Lacombe is putting out a call to makers, artists, and other creative minds to bring this year's Encore Art Sale and new Makers Emporium to life.

The Makers Emporium was added to the event as a way to broaden the spectrum of work presented for the event.

Event coordinator and City of Lacombe Community Services Executive Assistant Maureen Mackenzie said the Makers Emporium is also a great way for emerging artists to showcase their work, as the cost will be less than a regular booth in the Encore Art Sale. 

"We know that there are people out there who are incredible creatives whose work typically didn't fit under the umbrella of the art show and sale. One of our committee members suggested a way we find a way to include those people and so we've opened up the County Room for them," MacKenzie said, adding it just brings a broader selection for people to browse during the Art Sale. 

"It's not a craft sale, though. It's people who create high crafts. It could be woodturners and weavers and specialty potters, people who make jewelry who are metalsmithing," she said. "It's high quality, hand-made goods."

Mackenzie added that these artisan goods are often lower priced than fine art, so this helps to make the event more accessible to young people, a demographic that has been historically lacking for the Encore Art Show and Sale.

Another thing Mackenzie said is lacking is more culturally-diverse art. 

"I would love to see some Indigenous beaders with their beadwork. We haven't had anyone like that before, and I think it would be phenomenal to see some more First Nations and Indigenous artwork."

This year's featured artist will be textile artist Margaret Blank of central Alberta, who creates dimensional, unique pieces with various threads, fibres and fabrics.

"With the featured artist, first of all, we try to feature high-quality artists from the local area who have been part of the Encore Art Show in the past, or who have volunteered with us or who have donated some of their work to our art collection. We like to vary the mediums to appeal to people from different markets. Marg, being a fibre artist, has an entire following out there that's very different from some other traditional mediums such as pottery or oil painting or acrylic work."

Margaret Blank has been featured in collections shown at the LMC previously, and Mackenzie said her style has been well-received in the past and that they look forward to having Blank back again.  

This year will also see the return of live painters during the event. Residents can peruse the displays while they make their way around the hall and witness live painting by local artists that will also be eligible for purchase.

Applications for artists to be part of the Art Sale or the Makers Emporium must be received by February 28th at noon.