Call for Submissions
Calls for public art installations, exhibitions, and artists
Open calls for art/artists
- Call for Artists, Organizations and Creatives: Culture Days 2026 – Deadline: March 29, 2026
- Call for Performances: Culture Days 2026 – Deadline: March 29, 2026
- Call for Artists: Halton Municipalities Culture Days Artist Project – Deadline: March 30, 2026
- Call for Performers: Oakville Youth Awards Night – Deadline: April 1, 2026
- Call for Artists: Artist Project Fund Grant 2026 Workshop and Info Session – April 8, 2026
- Call for Temporary Corridor Exhibitions at Town of Oakville Facilities – Next deadline: September 1, 2026
- Call for Main Gallery Exhibitions at QEPCCC – Next deadline: September 1, 2026
- Call for Youth Exhibitions at QEPCCC – Next deadline: September 1, 2026
Call for artists, organizations and creatives: Culture Days 2026
Application deadline: Sunday, March 29 by 11:59 p.m. EST via online application
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Center
Interested in offering a free, interactive activity as part of our Culture Days Festival? Share your talents with Oakville! You only need to host one free event to be considered.
Access free indoor space at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) on Sunday, September 27, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
If you/your group is interested in offering a 2026 in-person activity, please be advised that all programs must meet the following criteria:
- Provided at no cost to participants or the Town of Oakville.
- Be a culture-based activity.
Complete the Culture Days: Call for Artist, organizations and creatives Application
Information sessions: Wednesday, February 25,
- Noon, online at noon
- 7 p.m., in person at QEPCCC
Applications to be included in Town of Oakville promotion are due Sunday, March 29, 2026. Requests received after this deadline will be supported first-come, first-served basis, as space allows.
Applications will be reviewed and selected based on the submission, feasibility and connection to the Culture Days mandate.
All programs must meet the following criteria:
- Provided at no cost to participants or the Town of Oakville.
- Be a culture-based activity.
Requests received after the March 29 deadline will be supported first-come, first-served as space allows. Priority will be given to Oakville-based artists and community groups.
Call for performances: Culture Days 2026
Application deadline: Sunday, March 29 by 11:59 p.m. EST via online application
Venue: Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Main Stage
Interested in offering a free performance on the Main Stage at the OCPA as part of our three-week Culture Days Festival? Share your talents with Oakville!
We’re inviting all artists, dancers, performers, musicians, actors and other creatives to join Oakville’s growing line-up of talent. We’re looking for local individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in offering a free one hour performance as part of Culture Days Festival on Sunday October 5, 2026.
If you/your group* is interested in offering a 2026 performance, be advised that all programs must meet the following criteria:
- Provided at no cost to participants or the Town of Oakville.
- Be a cultural activity.
*Oakville based artists and groups will be given priority.
Complete the Culture Days: Call for Performances Application
If you/your group* is interested in offering a 2026 performance, be advised that all programs must meet the following criteria:
- Provided at no cost to participants or the Town of Oakville.
- Be a cultural activity.
*Oakville based artists and groups will be given priority.
Conditions in order to present a Cultural Days performance at the OCPA:
- The show should be no longer than 1.5 hours.
- There will be 1.5 hours of technical assistance provided before the show.
- There is a maximum of 60 performers.
- The onstage activity should be as simple as possible.
- No sets will be erected but furniture props can be used.
- House lights will be available.
- No flying.
- House sound will be available with simple microphones.
- Backline will not be provided.
- The scheduled group must be set up and finished onstage 30 minutes before curtain for each show.
- It is mandatory that a representative/volunteer from the performing group be at the front doors of the OCPA lobby, to represent the group and answer questions from the audience, 2 hours before performance time until 15 minutes into the show and again for 30 minutes following the performance.
- Any activity presented at the OCPA will be a ticketed activity through the OCPA Box Office even though there is no charge to the public.
An application form must be submitted to participate in this event.
Applications will be reviewed and selected based on the submission, feasibility and connection to the Culture Days mandate. Requests received after the March 29 deadline will be supported first-come, first-served as space allows.
Priority will be given to Oakville-based artists and community groups.
Groups/artists who performed on the Main Stage for Culture Days 2025 at the OCPA are ineligible to reapply this year.
A jury will review all OCPA requests and select two groups maximum.
