibsons which remain open for only a year, it has staying power.
Sources:
Interviews with Conchita Harding, Lyle Nanson, Greta Guzek, and Barby Paulus, January 2000.
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