Galleries & Exhibitions

Artistic Programming

Exhibition programming temporarily paused.

Exhibition programming will resume in January 2025. Open Studio will temporarily close its studio space for restructuring from July 2024 to December 2024. Our front-of-house area will remain open to the public during this time, featuring items for sale from our shop and archive. Read our update, and join our newsletter.

Artistic Programming

Programming Dynamic Print Exhibitions

About our Programming

Open Studio is committed to providing an open and equitable platform for public programming that reflects innovative, non-hierarchical and cross-cultural approaches to contemporary printmaking by artists from diverse backgrounds and wide-reaching perspectives. Open Studio is dedicated to engaging and supporting all individuals and prioritizes applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including racialized persons: Black, Indigenous, People(s) of Colour (BIPOC); persons with disabilities, persons living with mental illness, and persons of all sexual orientations, and gender identities/expressions.

Through our public programming, we aim to encourage audience connection to the evolving medium of print as it relates to contemporary culture and to foster a diverse and expansive view of what printmaking can be. This may include, but is not limited to, non-Eurocentric printmaking, digital and analogue forms of print, DIY print practices (zines, posters, pamphlets, etc.), as well as other traditional printmaking mediums.

Our gallery exhibitions and residency opportunities are programmed through annual calls for submissions, in addition to invited and curated exhibitions. We welcome explorations of print’s industrial, digital, commercial, and craft-based aspects, including proposals that intersect print with other media, and that explore print’s ethos in concept (sequencing, multiples, layering) as well as in practice. We are open to ideas and welcome proposals for solo and group exhibitions.

Curatorial Vision

To create equitable and inclusive programming that supports and promotes global, innovative, and non-hierarchical approaches to contemporary printmaking from a range of cross-cultural perspectives. To elevate the printed medium, and shape audience experience of print in relation to wider contemporary culture.

Exhibition Submissions

ANNUAL CALL FOR PRINT-BASED APPLICATIONS

The annual call for exhibitions is paused until fall 2025. Read our update, and join our newsletter.

Open Studio offers an annual call for print-based exhibition submissions to its Main Gallery and Project Space, alongside special programming calls as new opportunities arise.

Exhibitions for the Main Gallery and Project Space are selected through an annual, juried call for submissions, in addition to curated projects. Calls for exhibition submissions are usually held in the fall. Open Studio’s Programming Year runs from September – July. The annual exhibition call for submissions selects programming for the following programming year.

All print artists can apply to the Main Gallery, and the Project Space is specifically reserved for artist members. Please get in touch with us by email if you want to find out how to become an Open Studio artist member. Applications will be made available a month before an announced deadline and we recommend signing up for our newsletter for updates.

The call for exhibition submissions is now closed.The annual call for residencies is paused until spring 2025. Read our update, and join our newsletter.

The call for exhibition submissions is now closed.The annual call for residencies is paused until spring 2025. Read our update, and join our newsletter.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Applications must be print-based or relate to printmaking.
  • Artists who have shown in a solo or duo exhibition [Main Gallery & Project Space] must wait for at least one year before applying again.
  • The above would not affect inclusion in group exhibitions (three artists or more).
  • Exhibiting on the Feature Wall does not affect eligibility to apply for a Main Gallery or Project Space exhibition.
  • These criteria do not apply to offsite exhibitions or special calls outside the usual gallery programming.
  • Board Members and staff members are not eligible to apply for exhibitions, scholarships or residencies during their term. (An exception would be made should an artist already be programmed and then move into a board/staff position).

JURYING

Residency submissions are selected by a jury consisting of: Open Studio’s Studio & Education Manager, a member of Open Studio’s Programming Committee, and an Open Studio artist member or external member of the arts community.

Exhibition submissions are selected by a jury consisting of: Open Studio’s Curator & Collections Manager, a member of Open Studio’s Programming Committee, and an Open Studio artist member or external member of the arts community.

The jury member from Open Studio’s artist membership / external member of the arts community will change with each programming year. Where possible, the same jurors will jury all residency and exhibition opportunities for a one-year cycle. 

Please note that due to the number of submissions that we receive, Open Studio is unable to provide individual feedback for applications.