Call for artists: Halton Municipalities Culture Days Artist Project
Application deadline: Sunday, March 30, 2026, by 4 p.m.
Budget: $2,200 artist commission and up to $1,800 for material costs
Location: To be offered at predetermined locations in Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills and Burlington
Are you a multidisciplinary artist, artist team or collective living in Halton Region and interested in offering an interactive arts activity as part of Culture Days 2026?
Submit your proposals for participatory arts programming, projects, workshops, or interactive performances that foster community engagement!
For more information and to apply, visit the Halton Hills Call for Artists page or email culture@haltonhills.ca.
Artists must be:
- 18 years of age or older to apply
- Based in Halton and reside in Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills, or Burlington
- Available to offer programming during the weekends of September 19-20, 26-27, and October 3-4, 2026
In order to be considered, projects should:
- Offer a community-based arts or cultural activity in each municipality (Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills and Burlington).
- Be clearly linked to Culture Days, emphasizing unity and collaboration within the community.
- Be engaging, participatory and inclusive.
- Provide a platform for self-expression, while focusing on themes of home and belonging.
- Be designed as drop-in style to support large group participation.
- Be free to attend and take place indoors.
Examples of eligible projects include interactive workshops, collaborative art initiatives, and participatory performances such as music and dance.
Permanent public art projects/installations are not eligible through this project.
Submissions must include:
- A detailed project proposal
- Budget breakdown
- Artist biography
- Samples of previous work
- Curriculum vitae
- Signed artist declaration
A selection panel of local artists, arts professionals, and community representatives will review submissions. The selected artist will collaborate with municipal staff to coordinate project logistics in each community.
Call for performers: Oakville Youth Awards Night
Application deadline: Wednesday, April 1 at 4:30 p.m.
We’re looking for talented young performers, ages 11 to 18, to take the stage at the Oakville Youth Awards Night. Singers, musicians, dancers, and all types of performers are welcome to apply and showcase their talent in front of a live audience of more than 200 people.
Applicants must be available for both the dress rehearsal and the awards ceremony.
- Dress rehearsal: May 2, 9:30 a.m. to noon
- Awards ceremony: May 7, 4 to 9 p.m.
Volunteer hours will be provided.
Successful applicants will be notified during the week of April 13 to 17, 2026. Additional event details will be shared with those selected.
Call for artists: Artist Project Fund Grant 2026 workshop and info session
Are you an individual artist from Oakville seeking funding for a project?
If you are currently working in any artistic discipline (visual arts, music/performing arts, digital arts, literary arts) you may qualify for funding through the Artist Project Fund, a stream of the Cultural Grants Program funded by the Town of Oakville and administered by the Oakville Arts Council.
Join the Oakville Arts Council on April 8, 2026, from 7 to 9 p.m. at 2302 Bridge Road for a workshop that will provide you with all the information you need to know about the process, the funding criteria and what the review panel is looking for in your application.
Register on the Oakville Arts Council website
Exhibitions at Oakville community and cultural centre galleries
We welcome exhibition proposals from professional, local, emerging artists, instructors, students, and culture groups in the areas of fine art, craft, and digital arts for temporary public exhibitions.
There are two types of exhibiting spaces: Corridor Galleries and the Main Gallery at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC).
Artwork must be either two-dimensional or three-dimensional, and must be original, handmade, or one-of-a-kind. Artwork must be completed and ready for exhibition. Please note that we are not accepting media art or performance art at this time.
Exhibiting in the Corridor Galleries is free. The duration of group and solo shows in the open corridors is three to four months. There are three exhibition seasons: winter, spring/summer, and fall. Content must be suitable for all audiences (no nudity, hate speech, or violence). All works in the Corridors are displayed using a gallery track hanging system. It is highly recommended that works on paper be framed.
The Main Gallery at QEPCCC presents professional artwork by local artists for a fee. Content ranges from historical to contemporary themes. Exhibitions may also include works by national and international artists and exhibitions proposed by curators or collectives. Weekly rental rates apply for a minimum of three weeks.
The application deadline is September 1 and February 1. Selected artists will be contacted approximately two months following the deadline date.
Applications are to be submitted online and must include:
- The completed online application form (via the link on this page).
- A description of works for exhibition with details regarding the issues or ideas explored. All artwork must be completed, finished work and paintings must be dry. Works in progress will not be reviewed.
