Call for Submissions: On The ’Brink Installation Art Festival 2026

RiverBrink Art Museum

Photo: Josh Bellingham

Call for Artists
On The ’Brink Installation Art Festival 2026

Submission Deadline: Monday, June 1, 2026

RiverBrink Art Museum is now accepting artist proposals for the On the ’Brink Installation Art Festival, a two-day (September 5 & 6) outdoor exhibition of installation art on the beautiful grounds of the art museum, overlooking the Niagara River. This event is the third annual showcase of installation art in the heart of Niagara. Each successful candidate will receive an honorarium of $600.

On the ’Brink aims to celebrate the creativity and innovation of artists working in or about Niagara. The festival will provide an opportunity for members of the community to experience and learn about installation art, meet local artists and enjoy the stunning natural landscape at RiverBrink. More information about the festival and 2026 theme can be found on RiverBrink website.

Photo: Josh Bellingham

Theme – Myth

An important foundation of traditional folklore and sustained in contemporary culture, myth is often deployed to explain events and world views. It may be invented or imagined, provide a rationale for expectations and be used to proscribe behaviour. Myth may be dismissed or challenged as a story that is false and misleading, a fantasy beyond rational thought. But myth can also be a source of creativity and inspiration, for artists and storytellers and for anyone attempting to make sense of the world. In the end, myth is a cultural expression shaped by our own life experience. The way we view our culture in relation to others informs how we distinguish untruth from truth, the fanciful from reality, and non-fiction from fiction.

For this festival, we are seeking proposals that explore the idea of myth from a variety of perspectives. We invite installations that address myths and mythmaking and inspire new encounters with fantasy and make believe.

Eligibility

This is an open call to all artists working in Canada. We welcome submissions from artists outside the Niagara region, provided the work reflects on or engages with the region and theme. No fee is required for submitting an application.

Successful candidates must be able to attend the festival in person on September 5 and to speak with the audience about their work.

Compensation

The selected artists will receive an honorarium of $600.

Selection Process

• All applications are assessed anonymously by a selected jury;
• The successful candidate will be contacted via email by July 8, 2026;
• All decisions regarding approval of applications will be final.

How to Submit

Please submit the following documents in one PDF to Moyu Chen at mchen@riverbrink.org.

• Your CV;
• An artist statement;
• A description of your project;
• Visual supporting materials, which may include a portfolio, mockups (if proposing a new work), or images of any works referenced;
• Your budget (if proposing a new work);
• Technical notes, if applicable.

Important Dates

Application Deadline: June 1, 2026
Notification: July 8, 2026
Installing/Drop off Dates: August 26 – September 4, 2026 (from Tuesday to Friday)
Festival Dates: September 5 & 6, 2026, 11am – 4pm
Opening remarks and tour begins at 2pm, Saturday, September 5

RiverBrink Art Museum, RiverBrink Installation Art Festival 2024

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Moyu Chen
mchen@riverbrink.org | (905) 262-4510

About RiverBrink

RiverBrink Art Museum is a public art museum in Queenston, Niagara-on-the-Lake. In operation since 1983, the art museum is housed in the former home of art collector and lawyer Samuel E. Weir. Open year round, RiverBrink features exhibitions organized from the Weir collection of historical art along with exhibitions of contemporary Canadian art. The site features a boutique, extensive grounds, and a view of the Niagara River.

RiverBrink Art Museum
116 Queenston Street
Queenston, ON L0S 1L0
www.riverbrink.org
905.262.4510

Art Museum Hours
Tuesday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm

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