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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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EXHExhibition

International·Toronto, Canada, Canada·Free entry

Assembly Hall Gallery

Professional exhibition space in a high-traffic civic center; no fees to exhibit.

The Assembly Hall Gallery, operated by the City of Toronto, is accepting applications for its 2026 exhibition season. This opportunity is open to solo artists, art collectives, and non-profit arts organizations. There are no fees to apply or to exhibit, making it a accessible venue for diverse creative practices. The gallery is located within a historic community hub and hosts multiple juried shows throughout the year. Selected exhibitors receive a professional gallery space and basic administrative support for their show. Applicants must submit a portfolio of 10 to 15 recent works along with a detailed exhibition proposal. The selection is based on the artistic merit of the work and its suitability for a public civic setting. Sales of exhibited works are encouraged, and no commission is taken by the gallery.

Assembly Hall Gallery

International·Banff, Canada, Canada·Free entry

Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR)

Private studio + Specialized production facilities + Housing

The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity offers world-class residency programs for visual artists in the Canadian Rockies. The Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR) program provides private studios, 24/7 access to specialized facilities (print, clay, wood, digital), and on-site housing. Participants benefit from regular studio visits, faculty lectures, and technical guidance from experienced staff. The Early Career BAiR session specifically supports artists in the first five years of their professional practice. While many programs are subsidized, some sessions require an application fee or a tuition contribution, which can often be covered by external grants. The facility encourages self-directed research and experimentation in an immersive, community-oriented environment. Artists have access to one-on-one consultations with leading international faculty members. This residency is highly prestigious and serves as a major platform for Canadian and international artistic exchange. Applicants must submit a portfolio, a CV, and a project proposal.

Banff Artist in Residence (BAiR)

Later this season4

·Mississauga, Ontario, Canada·Free entry

Call for Indigenous Artists: Port Credit Active Transportation Bridge Public Art

Total project budget: CAD $253,400 + HST. Two-stage selection; up to three artists shortlisted.

The City of Mississauga invites an Indigenous artist or Indigenous-led artist team to create permanent public art for the Port Credit Active Transportation Bridge, a pedestrian and cycling bridge crossing the Credit River between Memorial Park and Port Credit GO Station. The artwork should respond to the Credit River as a place of living cultural, spiritual, and historical significance, honouring Indigenous presence and treaty relationships in the region. This is a two-stage selection process; up to three artists or teams will be shortlisted to develop full proposals in Stage 2. The completed artwork is targeted for unveiling in Fall 2027.

Domestic·St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada·Free entry

Request for Expressions of Interest: Indigenous Public Art – Five Corners Parkette, St. Catharines

Total commission: CAD $140,000 + HST. Stage 2 shortlisted artists/teams receive a $2,000 + HST honorarium each (up to 3 finalists).

The City of St. Catharines, in collaboration with the Niagara Academy for Indigenous Relations, invites professional Indigenous artists (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) residing in Canada to create a site-specific permanent public artwork at the historic Five Corners Parkette. The intersection of St. Paul, Geneva, Queenston, and Niagara Streets holds deep significance as a crossing point of Indigenous trail systems. Themes include movement, convergence, storied land, and relationships. The two-stage competition will shortlist three finalists for full concept development; installation is targeted for June 2027.

City of St. Catharines

International·Banff, Alberta, Canada·Entry fee $5602

Banff Centre Deep Winter Writers 2027

19-day residency, private studio, accommodation, mentorship from faculty, optional workshops, partial scholarships available (up to 100% tuition coverage)

The Banff Centre's Deep Winter Writers residency offers 19 days of intensive creative work in the Canadian Rockies, designed for writers at any career stage with a proven publication history. The program welcomes fiction, poetry, literary nonfiction, and journalism across all English-language writing traditions. Participants receive private studio and accommodation on campus, mentorship from accomplished faculty including Karen Solie, Yasmine Seale, and Renee Gladman, and access to optional workshops and public reading opportunities. Standard scholarships cover 100% of tuition plus 25% of accommodation and meals; Canadian Indigenous artists receive full coverage. The residency fee is CAD $5,601.75 before scholarships.

Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity

International·Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada·Free entry

Structurist Creative Research Fellowship (SCRF) – University of Saskatchewan

Up to CAD $20,000 for project budget, plus separately funded travel and accommodation to Saskatoon for required components.

The Structurist Creative Research Fellowship (SCRF) at the University of Saskatchewan supports Canadian and international applicants at any career stage whose projects engage with the legacy of The Structurist, an influential art and architecture journal. Fellows must produce a public-facing output such as a publication, exhibition, film, performance, or public action, and include a seminar, symposium, or public lecture in Saskatoon. Fellows receive full access to the university's archives and Art Collection related to The Structurist journal.

University of Saskatchewan

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31 Aug 2026

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