- Three to 10 JPEG images of your work. Do not submit artwork that will not be in the exhibition.
- Image list.
- Artist resume, curriculum vitae or art groups’ exhibition history (three pages maximum).
Please email exhibitions@oakville.ca if you have any questions.
Corridor Galleries
Corridor exhibition opportunities are available at QEPCCC, Trafalgar Park Community Centre (Rebecca Street), Glen Abbey Community Centre, and Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre (Reynolds Street).
Exhibiting in the Corridor Galleries is free. Corridor exhibitions are programmed seasonally for four months:
- Winter (January to April)
- Spring/Summer (May to August)
- Fall (September to December).
For an overview of QEPCCC, open the QEPCCC Corridor Galleries map (pdf). For details on each corridor, including measurements and wall texture, open the QEPCCC Corridor Galleries guide (pdf).
QEPCCC Main Gallery
The Main Gallery at QEPCCC presents professional artwork by local artists for a fee. Content ranges from historical to contemporary themes. Exhibitions may also include works by national and international artists and exhibitions proposed by curators or collectives.
Open the Main Gallery floor plan (pdf).
Rental rates
Rental rates for September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026 range from $264.68 to $388.19 weekly for a minimum of three weeks.
Rental rates for September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027 range from $273.94 to $401.78 weekly for a minimum of three weeks.
Policies and procedures
- Temporary Corridors Exhibition Purpose and Procedures
- QEPCCC Main Gallery Exhibition Purpose and Procedures (pdf)
Contact QEPCCC staff at 905-815-5979 if you have any questions.
Are you a young artist between 11 and 19, looking for a space to exhibit your work? The Youth Corridor Galleries at Queen Elizabeth Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) provide a platform for emerging youth artists and students from the community at large.
We are interested in showcasing original artwork and offering youth the chance to gain valuable experience in the exhibition process, including the installation and display of their works, with potential opportunities to sell their artwork. Exhibiting in the Youth Corridor Galleries is free. Each exhibition runs for three to four months, with seasons in winter, spring/summer, and fall. Exhibition opportunities are open to youth artists in Oakville and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Content must be suitable for all audiences (no nudity, hate speech, or violence). Please review the exhibition submissions and applications information before completing the form.
Application deadlines are September 1 and February 1. Selected youth artists will be contacted approximately two months after the deadline.
Applications and submission requirements
Complete the online Call for Youth Exhibitions at QEPCCC form (via the link on this page) for an exhibition in the Youth Corridor. Details on the form will consist of:
- A short description of your artwork. Briefly describe the works for the exhibition. Include details regarding issues or ideas explored. Please also outline why you would like to exhibit your work at QEPCCC.
- Uploading a minimum of five images of each work you are proposing to display. Images must be of completed work. Images must be in JPEG format with a maximum file size of 1 MB. Do not submit artwork that will not be in the exhibition.
- Information about each artwork including title, size, medium and value.
Do not send original artwork.
After receiving notification of acceptance by email, applicants will receive an Exhibitor's Agreement and Guidelines. An information meeting with town staff will also be scheduled to help prepare for the upcoming exhibition.
Email exhibitions@oakville.ca for more information.
The Exhibitions Review Committee reviews proposals twice a year. The committee helps staff to adjudicate exhibition applications for corridor/gallery displays and exhibitions. The purpose of the committee is to:
- Review all applications for exhibitions.
- Offer constructive comment concerning the exhibition applications and to recommend applications to town staff for exhibition.
The purpose of the exhibition program for the Main Gallery at QEPCCC and Corridor Galleries is to:
- Continually showcase creative work to the public that is important to the community.
- Priority for exhibitions will be to exhibit professional artwork by local artists in the areas of fine art, craft, performance art and digital arts, which range in content from historical to contemporary themes. Exhibitions may also include works by national and international artists and exhibitions proposed by curators.
- Provide a combination of gallery rentals and exhibitions organized by town staff including partnerships with internal organizations.
Nominations for positions on the committee shall be sought from the community at large with a preference for demonstrated knowledge of arts and culture in Oakville, reflective of our programs and members.
Contact the Cultural Supervisor at tonia.dirisio@oakville.ca for the Terms of Reference for the Exhibitions Review Committee and to submit nominations.
Contact
Email public.art@oakville.ca for more information.