Call for Submissions
Town of Oakville public art installations and exhibits with open calls for art submissions or artist applications.
Open calls for art/artists
- Call for Community Spirit Awards Artworks - Deadline: April 15
- Call for Culture Days 2025 Artists, Organizations, and Creatives - Deadline: May 1
- Call for Artists: Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Outdoor Wall Vinyl Artwork - Deadline: May 1
- Call for Temporary Exhibitions at Town of Oakville Facilities - Next deadline: September 1
- Call for Youth Exhibitions at QEPCCC - Next deadline: September 1
Public artist opportunity for the 2026 and 2027 Community Spirit Awards
Call for applicants
The town is currently accepting applications to commission eight unique, one-of-a-kind artworks. Six of these pieces will be presented to future recipients of Oakville’s annual Community Spirit Awards, with one extra created in case of a tie. One will be added to the town’s permanent art collection.
We are seeking one artist to create works for the 2026 Community Spirit Awards and another for the awards to be presented in 2027. The selected artists will enter into a contract with the Town of Oakville.
- Each artist's commission fee is $4,000 CAD.
- The application deadline for both years is April 15, 2025.
Please review eligibility and application requirements before applying. If you have questions, email public.art@oakville.ca.
Apply online to create artworks for the 2026 or 2027 Community Spirit Awards
Artists must be 18 years or older and live in or have strong connections to Oakville. This includes those who live, work, or engage in activities within the town.
The successful artist must be available to attend the celebration event in June for the presentation of the awards.
Additionally, they should be available for filming in the applicable March or April (to be determined) for an artist video produced by the town, which will be showcased at that year's award celebration.
Applicants who have previously created a Community Spirit Award are not eligible to apply.
Artworks for the 2026 Community Spirit Awards
- March 2025 – call out for artists
- April 2025 – artist applications due, jury review and artist selection
- May 2025 – selected artist enters agreement with the town
- June-July 2025 – artist designs awards
- July 2025 – artist design selected and approved
- August-December 2025 – artist creates awards
- January-June 2026 – completed awards are exhibited as a QEPCCC Corridor exhibition
- June 2026 – awards are presented to the recipients
Artworks for the 2027 Community Spirit Awards
- March 2025 – call out for artists
- April 2025 – artist applications due, jury review and artist selection
- May 2025 – selected artist enters agreement with the town
- June-July 2026 – artist designs awards
- July 2026 – artist design selected and approved
- August-December 2026 – artist creates awards
- January-June 2027 – completed awards are exhibited as a QEPCCC Corridor exhibition
- June 2027 – awards are presented to the recipients
Timelines may be subject to change.
Artworks must be one-of-a-kind and not reproductions.
We will consider artworks created in any of the following mediums:
- wood
- painting
- drawing
- fibre arts
- ceramic
- metal, and/or
- glass
If the artwork is on paper, it must be framed.
Artwork dimensions should not exceed 12” x 12” x 12”.
Digital art will not be accepted.
The Town of Oakville is the administrative lead for this project. The Town of Oakville, at its sole discretion, reserves the following rights to:
- Request clarification or additional information, as it deems necessary to evaluate submissions.
- Determine the suitability of the submission and capability of the prospective artist(s).
- Select the artist(s) that it deems most appropriate for the project.
- Choose to not recommend any application, proposal or finalist and to terminate or re-advertise any project.
- Issue public announcements regarding the competition.
Call for Culture Days 2025 Artists, Organizations, and Creatives!
Join Oakville's growing line-up of talent
We're looking for local individuals, businesses, and organizations interested in offering free, interactive activities as part of the three-week Culture Days Festival from September 19 to October 12, 2025. You only need to host one free event to be considered!
Submit an online application to participate in Culture Days 2025
To be included in Oakville promotions, applications must be received by Thursday, May 1, 2025. Requests received after this deadline will be supported first-come, first-served as space allows.
A jury will review all OCPA requests and select two groups maximum.
An online information session will be hosted on Monday, April 14 at noon. Email culturedays@oakville.ca for details.
