One of this area鈥檚 most active arts and culture organizations is putting a new spin on the old axiom, 鈥淎 picture is worth a thousand words.鈥�

This year, a picture by one lucky artist will be worth $1,000.

The Lakes District FACEOFF Portrait Competition, which opened last week and runs until October 3, celebrates art and the faces of Northern British Columbia. Creators with close connections to the Lakes District can enter up to two portraits of people, beloved pets, or historical figures for a chance to win the contest鈥檚 grand prize.

The competition, organized by the Lakes District Museum Society, is open to artists of all ages. Prizes will be offered in three divisions: Adult (for creators age 19 and older), Teen (for creators age 13 鈥� 19), and Children (for young creators under age 13). A total of $2,000 in prizes will be offered, and there is no entry fee.

All portraits entered in the competition will be judged by a panel of local art-lovers and exhibited in the Heritage Gallery. The winners will be announced at a reception in October.

Museum society members hope the Lakes District FACEOFF Portrait Competition will encourage artists to stretch their creative boundaries.

鈥淭his area has produced some incredibly talented artists,鈥� said Cameron Hart, president of the museum society. 鈥淢ost of them specialize in landscapes, which isn鈥檛 surprising, given that they live in one of BC鈥檚 most beautiful regions. Our previous art competitions have enabled artists to stay in their creative 鈥榗omfort zones鈥�, but we think it鈥檚 time to challenge them in new ways. The Lakes District is more than just a pretty place. It鈥檚 also a community filled with amazing people, some of whom happen to be artists. The Lakes District FACEOFF Portrait Competition is our way of celebrating the arts and the people who live here.鈥�

Although artists can enter pet portraits in the competition, preference will be given to portraits of people. Self-portraits will earn their creators extra credit.

The winning entry will be added to the Lakes District Museum鈥檚 new permanent art collection.

鈥淗aving operated the area鈥檚 only public art gallery for a half-decade, we鈥檙e know what local artists can do when they are inspired,鈥� added museum curator Michael Riis-Christianson. 鈥淲e hope this competition will provide the creative spark 鈥� and the financial incentive 鈥� they need to produce timeless portraits.鈥�

Artists wanting more information about the Lakes District FACEOFF Portrait Competition can contact the museum by telephone (250-692-7450) or email (ldmuseumsociety@gmail.com).

Established in 1978, the Lakes District Museum Society is one of the region鈥檚 oldest arts and culture organizations. In addition to the museum, it operates the Heritage Gallery. The gallery, now located at 540 Highway 16 West in 亚洲天堂 Lake, has exhibited the works of more than 50 artists since it opened in 2021.