Your Local Arts Guild

The South Delta Artists Guild is Delta’s own visual arts community, rooted right here since 1975 and operating out of our permanent home at Gallery 1710 in Tsawwassen. For half a century, we’ve been the gathering point for local artists and art lovers; a place where members create, exhibit, learn from one another, and bring original artwork to the public through year-round programming. Whether you live in Tsawwassen, Ladner, North Delta, or anywhere else nearby, the Guild is your local hub for visual art. Membership is open to artists of every medium and skill level, and Gallery 1710 is free and open to the public three days a week. Read the full Guild story here.

Rooted in Delta Since 1975

The Guild began as a small group of Delta artists determined to build something lasting; a nonprofit society that could champion local visual arts and give artists a permanent place to exhibit and grow together. Nearly fifty years later, that original idea has held up: we’re still here, still member-led, still hosting exhibitions every month. Over the decades we’ve operated out of a few different Delta locations, including the old Phoenix Club (a converted firehall demolished in 2003), before finding our long-term home. In 1999 the Guild partnered with the City of Delta to take over the Kiwanis Longhouse, a 1973 building designed with Coast Salish Longhouse features in tribute to the Tsawwassen First Nations. Our members raised the funds to renovate the space and rename it Gallery 1710, and we’ve called it home ever since.

What Guides Us

Respect: Every member and visitor, regardless of experience or background, is treated with real consideration. Art doesn’t have a hierarchy here; neither do we.

Integrity: As a member-driven nonprofit, we operate openly and honestly. The Guild’s decisions are made in service of our artists and community, not anyone’s bottom line.

Inclusivity: We welcome all visual artists regardless of medium, style, or stage. If you’re creating work or curious about creating work, you belong here.

Support for artistic growth: Our whole model is built around helping artists develop: workshops, demos, exhibitions, peer feedback, and friendships that outlast any single show.

What Delta Members Get

• Monthly Shows at Gallery 1710: Every member can exhibit in our rotating monthly exhibitions, featuring a deep mix of 2D and 3D work across nearly every medium imaginable
• Art in the Community: Members also get to show work at off-site Delta venues like the Delta Hospital and Tsawwassen Library; local visibility at places Delta residents visit regularly
• Drop-In Studio and Life Drawing: Our dedicated workshop space hosts weekly life drawing sessions and drop-in studio time where members paint and create alongside each other
• Workshops with Skilled Instructors: Regular workshops led by experienced artists cover watercolour, oils, acrylics, mixed media, sculpture, and specialized techniques
• Artist Demos: Monthly and ongoing demonstrations from member and guest artists offer an inside look at how working artists approach their craft
• Juried and Themed Exhibitions: Special shows throughout the year offer recognition opportunities and creative challenges beyond the regular monthly format
• Plein Air Painting: Weekly plein air outings take advantage of Delta’s scenery, from farmland and dikes to coastal views and parks
• A True Local Community: Friendships, mentorship, and creative collaboration with other Delta-area artists you’ll see week in and week out

A Delta Institution

Very few nonprofits in Delta have been operating as long as the Guild, and even fewer have remained as active and member-driven. We’re a genuine part of the local cultural fabric; hosting over a dozen exhibitions a year at Gallery 1710, running Art in the Community programming at Delta Hospital and Tsawwassen Library, and contributing to Delta’s ongoing creative life in ways large and small. Gallery 1710 itself is a destination worth knowing: just off Highway 17A on 56th Street, five minutes from the ferry terminal, with free parking and free admission. Whether you’re a Delta resident looking to see what’s showing this month, an artist in Ladner thinking about joining, or a North Delta art lover searching for original work, we’re literally in your backyard.

Visit Gallery 1710

The gallery is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m., with occasional extended hours for special receptions and events. Entry is free and no reservation is required. Every month we mount a brand-new exhibition with up to 100 pieces from member artists; the variety tends to surprise first-time visitors, with abstract works next to traditional landscapes, sculpture alongside watercolour, textiles beside oils. Alongside the exhibition, we sell art cards, prints, and an annual Guild calendar featuring members’ work. Volunteer docents are on hand during every open session, ready to answer questions about the work, the artists, or the Guild itself, and happy to help complete a sale. Take a look at the current exhibition here.

Join Your Local Guild

If you’re a Delta-area visual artist and haven’t yet connected with the Guild, we’d be thrilled to have you. Membership comes with exhibition opportunities, studio access, workshop and demo participation, and a network of local artists who share the same passion. The Guild operates on participation: every member helps out through docent shifts, committee work, or event support, which is what makes the community feel real. It’s a commitment, but it’s the reason members build lifelong friendships and deep creative connections here. Explore membership details and apply here.

Visit, Call, or Connect

Got a question about joining, exhibiting, or visiting Gallery 1710? You’re always welcome to stop by during open hours, pick up the phone, or reach out through the website.

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

Serving Delta Since 1975 • Member-Led Nonprofit • Home of Gallery 1710 in Tsawwassen • Open to Artists & Art Lovers Across Delta