The voting for the James Weir People’s Choice Award is entering the final stretch. The final ballots for the 40th annual edition of the popular exhibit will need to be in by March 15th, with the award itself to be handed out on March 22nd.  

“The exhibit has been amazing,” said Regan Lanning. She is the curator for the City of Weyburn. “Attendance has been really wonderful. We’ve been doing about six school tours every week, which is great to see, to have young kids involved in looking at art and understanding art.” 

After allowing for online voting in recent years, the Weyburn Arts Council made the decision this year to limit the voting to being done in person. Lanning touched on how part of art is experiencing it in person, as opposed to seeing an image of it on a computer, or mobile phone.  

“It’s an experience. There’s so much to see, there’s so much to take in, and the art is really best appreciated in person as opposed to online,” Lanning added. 

After the voting wraps up on March 15th, the final preparations for the award gala on the 22nd will start. With this being the 40th anniversary of the James Weir People’s Choice Award, the theme for the award gala will be for everyone to come dressed as their favourite decade.  

Lanning explained this year isn’t just a big year for the James Weir, either.  

“2024 is a huge year for the Arts Council,” she pointed out. “It is the 60th anniversary of our Weyburn Arts Council, and it is the 50th anniversary of the City of Weyburn’s Permanent Collection.” 

The James Weir People’s Choice Gallery is currently open for viewing at the Weyburn Art Gallery, located in the Credit Union Spark Centre.