If you/your group* is interested in offering a 2025 in-person activity, please be advised that all programs must be:
- Provided at no cost to participants or the Town of Oakville.
- Offered from September 19 to October 12, 2025.
- A cultural activity.
*Oakville based artists and groups will be given priority.
All workshops at town facilities will be included on the town's website as a drop-in program. Artists and cultural groups must provide liability insurance for their program.
Insurance coverage can be purchase through the town at a rate of approximately $3/hour plus tax.
Artists, creators, dancers, heritage experts, architects, curators, designers, makers and other creatives can access free indoor space at:
- Glen Abbey Community Centre (ROCC) on Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) on Sunday, October 5, 2025
- Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts (OCPA) on Saturday. October 11, 2025
Access free outdoor space at Heritage Square, Kerr Street on Saturday September 27, 2025
Call for artists: Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, outdoor vinyl art
The Town of Oakville invites professional artists to submit expressions of interest (EOI) to create temporary public artwork for the exterior of the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts (OCPA). The final artwork will be a digital file printed onto vinyl media installed on three exterior frames unveiled during Culture Days 2025 on October 11, 2025. The commissioned artist will be expected to complete the design of the project by August 2025.
Artist fee: $5,000 (maximum includes HST)
Application deadline: Sunday, May 1, 2025 11:59 p.m. EST via online application
Complete the 2025 OCPA Wall Vinyl Call for Artists Application
Email public.art@oakville.ca for more information.
This opportunity is open to professional Canadian artists* residing in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area community (GTHA). Priority will be given to artists with connections to Oakville.
The selected artist will be required to:
- Attend a technical and information consultation meeting.
- Engage and consult with the local community for feedback.
- Provide a concept proposal for review and approval.
- Provide the final artwork as high-resolution digital files suitable for large-format printing. (Details will be provided).
Applicants must be 18 years of age and older. Town of Oakville employees are not eligible to apply.
An artwork proposal is not required at this time
This call-out is for an expression of interest that will be reviewed based on merit of past work, professional qualifications, and experience. The selected artist will develop a concept proposal, based on detailed artwork specifications, for final review and approval by town staff.
The following schedule is a guideline only and subject to change.
- Submission deadline for Expressions of Interest due 11:59 p.m. EST: May 1, 2025
- Selection committee meets to review applications and select artist: May 2025
- Award of project, selected artist enters into a contract with the Town of Oakville: May 2025
- Selected artist engages with the community and consults with town staff: May & June 2025
- Selected artist concept proposal due: July 2025
- Final artwork design submitted for printing: August 2025
- Printing and installation of artwork on site: September 2025
- Public unveiling during Culture Days 2025: October 11, 2025
The artwork will be displayed on three prominent exterior locations of the OCPA:
- West-facing fly tower, 234" x 140"
- South-facing entrance wall, 162" x 99"
- North-facing courtyard wall, 162" x 99"
- Only 2D designs are permitted. No design element or material can protrude from the frame.
- Full colour artwork.
- Artwork should deter graffiti-tagging and other defacement. Strategies to discourage tagging and postering include artists avoiding large areas of solid colour and/or blank spaces within the artwork and using a rich colour palette, minimizing light colours, in their design.
- Artwork shall not be advertising therefore logos, phrases or branding for any business, product, service or private interest should be avoided.
- Artwork must not incorporate imagery resembling traffic signals or signage and/or any content that may pose a distraction to drivers.
- Artwork will be visible to pedestrian and vehicle traffic and should engage from multiple angles.
- Artwork must be appropriate for display in public places and shall therefore not portray nudity, hate speech or violence.
- The final high-resolution digital files to be provided at an acceptable resolution for large-format printing and an agreement is signed allowing for its reproduction and use up to three (3) times by the town.
- Artists authorize the town contractor to alter their image for the artwork to be formatted to the frames. The artist(s) will approve the final layout of their work undertaken by the town contractor.
