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Open Calls · Canada

Open Calls for Artists in Canada

Residencies, grants, exhibitions, and competitions across Canada. Curated and updated weekly.
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Closing this week5URGENT
EXHExhibition
Open to all·Ottawa, Canada·Free entry

Ottawa School of Art Call for Exhibition Proposals 2027-2028

Ontario CARFAC artist's exhibition fee paid to the exhibiting artist(s)

The Ottawa School of Art invites artists and collectives to submit proposals for its 2027-2028 exhibition season at two Ottawa venues: the J.W. Stellick Gallery in the ByWard Market and the Orleans Campus Gallery in the Shenkman Arts Centre.

Ottawa School of Art
Closing
Tomorrow
1 day left
4 Sept 2026
EXHExhibition
Domestic·London, Ontario, Canada, Canada·Entry fee C$40

The Ontario Miniature Print Exhibition (TOMPE2026)

Juried exhibition at Cohen Commons Gallery, John Labatt Visual Arts Centre, Western University, London, Ontario. Exhibition runs November 12 to December 6, 2026.

The Ontario Miniature Print Exhibition (TOMPE2026) is a juried exhibition organized by Print London, inviting Canadian-based professional artists to submit miniature prints.

Print London
Closing
Tomorrow
1 day left
4 Sept 2026
COMCompetition
Regional·Toronto, Canada·Free entry

Call for Proposals: 2027 Community Activation Programs at Toronto History Museums

Access to Toronto History Museums spaces for community-led projects.

The City of Toronto invites proposals for the 2027 Community Activation Programs at Toronto History Museums. Open to community-based organizations, collectives, Indigenous governments, non-profit cultural/arts organizations, equity-deserving groups, and individual…

City of Toronto
Closing
Tomorrow
1 day left
4 Sept 2026
GRTGrant
Regional·Vancouver, Canada·Free entry

Artist Opportunities: Oakridge Community Centre (Musqueam Artists)

Three commissioned public artworks: Atrium and Central Staircase, Carved Cedar Ceremonial Doors, and Library Interior Column. Commission value not listed publicly.

The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Public Library invite artists from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band) to apply for three distinct public art commissions at the new Oakridge Community Centre.

City of Vancouver / Vancouver Public Library
Closes in
4
days
7 Sept 2026
PUBPublic Art
Domestic·Toronto, Canada·Free entry

George Street Construction Hoarding Public Art

Four shortlisted artists: $1,000 CAD each to develop design concepts. Selected artist: $8,000 CAD (+HST) for final design, consultation, and services.

The City of Toronto seeks a Canadian artist working in two-dimensional media to create custom art for construction site hoarding along 309-345 George Street, part of the George Street Revitalization Project replacing Seaton House with a modern facility integrating shelter…

City of Toronto
Closes in
6
days
9 Sept 2026
Closing this month6
COMCompetition
Regional·Art Gallery of Mississauga, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada·Entry fee C$45

Sixth Annual Juried Show of Visual Arts

$3,500 CAD in prizes: 1st prize $1,500, 2nd prize $1,000, 3rd prize $500, Honourable Mention $250, Community Choice $250. All successful artists also receive an exhibition fee of $100.

The Art Gallery of Mississauga invites emerging and established artists living and working in Ontario to apply to its sixth annual juried show. Each artist may submit one recent work completed between 2023 and 2026 across a wide range of media.

Art Gallery of Mississauga
Closes in
10
days
13 Sept 2026
PUBPublic Art
Regional·Toronto, Ontario, Canada·Free entry

Call for Proposals: Yonge + St. Clair Art Installations for DesignTO Festival 2027

Selected projects receive a $5,000 to $7,000 CAD budget, inclusive of HST, artist fees, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation and de-installation.

The Yonge + St. Clair BIA, in partnership with DesignTO, is seeking proposals for site-specific installations in publicly accessible spaces across the Yonge and St. Clair district in Toronto.

Yonge + St. Clair BIA
Closes in
10
days
13 Sept 2026
COMCompetition
Domestic·Toronto, Canada·Free entry

Emerging Digital Artists Award (EDAA) 2026

Five 5,000 CAD prizes; plus a MacKenzie Art Gallery commission and solo exhibition, and a BlackFlash Magazine Artist Project.

The Emerging Digital Artists Award, presented by EQ Bank, recognizes emerging artists working in digital media. Applicants must be residents of Canada, at least 18 years old, and emerging artists within the first seven years of their professional career, beginning with their…

EQ Bank
Closes in
12
days
15 Sept 2026
PUBPublic Art
Regional·Toronto, Canada·Free entry

Lumiere: The Art of Light

Up to CAD 18,000 excluding HST per selected installation

Ontario Place invites Ontario artists to submit proposals for light installations at Trillium Park. The theme is 'Structures of Light,' seeking installations that function as sculptural elements during daylight and reveal their full artistic expression through illumination after…

Ontario Place
Closes in
15
days
18 Sept 2026
FELFellowship
International·Banff, Alberta, Canada, Canada·Entry fee C$65

Reimagining Cultural Policy: Leading Change Across Governance Systems

Limited funding available for up to 18 arts-sector participants (priority: small Canadian nonprofits). Participants must contribute at least 25% of fees. Program tuition: ,683 CAD + GST.

A 6-day intensive residential program at Banff Centre examining Canada's cultural policy foundations, governance systems, and systemic inequities.

Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Closes in
19
days
22 Sept 2026
PUBPublic Art
Domestic·Sherwood Park, Canada·Free entry

Sherwood Park Fieldhouse Multisport Facility: Public Art Opportunities

CAD 145,000 plaza and CAD 40,000 mural commissions; interior works CAD 10,000 to 25,000; CAD 186 interview honorarium.

Strathcona County invites artists and artist teams to submit portfolios for multiple public art opportunities at the new Fieldhouse Multisport Facility, located at 240 Broadview Drive in Sherwood Park.

Strathcona County Public Art
Closes in
27
days
30 Sept 2026
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✦ OPEN CALLS IN CANADA

Canadian open calls, answered.

Canada's art ecosystem is anchored by strong public funding: artist-run centres, public galleries, and municipal art commissions alongside grants at the federal, provincial, and city level. Artist fees for exhibitions are a established norm here, which makes Canadian calls unusually artist-friendly.

This page gathers Canadian opportunities open right now, each verified by hand with deadline, fee, eligibility, and award listed, linking directly to the host organization's page. Arthead itself is based in Toronto.

Can artists outside Canada apply to Canadian open calls?
Artist-run centres and public galleries often accept international submissions, and many pay exhibition fees to selected artists regardless of nationality. Canada Council and provincial funding is generally limited to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Eligibility is verified and marked on every listing.
What are artist fees (CARFAC fees)?
Canada has a national fee schedule, maintained by CARFAC, that sets minimum payments artists should receive for exhibiting work. Most publicly funded Canadian galleries pay these fees, meaning selected artists are paid to show, a meaningful difference from pay-to-enter models elsewhere.
What Canadian grants can artists apply for?
Federal funding through Canada Council for the Arts, provincial councils like Ontario Arts Council and Conseil des arts du Québec, and municipal programs such as Toronto Arts Council. Most require citizenship or permanent residency. Arthead lists open deadlines with eligibility verified.
Are there residencies in Canada for international artists?
Yes. Several Canadian residency programs welcome international artists, from institutional programs like the Banff Centre to artist-run and rural residencies across the provinces. Each listing on Arthead notes whether international applicants are eligible and what the program provides.