Calling all artists!

Whether you’ve established your practice, are just getting started or simply looking for opportunities to connect, we’ve pulled together a few calls for submissions worth paying attention to.

Hosted by the Vancouver Art Gallery, GROWING FREEDOM: The instructions of Yoko Ono and The art of John and Yoko opens in October. A major retrospective of the pioneering multidisciplinary artist Yoko Ono, the exhibition includes selections of her past and present work, made independently and with her late husband, John Lennon. Ahead of the exhibition, the artist is inviting all self-identifying women to submit a testament of harm inflicted on them because they are a woman, along with a photograph of just their eyes. The photograph and testament may be included in the exhibition as part of Ono’s ARISING (2013), an installation piece that will continue to evolve and be exhibited around the globe. Read the full call here.

More locally speaking, in Toronto, Nia Centre for the Arts, in partnership with 7th Generation Image Makers and the City of Toronto, is accepting mural proposals from street and graffiti artists until September 15. Produced by StreetARToronto (StART), the “Just Us” art call seeks mural concepts that centre on supporting Black lives and Indigenous peoples, with reference to social justice issues as well as community engagement and inclusion. Up to 10 projects will receive up to $3,000 to create their mural.

Canada’s leading and largest annual design festival is looking to the future in more ways than one. DesignTO is currently still accepting submissions across several categories for their 2022 festival, presenting plenty of ways for creatives to be involved in Toronto’s design community. Early-bird artists, designers, design firms, local businesses, academic & cultural institutions and students have until August 31 to apply to be featured under Independent Projects. 

In partnership with home accessories giant Umbra, Purpose & Play aims to showcase new prototypes by Canadian designers; submissions are open until September 24. 

Shared Terrain, a DesignTO group exhibition co-presented by Harbourfront Centre, will feature the collaborative work between Canadian and Nordic artists. Canadian artists are invited to submit their work by September 1 to participate in this cultural and artistic exchange.

Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is offering $5,000 to support a Canadian photo-based artist. Established with photographer Edward Burtynsky in 2016, the Burtynsky Grant provides practicing photo-based artists with funds to present their work in book form. Pamila Matharu, the 2020 recipient of the grant, was recently featured in an AGO Artist in the Spotlight virtual talk. Read up on some highlights from this year’s CONTACT Festival here.

Just looking to have your work on view in the coming years? Try Artspace’s call for submissions. Send in your Special Projects Proposal to Hamilton Artists Inc. or check in with Akimbo’s website for regularly updated calls for submissions, proposals and grant funding.