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Pro Photographer Showdown competitors revealed

Plus: The Whistler Arts Council puts out calls for student artists and their grown-up counterparts
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photo showdown California surf photographer Chris Burkard is one of the competitors in this year's Pro Photographer Showdown at the World Ski and Snowboard Festival. Photo by Chris Burkard, submitted

The World Ski and Snowboard Festival has unveiled the list of photographers competing in this year's Pro Photographer Showdown, one of the festival's most popular events.

It's already sold out, but lucky ticketholders will get to see images by top name shooters that span their entire body of work.

The competitors: Andy Wright, a veteran photographer who lives in Portland, Oregon; Bryan Ralph from Nelson by way of Peterborough, ON; Chris Burkard, a freelance surf photographer from central California; Darcy Bacha, who lives in Rhoddodendron, Oregon and Oskar Enander from Switzerland.

The showdown takes place April 18 at the Whistler Conference Centre. The festival runs from April 12 to 21.

Student art grants up for grabs

The Whistler Arts Council wants to give burgeoning artists a boost with a bursary for local students graduating from grades 7 and 12 this year.

Whistler, Pemberton or Mt. Currie grads that have excelled in visual, literary, performing or media arts are eligible for the Student Art Award with $500 for grade 12 students and $100 at the grade 7 level.

"The 2013 Student Art Award and Art Bursaries continue to show us the tremendous artistic abilities of our local young artists." says Joan Richoz, chair of the Whistler Arts Council, in a release. "By honouring these talented artists and providing an opportunity for them to further excel their skills in a summer art program, it's our hope that WAC will encourage young and emerging artists to continue their pursuit of the arts and contribute to our local artistic landscape."

To apply, students must submit three to four recent pieces of work that were completed on top of their schoolwork, along with a letter from a teacher who will confirm they were created outside of class. Students will also have to present their work to a jury.

The deadline for applications is May 3 with awards presented at graduation in June 2013.

Also up for grabs: $250 bursaries for students attending art camp this summer. The money can go towards tuition, accommodation or other travel costs. For more information visit artswhistler.com.

ArtWalk applications

With summer just around the corner, ArtWalk is now accepting applications for artists, performers and business owners who would like to host a venue for the ongoing event.

The two-month walking tour showcases local artists' work by displaying it throughout the village and around town everywhere from cafes to hotels, retail stores and restaurants. Opening night takes place on July 4. After, brochures will be available at various locations to guide visitors around the tour route.

The deadline for all applications is March 31. For complete details visit artswhistler.com.

Audain donates to art School

Michael Audain, the philanthropist and art collector who is building an art museum in Whistler to house his extensive collection of B.C. art, is doling out another $5 million to donate to Vancouver's Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

The funds will go towards building the Audain School of Visual Arts in the university's Great Northern Way Campus, which is slated for construction in May 2014.

"I believe that Emily Carr is one of the world's leading art schools," Audain told the

Globe and Mail last week. "And I also think that it's been a major contributor to Vancouver becoming an important centre for the visual arts."

The substantial donation could lead to more investments for the $134-million campus, which will also receive $113-million from the provincial government, university president Ron Burnett said in the Globe.

The campus is expected to be finished by July 2016.

Theatre camp coming for kids

Little Bear Productions is holding a spring break theatre camp for kids age 5 to 13 at Millennium Place.

Budding actors will learn about singing, improv, acting, set design and crafts from March 18 to 22. The classes — which run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. — are $250 for the week or $55 a day for drop-in. For more information call 604-902-9934.

lululemon issues challenge

Lululemon is currently accepting submissions from local shutterbugs for its inaugural amateur photo contest.

Photographers entering the Photo Challenge don't have to stick to yoga shots, despite the event's yoga clothing host, says Sarah Stead, who spearheaded the contest. "(The photos) can be nature or extreme sports. It can be anything," she says. "It's action shots, scenic shots or shots of dogs."

The requirements: photographers must submit a DVD with a two-minute slideshow of their photos to Lululemon by 8 p.m. on March 18. Judges will whittle down the submissions and six will be tapped as finalists for a presentation on March 21 at Crystal Lounge.

The crowd will decide who wins the prize of a $250 gift card and a chance to shoot the store's current clothing line. One of their photos will also be displayed in the store.

"Everyone is welcome to participate," Stead says. "You don't have to be a qualified photographer at all. If your passion is photography it's going to be a really relaxed event. We don't want people to be intimidated and think they don't have a chance."

Art workshops will fill quickly

Registration for Whistler Art Workshops on the Lake opens on March 14 for a variety of painting, drawing, photography and weaving classes.

The workshops take place lakeside from May to August with around 10 to 12 students in each. This year, there are 10 artists offering classes (which last from one to three days), including Copenhagen author and artist Heather Spears, basket weaver Joan Carrigan and Lori Goldberg, who is offering beginner painting classes.

The Whistler Arts Council warns the classes are expected to fill up quickly, so be sure to register early. For a full schedule visit artswhistler.com.

Revamp your lamp

Have an old lamp collecting dust in a closet somewhere? Brush it off and bring it down to Millennium Place March 20 for Love Your Lamp! DIY Lamp Makeover. A crafty workshop leader named Robyn will help you select fabrics and revamp your lampshade. The class runs from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. for $35 with an extra $5 for lampshades if you don't have your own.