Call for Submissions: Halton Black History Awareness Society 2025 Emancipation Art Exhibition

Komi Olafimihan, Dreaming Forward, 2024, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 72 inches

Call for Artists – 2025 Emancipation Art Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: July 16 – August 31, 2025
Location: Helson Gallery, Halton Hills
Submission Deadline: May 30, 2025, at 12pm

The Halton Black History Awareness Society (HBHAS) and the Helson Gallery are pleased to present the 8th Annual Emancipation Art Exhibition, a curated showcase celebrating the voices and artistic expressions of African diasporic artists. This exhibition highlights the richness of Black identity, history, and culture through a diverse range of artistic media.

Eligibility

• Open to African diasporic artists from the GTHA and surrounding areas.
• Two- and three-dimensional works accepted (maximum size: 48″ in any direction).
• Artists may submit up to six pieces for consideration.

Exhibition & Awards

Selected works will be displayed at the Helson Gallery in the Town of Halton Hills Cultural Centre. A juried panel from HBHAS will award prizes to artists whose works best reflect and articulate the Black experience.

Awards will be presented at the opening reception on July 19, 2025. Additionally, all participating artists will receive an honorarium for their contributions.

Submission Guidelines

• Open to all mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
• Artists may submit up to six pieces for consideration.
• Artwork should be ready for display (framed or with appropriate hanging hardware).

Submission Requirements

• Artist current bio
• Contact email and phone number
• Artist current statement explaining how your work relates to the themes of the exhibition
• Images of submitted works (JPG format, max 10MB each)
  File names should include:
  ◦ artist’s name
  ◦ title of the work
  ◦ Medium
  ◦ Dimensions
  ◦ Price/NFS

How to Submit

Please submit your entries to francescadurham@gmail.com

Kayla Cowan, Bound yet Rising, 2024, Mixed Media on Canvas, 30 x 40 inches

About the Helson Gallery

Located within the Library & Cultural Centre in Halton Hills, the Helson Gallery is dedicated to showcasing local, national, and culturally significant works. Since the inception of the Emancipation Art Exhibition, the gallery has highlighted the exceptional talents of artists from across Halton and the GTA.

Accessibility

The venue is fully accessible, including an accessible washroom.
We look forward to your submissions and to celebrating the power of artistic expression at the 2025 Emancipation Art Exhibition!

Art Sales

The Town of Halton Hills will facilitate all sales of art made through the exhibition and arrange payment for the Artist(s) in an agency capacity. Artist(s) must include HST in the list price of artworks. Once a piece of art is sold a 20% commission is charged based on the artist revenue. Artists with registered HST numbers will be charged HST on the 20% commission. Please inform the gallery if you are HST registered.

Helson Gallery
9 Church Street
Halton Hills, ON L7G 2A3
www.haltonhills.ca/gallery

Open to the Public
Wednesday – Saturday: 9:30am – 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00pm

Instagram: @hbhas.art
Facebook: @hbhasociety