Call for Submissions: Fenelon Falls Downtown Sculpture Exhibition 2026

Fenelon Arts Committee (FAC)

Angela Burdon, Spring, The Downtown Sculpture Exhibition 2024, Fenelon Arts Committee

Call for Submissions: The Downtown Sculpture Exhibition 2026

Submission Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026, at 5:00pm EDT

The Fenelon Arts Committee (FAC), in partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes, invites artists or teams of artists to submit to The Downtown Sculpture Exhibition 2026. Sculptures will be installed in the garden planters along Colborne Street in downtown Fenelon Falls. Each work will be on display from May to October 2026 as public art.

The FAC identifies opportunities for artists, strategizes on arts initiatives, and works to increase public access and engagement with art in the village of Fenelon Falls. The FAC is a part of the Kawartha Works Community Co-operative (KWCC). The KWCC works to improve the social infrastructure in Kawartha Lakes by enabling the creation, development, and management of not-for-profit initiatives with artistic, cultural, recreational, health, environmental, economic, and social improvement aims.

The Downtown Sculpture Exhibition 2026 will feature a collection of six (6) sculptures mounted on limestone rocks located inside garden planters. A jury of local arts and cultural leaders and business leaders will be appointed by the FAC to select the works.

Project Requirements

Six (6) limestone bases are available for sculpture installation; three (3) garden planters each containing two (2) sculptures. See garden planter photo below.

Each of the six (6) sculptures must be securely mounted to the existing brackets on the limestone bases. Each limestone rock surface measures approximately 9 sq. ft. with four (4) threaded steel rods each with a 5/8″ diameter. The steel rods are placed in a square pattern 5.25″ centre to centre to secure the sculpture.

An artist fee of $750 will be paid to each participating artist.

The submission deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026, at 5:00pm EDT. Successful applicants will be notified Thursday, April 2, 2026, by email.

Sculptures will be installed Thursday, May 7, 2026, and removed Thursday, October 22, 2026. All sculptures must be installed for the duration of the exhibition. Works not installed on Thursday, May 7, 2026, may be replaced by an alternate work at the sole discretion of the FAC.

Accommodation will be provided for artists, if required, for the evening of Thursday, May 7, 2026. There will be an artist appreciation dinner the evening of Thursday, May 7, 2026.

The exhibition launch and walking tour will be held Friday, May 8, 2026, at 11:00am at Colborne Street Gallery. Artists will be introduced by the FAC and present an artist talk about their sculpture and overall art practice to the public followed by a guided walking tour of the sculptures and on-site Q&A.

Garden Planter, The Downtown Sculpture Exhibition 2025, Fenelon Falls, Ontario

Eligibility

• Open to all artists within Canada.
• Innovative and engaging from all perspectives.
• A creative approach to materials and/or concept.
• May consider the context and history of Fenelon Falls; Indigenous connection and use of the area, historical development, natural heritage of the region, and the contemporary use of the area today.
• Artwork must adhere to the dimension specifications outlined below.
• Sculptures must be original works suitable for outdoor installation that can withstand weather conditions and public interaction with no maintenance from May to October.
• The artwork should not pose a risk of injury to the public, for example, hazardous sharp points and/or edges.
• Artists must have the skills and experience required to manage installation and removal.

Compensation

An artist fee of $750 will be paid to each participating artist.

Accommodation will be provided for artists, if required, for the evening of Thursday, May 7, 2026. There will be an artist appreciation dinner the evening of Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Artworks may be offered for sale. The FAC does not take a commission on sales, nor is it involved in negotiations or discussions regarding artwork sales. All inquiries and sales are handled by the Artist or their agent. All sculptures must remain for the duration of the exhibition. Pricing and contact information will be included on signage, promotional materials, and the FAC website.

Selection Process

A jury of local arts and cultural leaders and business leaders will be appointed by the FAC to select the works.

The submission deadline is Friday, March 20, 2026, at 5:00pm EDT. Successful applicants will be notified Thursday, April 2, 2026, by email.

James Cameron Smith, Raven, The Downtown Sculpture Exhibition 2024, Fenelon Arts Committee

Submission Requirements

Only electronic submissions will be reviewed for this call.

Submissions for a proposed sculpture are at the sole cost of the artist and must include the following:

• Name of artist or artists with contact information including mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number.
• CV of each artist who will be participating in the project.
• Images and Image List showing previous samples of the artist’s work. A portfolio of 5–10 images is recommended, saved as one PDF document.
• A written statement, 250 words maximum, outlining the artist’s approach to the proposed sculpture, including materials, narrative, context, method of creation/manufacturing, and installation details.
• 3–5 images of the proposed sculpture with complete details, including title, date, medium, dimensions, and price. Images must show the proposed sculpture from multiple angles. Images should be .jpg format, 300 dpi, and 1080 pixels on the longest side.
• A maximum of two (2) proposed sculptures per artist or team of artists.

How to Submit

Please visit the FAC website for complete details and Google Form Application.

Submission Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026, 5:00pm EDT

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Darcie Kennedy
Chair
Fenelon Arts Committee
fenelonarts@gmail.com

Fenelon Arts Committee
Fenelon Falls, Ontario
fenelonarts.com

Facebook @fenelonarts
Instagram @fenelonarts
X/Twitter @fenelonarts

Image Descriptions:
1. A detailed sculpture depicting a woman’s face and neck with a small bird in her hair.
2. A downtown garden planter with a tree in the middle, surrounded by flowers, and public sculpture.
3. A sculpture of a raven, perched on rocks inside a garden planter, looking up towards the sky, and surrounded by lavender.