Call for Artists and Artisans: 2023 Queen West Art Crawl Festival

Call for Artists and Artisans:
20th Annual Queen West Art Crawl Festival

Our Arts and Culture festival is back for 2023! Join us for our Roaring 20th Anniversary!

QWAC is BACK! Join us in celebrating Queen Street West and the artists, businesses, community groups and residents that make up this very distinct area of Toronto celebrating 20 years.

The Queen West Art Crawl (QWAC) is a charitable corporation that drives a number of initiatives publicly benefiting artists and residents of Toronto through art, music, and multiculturalism, including a two-day multidisciplinary arts festival stretching along Queen Street West from Bathurst to Roncesvalles in Trinity Bellwoods Park in September of each year. With attendance at 20-25k, the Queen West Art Crawl has developed over the years into an inclusive arts and multicultural festival, while staying centered around its annual outdoor art exhibition.

Queen West Art Crawl creates an open, public space for arts and culture in a busy downtown neighbourhood. Our festival includes a 2SLGBT+ friendly Kids’ Zone and a Main Stage with Music and Drag that is 50%+ BIPOC. To ensure that underserved populations are strongly represented in our art exhibit, we partner with groups, including Workman Arts, 2 Spirited people of the First Nations and Vibe Arts, donating spaces for artists with lived mental health experiences and local Indigenous populations, that are recommended to us through their own communities.

Ontario Culture Days

The Queen West Art Crawl has become the Regional hub for Ontario Culture days! This year QWAC is partnering with Ontario Culture days to enhance the experience for artists, patrons and increase tourism.
onculturedays.ca/festival-2023/2023-hubs

Community Partners

Through our community partners we are able to grow and enhance our festival through representation of our communities.

Workman Arts, CAMH, Vibe Arts, Pride Toronto, 2 Spirited People of The First Nations, Ontario Crafts, Ontario Culture Days.

This year, we’re offering two exciting ways to participate in the festival:

What are the dates, times and location of the Queen West Art Crawl’s Outdoor Art Exhibition and online Market?

WHEN – IN PERSON
Saturday, September 23,2023 – 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday, September 24, 2023 – 11:00 am to 6:00 pm

WHEN – ONLINE
Monday – Saturday September 18th to 24th

WHERE – IN PERSON
Trinity Bellwoods Park 790 Queen Street West (at Strachan Ave.)

WHERE – ONLINE
www.queenwestartcrawl.com

What is the Queen West Art Crawl?

The Queen West Art Crawl Festival is an annual 2-day live, and 7-day on-line, celebration of Queen Street West showcasing artists, artisan, crafts people, community groups and residents that make up this very distinct area of Toronto.

This year we will again be offering an online exhibit in our Virtual Park for our artists, artisans, patrons, and performers, in addition to returning to our live festival in Trinity Bellwoods Park.

We are striving to create a unique platform for our artists, artisans, and patrons of the festival so that all can attend in person/virtually and be a part of our 2023 Festival this year.

Pricing and deadlines?

Early Bird Sales, March 1st – 15th 2023.

• Early Bird Sale March 1st-15th 2023 $400.00 (save $50.00 admin fee) Pricing goes back to normal March 16th.
• Total $400.00

Standard – Sales IN PARK /Online, March 16th-May 31st 2023

• Non-refundable application fee: $50.00 (This covers all administration and judging)
• In Park with Online fee: $400.00 (10 ft x 10 ft) Standard booth (Tent not included)
• Total $450.00

Online

• Online only: $100.00 +$50.00-dollar admin fee.
• Total $150.00
• Cut off Date May 31st 2023 12:00 am

What do you mean by original art?

All artwork on display must be the original creation of the exhibitor. Reproductions of another artist’s work will not be considered. Exhibitors are permitted, however, to sell reproductions of their own work in the form of posters, prints, art cards, buttons, etc. Please note that the selection committee will favour original work over reproductions.

Who is eligible to submit an application?

Professional artists, artisans and craftspeople working in the following disciplines will be considered for the Queen West Art Crawl: painting (acrylic, oil, watercolour, and encaustic), drawing, metal art, jewellery, photography, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, fibre art, wood art, glass, Digital Prints and mixed media.

Both established and emerging artists and Artisan/craftspeople are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: May 31st 2023

Artists can sign up here!

QWAC ’s vision is to develop, support and promote arts and culture activities which serve community members, contribute community life and reflect the values and cultures of the Queen West community. Enhance our communication tools to engage a wider demographic in the art and culture of Queen West. Promote the community’s artistic, cultural and creative assets and its heritage architecture, geographic location and creative opportunities.

For more information on the festival and how to apply, go to the Queen West Art Crawl Website for more details.

Questions? Contact us
info@queenwestartcrawl.com | 647-380-5252