Meet SDAG

Founded in 1975, the South Delta Artists Guild is a not-for-profit visual arts community that has spent nearly fifty years championing local artists and creating opportunities for creative exchange. Our home base is Gallery 1710 in Tsawwassen, but our membership extends across the Lower Mainland; with a strong contingent of artists travelling in from Langley to participate in what we offer. From monthly exhibitions and juried shows to workshops, demos, life drawing, and weekly plein air sessions, the Guild is designed to help artists at every level keep creating, keep learning, and keep sharing their work with audiences who genuinely appreciate it. Get to know the Guild in more detail here.

How We Came to Be

The Guild was born nearly five decades ago when a handful of passionate local artists decided the region needed a dedicated home for visual art; somewhere artists could gather, support one another, and bring their work in front of the public. What started as a small group has grown into one of the longest-running arts organizations in the Lower Mainland, with members coming in from places like Langley, Richmond, and Surrey to take advantage of what the Guild has to offer. In 1999, we partnered with the City of Delta and took ownership of a striking 1973 building originally constructed as the Kiwanis Longhouse, with architectural features inspired by Coast Salish Longhouses as a tribute to the Tsawwassen First Nations. Renovated through member fundraising and renamed Gallery 1710, the space now anchors more than a dozen exhibitions annually.

The Values We Operate By

Respect at every level: A self-taught artist just finding their voice deserves the same consideration as a seasoned painter with a thirty-year CV. The Guild treats every member accordingly.

Integrity as practice: Being a nonprofit means we’re answerable to our members and the community, not to shareholders. Every decision is made with that responsibility in mind.

Inclusivity without conditions: Whatever your medium, style, background, or experience level, the Guild has a seat for you. There’s no artistic hierarchy here; just a shared commitment to making work.

Growth through community: Artists develop fastest when surrounded by others who are doing the same thing. Our mentorship, feedback, and shared learning culture exists because we’ve seen it work.

Being a Guild Member

• Monthly Gallery Exhibitions: Every member has the ability to exhibit in Gallery 1710’s monthly shows, which feature a broad mix of 2D and 3D work; from oils and acrylics to sculpture, textiles, and everything in between
• Community-Based Rotating Shows: Member work is regularly featured at off-site partner locations including Delta Hospital and the Tsawwassen Library, bringing art to audiences beyond the gallery
• Drop-In Studio & Life Drawing: Members can use our workspace during weekly drop-in hours and attend regular life drawing sessions for continued skill development
• Workshops Led by Practicing Artists: Educational programming covers a wide range of techniques and mediums, taught by artists with direct hands-on experience
• Outdoor Plein Air Painting: Weekly plein air gatherings take members into local landscapes and coastal settings to paint from life
• Juried Shows & Themed Exhibitions: Special curated shows offer members chances to push themselves creatively and be recognized for exceptional work
• Mentorship & Peer Feedback: Formal and informal support from experienced artists who are invested in each member’s development
• True Creative Belonging: Long-lasting friendships and a network of people who understand the creative life are part of what members value most

Artists From Langley Are Welcome

Langley has a rich creative scene of its own, with working artists, hobbyists, and art lovers scattered across Willoughby, Walnut Grove, Fort Langley, Murrayville, and Brookswood. Several of our longtime members live in Langley and have built their involvement around the Guild despite the drive, because what we offer isn’t easy to find elsewhere: a dedicated permanent gallery space, decades of institutional knowledge, consistent monthly exhibitions, and a membership that genuinely supports each other’s work. Langley artists who join bring a perspective that enriches the Guild, and Langley art collectors who visit often leave with pieces they couldn’t have found in their local area. Whether you’re making work or buying it, the Guild has something to offer you.

Stepping Into Gallery 1710

Gallery 1710 is located in a heritage-style building in Tsawwassen, just a few minutes from the BC Ferries terminal. The gallery is free to enter and open to everyone, with no reservations or appointments needed. Every month brings a brand-new show; typically featuring up to 100 original works from member artists across a wide range of mediums, styles, and price points. Alongside paintings and sculpture, the gallery shop offers art cards, prints, and calendars. Doors are open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 to 4 p.m. (with extended hours for special events), and our volunteer docents are always happy to talk art, answer questions, or help with a purchase. Visitors are also invited to cast a vote for their favourite piece; the winner each month gets featured in our newsletter as People’s Choice. See what’s currently on display.

Ready to Join Us?

If you’re an artist from Langley or anywhere in the region considering Guild membership, we’d be glad to welcome you in. Our model is built on participation; members contribute through docent shifts, committee involvement, event support, and other behind-the-scenes roles that keep things running. That shared effort is part of what makes the Guild feel like a real community rather than a membership list. You’ll find exhibition opportunities, creative friendships, hands-on skill development, and a clear path to get more involved as your schedule allows. Full membership information is available here.

Say Hello

Whether you have a question about membership, want to know what’s currently showing, or just want to say hi, reach out through our site and we’ll get back to you.

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

Established 1975 • Nonprofit Visual Arts Community • Home of Gallery 1710 • Welcoming Langley Artists & Collectors