Call for Submissions: OSA 151st Annual Open Juried Exhibition

Made in Canada, by OSA artist Kari Serrao

Call for Submissions: Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) 151st Annual Open Juried Exhibition, 2025

The Unquiet North / le Nord agité

Submission Deadline: May 14, 2025, 11:59pm EDT
Exhibition Dates: June 18 – July 8, 2025
Donna Child Fine Art Gallery, Toronto

This is an annual exhibit of the OSA with the purpose of promoting the best art that Canada has to offer. The OSA is Ontario’s Longest Running Art Society, with a long history of excellence.

We welcome all manner of original 2D and 3D visual art (drawing, printing, painting, photography, mixed media, sculpture and video works).

Theme: The Unquiet North

Art does not exist in silence. In a time of shifting politics, evolving identities, and a search for unity of spirit, ‘The Unquiet North’ theme calls on artists to respond.

We are looking for work that speaks to the present moment—whether through defiance or reflection, resistance or resilience. Some will honor the past, others will challenge the future, but all must carry the energy of a North that refuses to be still. From bold statements to quiet tensions, we invite artists across all mediums to capture the raw, unfiltered spirit of a country in motion. Now is the time. Now is the place. What will you say?

Thème : Le Nord Agité

Nous recherchons des œuvres qui parlent du moment présent, que ce soit par la défiance ou la réflexion, la résistance ou la résilience. Certaines honoreront le passé, d’autres défieront l’avenir, mais tous doivent porter l’énergie d’un Nord qui refuse l’immobilité. Des déclarations audacieuses aux tensions apaisées, nous invitons des artistes de toute horizons à saisir l’esprit brut et sans filtre d’un pays en mouvement.

View of the Donna Child Fine Art Gallery in Toronto

Awards:

• Best in Show: $1,000
• Life Member’s Award: $1,000
• Eleanor Besen Award to an OSA member: $1,000
• Ethel Raicus Award to a Central Technical Art Student: $200
• Two Honourable Mentions: $200 ea
• Additional Awards

Our Jurors:

Melissa La Porte
Executive Director/Curator at the Temiskaming Art Gallery since 2017; founding member of the ‘Yes We Can’ curatorial collective.

Virginia M. Eichhorn
Independent curator, Professor at Georgian College specializing in post-graduate museum and gallery studies. Over 30 years of experience in the visual.

Cesar Forero
Artist, architect & performer, and President of the OSA. Colombian/Canadian, BIPOC and member of the LGTBQIA2S+. Background in architecture, sculpture, painting, and public performance. Member and exhibition coordinator of the International Academy of Ceramist AIC/IAC.

For more information about the jurors, visit the OSA website.

The Exhibition Space:

The Donna Child Fine Art Gallery
365 Evans Avenue, Suite 101
Toronto, ON M8X 1K2
donnachildfineart.com

A premier Toronto-based art gallery representing a diverse group of Canadian and international painters, sculptors, and photographers. Their expert team specializes in art acquisition, collection management, curation, project management, art installation, placement, insurance valuation, restoration, conservation, and custom framing design.

Donna Child Fine Art Gallery in Toronto

Entry Guidelines

If you are a Canadian artist, 18 or over, who has been recognized by your peers, and living in Canada, we invite you to apply following the entry guidelines:

1. Submit a maximum of two entries. All work must be original, created by the entrant, no older than three years and not previously shown at any of the Ontario Society of Artists Exhibitions.

2. Only enter works for the Call which will be available for display during the entire exhibition.

3. A brief (200 words maximum) written statement of each work must be included with the entry.

4. All works must be completely dry and ready to hang or display. Unframed work must be on minimum 1.5” Gallery depth surface with Finished edges. Regular depth surface must be framed. All accepted two-dimensional works must be ready to hang with D-rings and multi-strand picture wire.

• 2D: Maximum size is 40″ x 40″.
• 3D: Maximum dimensions 36″ x 24″ x 24″ (92cm x 61cm x 61cm) and a weight limit of 30 lbs (13.6 kg). Crates should be able to fit through a standard single door.

5. Shipping of work to and from the exhibit is the sole responsibility of the artist. The Donna Child Fine Art Gallery or the OSA assume no responsibility or liability for loss or damage that may occur in transit or off Gallery property. Shipping costs must be pre-paid or prearranged prior to the initial shipment of the work.

6. All shipping and packaging materials must be labelled with the artists name and work, and include an inventory of all materials necessary for shipping.

7. Items will be inspected upon arrival, photographed, and recorded. Any damage will be reported to the owner immediately.

8. Entries not picked up, unless prearranged with Gallery staff, will be charged a $10 fee per day.

9. The exhibit is juried by digital images and video files. Do not send original artwork. Digital files must be jpeg or png format, no more than 5MB in size. For sculpture entries, please submit at least 2 images per artwork.

10. Sales: all works must be available for sale; a total 45% commission is deducted from the sale price by the Gallery and the OSA. 20% of sales will go to the OSA; 25% will go to the Donna Child Gallery.

11. Video art needs to include all necessary display equipment. The video should not be longer than 10 minutes.

12. All works must be the sole conception of the artist; no derivatives or copies are eligible. No use of AI generated images for reference may be used; artists may be required to submit progress images. Works done under instruction are not eligible.

Further important information on OSA’s Criteria is available on the website.

Entry Fees (Non-refundable):

• $40 for members for one or two works
• $50 for non-members for one or two works

Key Dates:

• Submission Deadline: Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 11:59pm EDT
• Exhibition Dates: June 18 – July 8, 2025
• ­Jury Notification: Monday, May 24, 2025
• Delivery Date: Friday, June 6 or Saturday, June 7, 2025
• Exhibition Reception and Awards Ceremony: Sunday, June 21, 5 – 8pm (Awards at 6pm)
• Pick Up Date: Monday, July 9, 2025, by 4pm

How to Submit:

For more information and to submit your work, please visit:
ontariosocietyofartists.org/2025-Open-Juried-Exhibition

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Marlene Kawalez: marleneak777@gmail.com
or Kelly Borgers: fuzzybeastphotography@gmail.com

The Ontario Society of Artists
c/o The Arts & Letters Club of Toronto
14 Elm Street, 3rd floor
Toronto, ON M5G 1G7
www.ontariosocietyofartists.org

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