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Virtual gallery to showcase local artists

High rents inspire innovative cyber gallery

A new Whistler-run website aims to showcase Whistler’s artist community.

After working in various art galleries around town over the past seven years, business entrepreneur Katherine Mulvihill noticed the lack of international exposure for artists in the community.

In the wake of high rent, she instead ventured to the idea of a virtual art gallery and B.C.’s Premier Online Art Gallery was born.

Just founded last month, only a few artists have signed up for the web showcase, which caters to ceramics, digital art, drawings, jewelry, paintings, sculpture and photography.

"After working at art galleries in Whistler, I really saw a need for something like this," she said. "I saw how hard it was for artists to make it. I wanted to create something and have someone professionally manage them to get traffic to the website and provide them with more exposure."

With Mulvihill’s background in arts, marketing and e-business, she is confident her website will provide an invaluable service to the Whistler arts community.

She said of the 57 per cent of adults in Canada and the U.S. who shop on the Internet, approximately 45 per cent make purchases.

Artists pay a $7 monthly fee with a 10 per cent commission paid out on artwork sold.

Mulvihill hopes once the company has established itself, she will find a physical space to showcase local work within Whistler as well.

"I want to start doing things within the community, so people can put on shows," she said.

For more information, visit www.whistlergallery.com.