Olds Municipal Library’s Anonymous Artist Show and Auction is underway, and residents are encouraged to visit to support local artists and the library.
This marks the second edition of the event and Library Manager Lesley Moody says she sees the show as another part of the library’s role as a community service, even outside of book lending.
“Part of our mandate is not only to kind of help people learn to read and write, but we believe in supporting all cultural communities, so it’s a great opportunity for us to have a fundraiser, but also support the art community as well,” she says.
Moody says this year, the library sent out more than 100 canvases to local artists and received 85 submissions across four age categories, so there is something for everyone to see.
“We have about 85 submissions from ages three all the way up to 83,” she says. “The artwork is just absolutely stunning and gorgeous, it’s just so great to see.”
The show is free for anyone who visits the library during regular hours, but if you wish to support an artist, Moody says purchasing a piece is the best way to do that.
“You can bid on one of the pieces and take it home and have something local in your living room,” she says. “It’s really fun for us to be able to do, a lot of people that submit are youth and teens, and it’s the first time they’ve ever sold their art so it can be really encouraging for them to pursue art in the future, because they can see that as a viable thing.”
The event will run until May 9th. All proceeds are split 60/40 between the library and the artist.
