Required fields are marked with asterisks (*)

Call to Artists

Indigenous Display Case Exhibition at the Orillia Recreation Centre

**"What We Carry Forward"**

The City of Orillia, in partnership with the Orillia Native Women’s Group (ONWG), invite artists who identify as Indigenous to submit artwork for consideration in the upcoming exhibition: "What We Carry Forward".

Launching in December 2026 and running through May 2027, the exhibition invites Indigenous artists to reflect on the people whose lives, voices, teachings, and stories have shaped who we are today.

In recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Sisters in Spirit, the exhibition creates a space for remembrance and reflection, honouring ancestors, relatives, Elders, community members, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+) whose stories and voices we carry forward.

Artists are invited to consider: Who do we remember? What stories do we carry? What do we want future generations to know?
Artworks may explore, but are not limited to:

Honouring ancestors, relatives, Elders, and community members
Family histories, memories, and stories passed down through generations
Cultural teachings, traditions, language, and knowledge
Objects, photographs, places, or other things that hold meaning or memory
Stories of loss, remembrance, resilience, strength, and survival
Voices, experiences, and histories that have been overlooked, forgotten, or silenced

ELIGIBLE ARTWORK:
Submissions may include, but are not limited to, regalia, clothing, beadwork, jewelry, quillwork, photography, painting, drawing, poetry, recipes, lyrics, textiles, digital prints, mixed-media works, historic and/or heirloom works, decorative objects, and other traditional or contemporary creative practices.

Artists may elect to make their work available for purchase during the exhibition.

EXHIBITION DURATION:
December 2026 - May 2027

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:
Friday, October 23, 2026, at Noon.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Name of Artist(s)
Contact information: address, phone number and email
Brief bio of participating artist(s)
Artist(s) statement related to the piece
Description of artwork: title, date, medium, size (h, w, d), weight (lbs), value
3 images of the work (wide shot of the front, close up of the front and side)

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS:

The display case is located within the lobby of the Orillia Recreation Centre across from the pool. It includes 3 separate compartments that are suitable for two- and three-dimensional artwork.
Sizes are restricted and cannot exceed 3 feet tall or 2.5 feet wide.
Artists can interpret the theme through any subject matter that resonates with meaning for the artist.
Artworks must be suitable for display in a public space with minors. Artworks containing nudity, sexual content, depictions of violence, substance abuse, discriminatory or hateful imagery, offensive language, or other material considered unsuitable for public viewing and for minors in a public building may be ineligible for display.
Collaborations of two or more artists are welcome.
Artwork must be an original creation. Submissions must not incorporate copyrighted material owned by others without permission and must not be generated wholly or in part by artificial intelligence (AI) image-generation tools.

TERMS:

Artists selected will be required to enter into an artwork loan agreement and waiver of liability agreement with the City of Orillia.
Work will be installed and displayed by City staff. The City of Orillia is not liable for any loss or damage that may occur in relation to the art exhibit.
The City of Orillia reserves the right to remove any work at any time subject to Policy 1.12.6.1 and will notify the artist upon removal.
There are no fees for exhibiting work in the gallery.
Artists may choose to offer their work for sale; however, all exhibited pieces must remain on display until the exhibition closing date. Generational or previously acquired works are welcome for display but are not eligible for sale. A $25 administration fee will apply to each artwork sold.
Insurance is not provided by the City of Orillia for the duration of the exhibition. Artists are required to obtain their own insurance OR sign a waiver releasing the City of Orillia from any liability.
Artwork will be exhibited for approximately six months from hanging the exhibit.
In accordance with the Municipal Act, the City is unable to host opening receptions for these exhibitions. This is to ensure compliance with regulations that prevent the use of public funds to facilitate the sale of artworks or provide financial benefit to individual artists through taxpayer-supported events.
In the event all submissions cannot be accommodated, applications may be considered for future exhibitions.
By submitting to the call, applicants confirm that the work is their own original creation and that they hold full rights to the submitted design.
The City reserves the right to request supporting materials (such as sketches, process work, or layered/source files) to verify authorship if required.

NOTIFICATION OF RESULTS:
Submissions will be reviewed in partnership with the Orillia Native Women’s Group and/or members of the Indigenous creative community. Selections will be based on artistic merit, diversity of media, and how each work contributes to the exhibition’s overall narrative. Only selected artists will be contacted after final decisions are made. The City reserves the right not to select any submissions.

For more information, please contact Allie Bradford, Culture Coordinator, City of Orillia
Email: abradford@orillia.ca
Phone: 705-325-4530

First Name

Last Name

Address (including City)

Phone Number

Email Address

Artist Bio (this may be included on the City of Orillia's social media)

Title of Work

Medium of Artwork (Visual arts, textiles/weaving, ceramics/pottery, beadwork, quilwork, woodcarving, sculpture, etc.)

Brief Description of Artwork (this is what will be used on your exhibition label, so please ensure that your description is thorough and related to the exhibition's theme)

Dimensions and Weight of Work (Note: Submissions may not exceed 3 feet tall or 2.5 feet wide).

Link to website or social media (if applicable)

Please upload images of the piece (max. 3).

Browse…

Allowed extensions pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, tif

Is the work for sale? Please note that only original works created by the submitting artist are eligible for sale. Items created by others (e.g., family members or historical artifacts) cannot be sold through this exhibition.

Yes

If yes, what is the price? Please note that a $25 administration fee will apply to any artwork sold during the exhibition. Artists are encouraged to factor this fee into their listed price.

This exhibition is intended to support and highlight Indigenous artists. Please select the option that best describes your submission:

I am an Indigenous artist (First Nations, Inuit, Métis)

I am submitting a generational or previously acquired piece created by an Indigenous artist (e.g., a family or community member), and (if applicable) have their permission to submit this piece for the exhibition.

I do not identify as Indigenous