Call for Artists: 64th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

TOAF63 at Nathan Phillips Square. Photo by Shane Fester.

64th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair – Call for National and Local Artists & Makers

July 2025 | Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto
Early Bird Deadline: February 28, 2025 @ 11:59pm EST
Final Application Deadline: March 7, 2025 @ 11:59pm EST

Why Apply to TOAF?

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is Canada’s leading outdoor and online art fair—a legacy launchpad for artists since 1961. TOAF is where careers take off, connections are made, and art lovers flock year after year. This is your chance to exhibit and grow within an inspiring, dynamic, established artistic community.

Who Should Apply?

All artists and contemporary makers from all career stages across Canada, working in photography, sculpture, and installations, as well as painting, textiles, jewellery, and beyond.

Choose to showcase in person at Nathan Phillips Square, Exclusively Online at TOAF.ca, or both. Limited Travel Bursary Awards are available for out-of-province artists.

TOAF is a juried showcase. Artists are selected for artistic excellence, originality, and consistency of ideas and design.

What are the participation perks?

1. Unmatched Exposure: TOAF is Canada’s best-attended art fair and a trusted discovery platform, attracting 170,000+ art enthusiasts who spend over $2 million on artworks annually. Artists are included in multi-platform local and national marketing, advertising and PR campaigns. Build valuable relationships with art lovers, curators, corporate collectors, and gallery owners who are eager to engage with and invest in your work.

2. Affordable & Accessible: As a non-profit, TOAF is committed to supporting artists with affordable and flexible participation formats—from sliding-scale booth options or Exclusively Online to accessible entry points like Art Encounters Access & Outreach program, the Travel Bursary, or Community Partner showcases.

Participants in the Art Encounters Program receive free exhibition space, mentorship, professional development, accessibility support (if needed), and artist fees. Please see program eligibility.

3. Breakthrough Awards – $40,000 in cash and in-kind prizes are awarded to outstanding talent, both in-person and online. Selected by a distinguished panel of judges, these awards—including cash, gift certificates, residencies, and exhibitions—offer recipients invaluable public recognition, open doors to career-changing opportunities, and provide meaningful financial support to advance their practice.

2024 Participating & Catherine Bratty Award for Best of Art Fair Recipient Zahra Saleki. Photo by Shane Fester.

Hear from the Artists:

Discover stories from past participants about the impact of TOAF on their careers.

“As a new artist, I was apprehensive about applying to Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. I am so happy that I did, as there were endless benefits. This was my first time sharing my art with people who aren’t friends and family and it was an invaluable experience. I made a lot of new connections with gallery owners, collectors, experienced artists who freely offered advice and wisdom, and finally, other emerging artists sharing the same experience as me that weekend.”
– Laura Wagner, 2024 Participating Artist & Best of Ceramics Award Recipient

“TOAF has become one of the most important dates on the calendar for my art career. Where else am I going to be able to get my work in front of 170,000 people in a single weekend? The travel bursary helps to offset the significant costs in coming from out of the province to participate in what I consider to be an unmissable event.”
– Maria Doering, 2024 Participating Artist & Travel Bursary Recipient from Nova Scotia

Apply Now!

It only takes 8 minutes to apply and have a chance to be part of TOAF’s legacy.

Application Fee:

• Regular: $50
• Students: $30
• Late Fee: Additional $50 (applies from March 1, 2025)

For more information on the Call for Artists, visit TOAF.ca/call-for-artists

TOAF63 at Nathan Phillips Square. Photo by Shane Fester.

About Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) is Canada’s leading outdoor and online art fair. Established in 1961 to connect Canadian artists directly to the public, TOAF showcases 400+ emerging and established visual artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors and artists working in ceramics, textiles, jewellery and more. The event brings together 170,000 art lovers and enthusiasts who spend over 2 million dollars on art during the Fair. This free public event takes place every July – rain or shine – at Nathan Phillips Square in the heart of downtown Toronto. Since 2020, TOAF’s online Fair has become Canada’s fastest-growing e-commerce and discovery platform for artists across Canada. The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is a registered charitable nonprofit organization.

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