SPAO: Photographic Arts Centre

Image detail by Alexa Mazarello

Open Call: 2026 Mother Artist Initiative

Application Deadline: December 19, 2025

The SPAO: Photographic Arts Centre, in partnership with Alexa Mazzarello Studio, is currently accepting applications for the Mother Artist Initiative. Mother artists who work within the medium of photography or lens based practices are encouraged to apply for this inaugural year.

About the Initiative

The Mother Artist initiative recognizes and supports a Canadian mother/artist working in the arts whose practice explores the complexities of motherhood and/or caregiving in contemporary life. The recipient must be an artist who identifies as a mother with a long-term project well underway and a clearly articulated vision for its continued development. In deeply understanding the power of art, this initiative is intended to support a mother/artist in getting their project over the finish line and into the world in whatever way makes sense for them.

This initiative is an important step in acknowledging the art practices of mothers in Canada. There is currently no prize, award, or grant specifically designed for mother/artists. Mother/artists experience specific barriers that other artists do not face (financial, time challenges, childcare-based challenges, lack of access to residencies and education available to non-parent artists). This initiative represents a meaningful investment in the practice of an mother/artist, supporting the completion of a significant project that will both advance her artistic career and contribute to the broader legacy of the arts in Canada.

Receive an Award Valued at $10,000

The inaugural recipient will receive an award valued at $10,000, including:

• $5,000 cash prize
• 6-Month SPAO Residency valued at $5500 (includes facility access, a paid exhibition opportunity, and 80+ hours of private and group mentoring with SPAO’s Gallery Manager as well as SPAO’s Director of Education
• Informal mentoring from previous recipient (for inaugural initiative, mentor will be Alexa Mazzarello, artist and member of 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective)

These opportunities are intended to provide both creative guidance and restorative space for reflection, growth, and sustained artistic engagement.

Installation by Alexa Mazzarello

Eligibility

Candidates must:

• Be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Be 35+ years of age. There is no age limit cap
• Identify as a mother/caregiver
• Be working primarily with lens-based media in the inaugural year
• Relate to the theme of mothering and/or caregiving
• Have at least 75% of their project complete and clearly articulated next steps
• All ethnicities and abilities are encouraged to apply

Apply for the 2026 Mother Artist Initiative

Application Deadline: December 19, 2025

About Alexa Mazzarello

Alexa Mazzarello is a Canadian lens-based artist and photographer whose work spans editorial, commercial, and fine art practices. Grounded in her background in sociology and public health, her photography amplifies the voices and stories of women, weaving intimate narratives with social insight. She is an active member of Women Photograph and the Ottawa-based 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective. Since becoming a mother in 2021, Alexa has turned her fine art practice toward matrescence—the complex, often overlooked transformation of becoming a mother.

About SPAO Photographic Arts Centre

SPAO is one of Canada’s foremost photographic arts centres. It houses the only 2-year photographic arts college diploma program in Canada, a robust selection of recreational classes, a unique international artist residency, and the only critical and independent gallery in the region dedicated to lens-based art. SPAO’s mission is to cultivate an inclusive community of distinct artistic vision, critical dialogue, and technical expertise in the photographic arts through exhibition, partnerships and education. Learn more about SPAO.

For more information, please contact:

SPAO: Photographic Arts Centre
77 Pamilla Street
Ottawa, ON K1S 3K7
613 562 3824
info@spao.ca

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