Artists should be aware that the artwork may be subject to damage by the elements or the public. Therefore, artists must accept the risk that their artwork may be damaged, altered and/or removed by the town at any time following installation.
The selected artist must be willing to work with community members to inform the design of the artwork and it is expected that the selected artist will facilitate opportunities for community engagement. The artist will create a high-resolution digital file of their artwork, which will be provided to the Town to fabricate and install as exterior vinyl media. Artistic integrity will be respected by all project team members.
Project goals
The goals of the project are to:
- Provide visual interest to enhance the OCPA with inspiring exterior vinyl wall-based public artwork.
- Celebrate Oakville and its performing arts community by drawing inspiration from the OCPA.
- Engage Oakville's diverse community at large, across all age groups, and within the neighbourhood.
- Foster dialogue.
Project considerations
The artwork must adhere to the following design parameters:
- Be exterior, two-dimensional, wall-based vinyl artwork, suitable for exhibition in a public space.
- Be appropriate for the site in terms of scale, execution, materials, and creativity.
- Be a vibrant full colour artwork.
- Must incorporate themes related to the history and/or significance of the site and consider the facility activities.
The selected artist will be required to submit a concept proposal for review and approval.
Background
Since its opening in 1977, the OCPA has been a cultural hub in downtown Oakville. Hosting over 70 professional performances annually and supporting 230 community group performances, the venue plays a central role in fostering an appreciation for theatre, dance and music. This public artwork will play an important role in connecting the theatre's users and visitors to the space, both as an important event venue and as a community arts and culture hub.
The commissioned artist will have a total budget of $5,000 (including HST) Canadian Dollars* to create an artwork that will be printed onto vinyl for three exterior locations of the OCPA. The artwork to be unveiled during Culture Days 2025 on October 11, 2025.
Fabrication, printing, and installation costs will be covered by the Town of Oakville and are not included in this proposal.
*This is the total amount available for all related expenses of this public art project including but not limited to: artist fees, all applicable taxes, detailed renderings, digital files, technical/public consultations and approvals or other expertise as required, travel to meetings and to the site, and an artist statement.
Submissions will be reviewed by a specially-convened independent selection committee made up of visual arts professionals, community representatives, and Town of Oakville staff. The selection committee will choose the successful artists based on the merits of the artwork and technical feasibility. The selected artists will then enter into a contract with the Town of Oakville for the artwork.
Copyright
By making a submission to this call, the artist guarantees that designs and artwork submitted are their own original creations and do not infringe upon the copyright of any other individual or group.
High-resolution digital files of the selected artwork will be provided to a town-hired contractor to print and install on framed armature secured to the building.
Town staff will coordinate with the printer-installer to ensure this is accomplished in a way that preserves the integrity of the artwork.
The Town of Oakville is the administrative lead for this project. The Town of Oakville, at its sole discretion, reserves the following rights to:
- Request clarification or additional information, as it deems necessary to evaluate submissions.
- Determine the suitability of the submission and capability of the prospective artist(s).
- Select the artist(s) that it deems most appropriate for the project.
- Choose not to recommend any application, proposal or finalist and to terminate or re-advertise any project.
- Issue public announcements regarding the competition.
Artist(s) will retain copyright over their proposals; however the proposals may be used by the Town of Oakville in meetings with stakeholders and town staff.
Please note that proposals will not be returned.
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: the 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. 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.
- 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.
Rental rates range from $285 to $389 weekly for a minimum of three weeks.
Open the Main Gallery floor plan (pdf).
Policies and procedures
- Temporary Corridors Exhibition Purpose and Procedures (pdf)
- 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. 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.
Application forms and submission requirements
A complete online Call for Youth Exhibitions at QEPCCC form 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.
2024-2025 temporary exhibitions at Oakville community and cultural centre galleries
Next deadline: September 1, 2025.
The Town of Oakville welcomes proposals from artists, collectives, curators and community groups in the areas of fine art, craft, performance art and digital arts for exhibition spaces in either the Main Gallery at Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) and/or the Corridor Galleries in other Oakville facilities.
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.