CRIT CLUB: Artist Community and Support System

CRIT CLUB is a casual, drop-in monthly meeting that allows artists to connect with other artists, learn skills, and level-up their practice. CRIT CLUB is meant as an in-person platform to showcase, share and see new work by other creatives as well as receive feedback and direction. Anyone is welcome to present their work for feedback, or to simply show up to be a part of the community and give feedback to those who are showing their work. CRIT CLUB fills a critical gap for those who are not involved in traditional models for artist training, providing a variety of access points and means of support for artists working at all levels.

Crit Club Participation Guidelines

These guidelines help keep Crit Club a supportive, fair, and engaging space for all participating artists.

Artists may present work once per Crit Club season.
After presenting, artists are welcome to join the waitlist for another presentation opportunity if space becomes available.
Before presenting, artists are asked to attend at least one session as a peer artist
Attending as a peer artist is an important part of Crit Club. Offering feedback and engaging in discussion supports both your own creative practice and the wider artistic community. Many participants find peer sessions just as valuable as presenting their own work.
Participation fees remain the same for all attendees. All fees go directly toward supporting Crit Club and other CV/Arts programming, including initiatives such as microgrants.
Crit Club sessions take place off-site in studio spaces that are selected for accessibility and ease of access, including consideration for participants with disabilities. Hosting artists receive a short presentation slot to share information about their studio space, practice, or current work.
The Crit Club season follows the school calendar, running from September through May, with a break in December. Sessions currently take place once per month.

The 2025-26 CRIT CLUB Season is here!

Please stay tuned for announcements about upcoming sessions as we develop the timeline.

Welcome Back to CRIT CLUB! This first session will be a casual social event to connect as artists. We are asking everyone to share a small, recently completed work that can be hung on a wall in Scott’s studio. We will not be critiquing each of these works, this is simply a way to generate conversations, connections, and interest in what others in the Comox Valley are working on. Details to follow. This session will be held at Scott Bertram’s studio in Comox from 6:30 – 8:30pm (weather permitting). This first session is free to attend, but please register beforehand anyway.

Session 2: CRIT CLUB | October 16, 2025 | 6:00 – 8:00PM | 580 Duncan Ave.

CRIT CLUB is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram and take place in the Conference Room at 580 Duncan Avenue upstairs, unless otherwise noted.

Session 3: CRIT CLUB | November 13, 2025 | 6:00 – 8:00PM | 580 Duncan Ave.

Session 4: Crit Club | January 22, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00PM | Megan Trumble Design Studio

CRIT CLUB is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram. This session will take place at Unit 4A, 2440 Rosewall Crescent.

Session 5: Crit Club | February 26, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00PM | Albion Studio

CRIT CLUB is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram. This session will take place at 863 Albion Road, Comox.

Session 6: Crit Club | March 26, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00PM | Alex Coma’s Studio

CRIT CLUB is a monthly community gathering where artists can participate in a supportive critique of artwork. Artists may bring a work of art (completed, or in development) and receive feedback from peers. The sessions are facilitated by Scott Bertram. This session will take place at 6265 Headquarters Road, Courtenay.

Session 7: Crit Club | April 23, 2026 | 6:00 – 8:00PM | Location TBD

April 23 Session

TBD

CRIT CLUB Lead Facilitator: Scott Bertram

Scott Bertram is a professional practicing artist and educator based in the Comox Valley. His artistic practice explores improvisation, finding meaning within unintended stimuli, and playing with the dynamics of perception. He has a BFA from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and an MFA from NSCAD University. He was a semi-finalist in the 12th RBC Canadian Painting Competition and has received many other awards including funding from the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. His paintings have been shown in solo and group exhibitions across Canada as well as in the USA, Australia, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Scott currently teaches painting at North Island College.

Through his own lived experience, Scott has witnessed the gaps in traditional art school training, the lack of supports for emerging artists fresh out of art school and the need for a community of peer artists to relate to and bounce ideas off. Scott is CRIT CLUB’s lead facilitator.