An Overview of the Guild

The South Delta Artists Guild has been a cornerstone of the Lower Mainland’s visual arts scene for fifty years. Operating as a registered nonprofit since 1975 and anchored at Gallery 1710 in Tsawwassen, we bring visual artists together to create, exhibit, and keep growing. Our membership reaches across the region; artists come from as far as New Westminster and beyond to take part in what we’ve built. What’s on offer is straightforward: monthly exhibitions, juried and themed shows, workshops, demonstrations, life drawing, plein air sessions, and a community that actively invests in each artist’s progress. More background on the Guild here.

A Half-Century in the Making

The story of the Guild begins in 1975, when a group of local visual artists incorporated as a nonprofit society with a simple but enduring goal: to create a space where visual arts could flourish in the region. Over the decades we grew through a few different venues in Tsawwassen, including the Phoenix Club firehall that was demolished in 2003, before finding our permanent home. In 1999 we signed a partnership agreement with the City of Delta to take over the Kiwanis Longhouse; a 1973 building constructed with Coast Salish Longhouse design elements as a tribute to the Tsawwassen First Nations. With member-raised funds, we renovated and re-equipped the space, renaming it Gallery 1710, and we’ve been there ever since.

The Principles We Follow

Respect for all artists: Experience level, medium, background, or style; none of it determines how an artist is treated in our community. Every member gets the same respect and consideration.

Integrity in how we operate: As a volunteer-led nonprofit, we’re answerable to our members and the public. We work with transparency because that’s the only way a member-driven organization can function well.

Inclusivity across the board: We welcome artists working in any medium, at any career stage, and from any walk of life. The Guild is an open space; that’s baked into who we are.

Fostering artistic development: Workshops, demos, peer feedback, exhibitions, and mentorship are all structured to help members keep improving their practice. The Guild is a growth environment first.

What a Guild Membership Includes

• Monthly Exhibition Opportunities: Members can display work in Gallery 1710’s rotating shows, featuring paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, textiles, and other 2D/3D work
• Art in the Community Program: Off-site member exhibits at Delta Hospital, Tsawwassen Library, and other community partners extend reach beyond the gallery itself
• Weekly Life Drawing and Studio Drop-Ins: Our workspace hosts regular life drawing sessions and open studio time, giving members consistent creative routine and peer connection
• Educational Workshops: Skill-focused classes and multi-day workshops led by practicing artists, covering everything from watercolour fundamentals to advanced techniques
• Artist Demonstrations: Regular demos from member and guest artists offer hands-on insight into different approaches, mediums, and methods
• Special Juried and Themed Shows: Curated exhibitions throughout the year offer recognition opportunities and creative challenges outside the monthly format
• Plein Air Sessions: Outdoor painting sessions held regularly so members can paint from life in local landscapes and settings
• Real Mentorship and Peer Feedback: A network of accomplished artists who are willing to share what they know; formally and informally; to help other members grow

Welcome, New Westminster Artists

New Westminster has its own distinct arts identity; heritage buildings, a dense creative population, and engaged art lovers across neighbourhoods like Queen’s Park, Uptown, Sapperton, Queensborough, and the Brewery District. While Tsawwassen is a bit of a drive from New Westminster, artists who make the commitment find a guild that offers what isn’t easily duplicated closer to home: fifty years of institutional knowledge, a dedicated gallery space, year-round programming, and a membership that genuinely works together. New Westminster art collectors are likewise welcome to visit Gallery 1710; you’ll find original work across every price range, with up to 100 pieces on display each month. Browse what’s on the walls right now.

A Visit to Gallery 1710

Gallery 1710 is located just off Highway 17A at 1710 56th Street in Tsawwassen; five minutes from the BC Ferries terminal with free parking on-site. Admission is free and no appointment is needed. The space punches above its size: shows rotate monthly, and every exhibition features a diverse mix of original work from our members across every medium you can think of. Watercolour, oils, acrylics, mixed media, sculpture, textiles, printmaking; it’s all here. Alongside the exhibition, we sell art cards, prints, and annual calendars. Open hours are Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m., with occasional extended hours for receptions. Volunteer docents are always on site during open hours to chat about the work or assist with a purchase.

Looking to Join?

Visual artists from New Westminster and across the Lower Mainland are welcome to apply for Guild membership. Participation is a key part of how the Guild works; members pitch in through docent shifts, committee work, and event support, which keeps the organization running and makes the community feel real. What members get in return is substantial: ongoing exhibition opportunities, workshop access, mentorship, connection to other working artists, and a meaningful role in a fifty-year-old nonprofit. Get the details on membership and apply here.

Questions? Get in Touch

For any questions about membership, exhibitions, workshops, or visiting, reach out by phone, stop in during open hours, or head to our website for more information.

Phone: (604) 943-3313

Gallery Address: 1710 56th Street, Tsawwassen, BC V4L 2B1

Gallery Hours: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 12 – 4 p.m.

Website: southdeltaartistsguild.com

Nonprofit Visual Arts Society Since 1975 • Home of Gallery 1710 • Open to New Westminster Artists & Visitors