Urban Arts Tour - FAQ

FAQ For Artists & Hosts

How does the event work for artists and hosts?

The Urban Arts Tour is a hybrid art and garden tour. We pair up local gardeners (also called ‘hosts’) and artists. Artists work with their host to create an outdoor display of their art. ECAH creates a tour map and on the day of the event, members of the public visit stops.

ECAH will either pair you up together randomly, or you can make your own pairing and let us know. Random pairing has worked really well in the past.

Do I need to be a professional gardener to participate?

No! We use the term gardener in a general sense to denote someone who has volunteered to host an artist on their property for the day of the tour. We welcome gardens of all variety and calibre. Part of the fun in this event is seeing different properties in your own neighbourhood.

What are sales like?

Sales vary quite a bit depending on the artwork, but many of our artists are quite successful. For best results, we recommend having items in a range of prices, looking into a Square reader, putting out business cards or other signage with information on how to find you, and knowing your commission rates if you take them!

I live in Vic West - does my property have to be in Esquimalt proper to participate?

Not necessarily! We’ve welcomed a few Vic West self-hosted artists as of last year! We just like to warn people further out that foot traffic might be lower, and encourage them to help spread the word and encourage neighbors to participate too!

What can I expect on the day of?

Your artist should arrive at 9:00 am on Saturday to set up. Hopefully by this point you’ve already met and have discussed how the artwork will be displayed.

At 10:00 am the routes officially open, but it’s unlikely you’ll be flooded with visitors right away. Be patient!

Around 4:00 pm you can wrap up!

What if there’s an emergency on the day of? Who do I call? What do I do?

If someone’s life or personal safety is in danger, call 9-1-1.

If the emergency is not life threatening, please call your host or artist liaison. They will be available all day to take phone calls and drive around to any on-site emergencies or provide further directions.

I have more questions, feedback or suggestions.

Check out our 2024 Info Sheet or Email us.

FAQ For Participants

How does this event work?

We’ve paired up urban farms and gardens with local artists who will have their artwork on display. Much like a culture crawl, participants can view the map, plan their route and travel from property to property.

When is the map posted?

The digital map will be available in early June. Printed maps will be available at select Esquimalt businesses starting in June and at the ECAH booth on the day of the event.

Can I walk to every stop?

Probably not. The event usually has over 30 stops and 40+ artists. At this time we recommend choosing which stops you want to visit or plan to cycle or drive parts of the tour if you want to try and squeeze it all in.

Do I need to register?

No pre-registration in required but we recommend indicating that you’re attending on our Facebook event page! This helps spread the word and ensure we have a great turnout.

Is this event child-friendly?

As the event takes place in the great outdoors, we think it’s totally kid friendly! Children will require parent or guardian supervision at all times while on the property.

Can I bring my dog(s)?

Out of respect for the property hosts we ask that dogs not be permitted on-site. You are welcome to walk the route with your furry pal, but please make arrangements to have Fido remain off the properties at all times.

Will artists be on site?

Artists will be available throughout the day along the route.

How long does the route take?

Choose your own adventure! How much time you spend on the tour is up to you.

Are there washroom facilities?

No. There are no washrooms along the route. However, there are public washrooms at Saxe Point Park, Memorial Park and by the Esquimalt Rec Centre.

Can we go inside the property houses?

No. Please respect all on-site signage and obey directions on each property. This is an outdoor event.

Is the event rain or shine?

In the event of heavy rain we may cancel, but if the forecast calls for light rain we are moving forward with the event.

Can I purchase artwork along the route?

Yes! We encourage it! Most artists take all forms of payment or can make arrangements for studio purchase and pick-up, but we recommend bringing cash just in case!

Can I take photos of the properties and the artwork?

Only if you credit ECAH for organizing this awesome event! You can tag us on Instagram @EsquimaltArtGallery or mention us on Facebook @EsquimaltArtsHub or us #ArtInEsquimalt or #UrbanArtsTour

I have more questions, who should I ask?

You can email us at ECAH for any additional questions.