--- title: "Call for Submissions: Barrie City Centre Annual Building Art Showcase 2026" description: Themed showcase in the Barrie City Centre lobby for Simcoe County artists; five works chosen for a year-long display with prizes from $500 to $2500. url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/2435d1ac-69c1-4e8e-a7ce-8145c14c254d type: program status: closed createdAt: "2026-09-03" updatedAt: "2026-09-30" programType: Prize/award organization: MacLaren Art Centre organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/maclaren-art-centre deadline: "2026-09-21" location: Barrie City Centre, Barrie, ON, Canada isOnline: false compensationRange: $2,500 prize and $1,500 prize for the two large-scale Feature Wall selections, plus three $500 prizes for the Small Works Wall selections. disciplines: - photography - drawing - works on paper - painting careerStages: - Emerging artist - Established - Student --- # Call for Submissions: Barrie City Centre Annual Building Art Showcase 2026 **Hosted by:** MacLaren Art Centre **Type:** Prize/award | **Location:** Barrie City Centre, Barrie, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** September 21, 2026 ## About This Program > "Connection" **Deadline:** Monday, September 21, 2026, 5:00pm **Venue:** 55 Mulcaster Street (Main Floor, Building Lobby), Barrie, Ontario **Prizes** - One $2500 prize, awarded for a large-scale artwork - One $1500 prize, awarded for a large-scale artwork - Three $500 prizes, for three small-scale artworks ### Overview The Barrie City Centre Annual Building Art Showcase at 55 Mulcaster Street is a new yearly program that highlights and supports artists from Simcoe County. The initiative is administered by M Group and Georgian International, with support from the MacLaren Art Centre. The Showcase will enhance the visual environment of the lobby of the Barrie City Centre building, while celebrating regional talent. Established and emerging artists from Simcoe County are invited to submit artwork for consideration. Post-Secondary design and visual art students are encouraged to apply. A selection committee composed of building ownership and upper management will review submissions and select five artworks for a year-long showcase. Selected works will be installed in the lobby from October 2026 to September 2027. In addition to cash prizes, successful artists will receive recognition across social media and partner channels. The 2026 edition of the Barrie City Centre Annual Building Art Showcase is guided by the theme **Connection**. ### 2026 Theme: Connection Artists are invited to submit work that explores the idea of connection. Diverse interpretations of the theme are encouraged; artists are welcome to explore connection in ways that are personal, expansive, and grounded in their own perspectives. Submissions may reflect, but are not limited to: - Connections to place, land, or environment - Relationships to family, ancestry, or lineage - The role of friendship in shaping community - Social or cultural networks - Literal or abstract representations of connection Artwork submissions must have been created within the past three years, and have a direct relationship to the theme. ### Display Spaces and Details There are three distinct display areas. Artists may submit up to three different artworks for consideration: one for each space. Each display space requires its own distinct submission form. Do not submit the same artwork for more than one space. Successful artists will only be selected for one display space. **1. Large 8 foot x 6 foot Feature Wall (1 Artist Selected)** - One large artwork, including diptychs, triptychs, or artworks with multiple components - Accepted mediums: framed photographs, framed drawings/works on paper, or paintings (panel or stretched canvas) - Maximum size: 8 foot x 6 foot (96 in x 72 in), inclusive of framing or necessary supports, and if necessary, spacing between multiple components of a single artwork. Artwork may be horizontal or vertical display orientation - Artist prize: $2500 **2. Large 6 foot x 5 foot Feature Wall (1 Artist Selected)** - One large artwork, including diptychs, triptychs, or artworks with multiple components - Accepted mediums: framed photographs, framed drawings/works on paper, or paintings (panel or stretched canvas) - Maximum size: 6 feet high x 5 feet wide (72 inches high x 60 inches wide), inclusive of framing or necessary supports, and if necessary, spacing between multiple components of a single artwork - Artist prize: $1500 **3. Small Works Wall (3 Artists Selected)** - Three individual works by three different artists - Accepted mediums: framed photographs, framed drawings/works on paper, or paintings (panel or stretched canvas) - Maximum size: 36 inches high x 24 inches wide, inclusive of framing or necessary supports - Artist prizes: $500 per artist ### Program Timeline **June 2026** - Public call for submissions opens **September 2026** - Submission period closes - Jury review - Artists selected and notified of delivery timeline **October 2026** - Artwork installed in lobby with artist plaques - Artist prize payments distributed after successful installation - Public announcement. Exhibition runs for one full year *Timeline subject to change.* ### Eligibility - Open to artists who live, work, or attend school in Simcoe County - Open to emerging and established artists, including post-secondary students ### Submission Requirements Artists must submit the following: - Artist contact information: Preferred name, email, phone number, full mailing address, and website and social links for promotional purposes. - Artwork Information: title, year of creation, media, and dimensions (H x W in inches). - An artist biography (300 words max) and CV (3 pages max). - A short description (300 words max) of your artwork and its relationship to the theme. ### Selection Process Submissions will be reviewed by a committee of building ownership, senior leadership, and regional arts professionals. Selections will be based on: - Artistic merit - Relevance to theme - Suitability for the spaces ### Terms and Conditions - Only one submission per artist, per space, is permitted. If applying to three spaces, three applications must be made, with different artwork submitted for consideration. Successful artists will only be selected for one space. - Artists must confirm authorship, and will retain full copyright of their work. - Artists grant non-exclusive permission for image use for jurying, promotion, and exhibition materials (images will not be reproduced as high-quality commercial reproductions). - Artwork must be original and completed within the past three years. Artwork must not be created as part of coursework. - Work must be display-ready, structurally sound, and safe to install. - If selected, all shipping and transportation costs related to the delivery and return of the artwork are the responsibility of the artist. Artists must be available to arrange for delivery of artwork during the first two weeks of October 2026. The organizers reserve the right to: - Decline submissions that do not meet criteria or standards. Submissions containing hateful or prejudicial content, cultural appropriation, misrepresented artwork, or work that does not meet size and media specifications will be disqualified. - Determine suitability based on technical or spatial limitations. - Modify or cancel the program if necessary. The organizers are not responsible for lost, late, or damaged submissions. Participation does not guarantee selection. ### How to Apply Applications must be submitted through the online form. **Submission Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026, 5:00pm** After completing the form, applicants must submit one high quality photo of their artwork (full view of artwork, required) by email. An optional detail view photo of the same artwork may also be submitted. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Career Stage:** Emerging artist, Established, Student - **Geographic Eligibility:** International - **Disciplines:** photography, drawing, works on paper, painting - **Note:** Open to artists who live, work, or attend school in Simcoe County. Open to emerging and established artists, including post-secondary students. Post-secondary design and visual art students are encouraged to apply. Artwork submissions must have been created within the past three years and have a direct relationship to the theme. Artwork must be original and must not have been created as part of coursework. ### Additional Requirements - Artist contact information: preferred name, email, phone number, full mailing address, and website and social links for promotional purposes - Artwork information: title, year of creation, media, and dimensions (H x W in inches) - An artist biography (300 words max) - CV (3 pages max) - A short description (300 words max) of your artwork and its relationship to the theme - One high quality photo of the artwork (full view, required), emailed after completing the online form - One detail view photo of the same artwork (optional) ## Compensation & Benefits $2,500 prize and $1,500 prize for the two large-scale Feature Wall selections, plus three $500 prizes for the Small Works Wall selections. **Includes:** Prize - One $2,500 prize is awarded for the large-scale artwork selected for the 8 foot x 6 foot Feature Wall. - One $1,500 prize is awarded for the large-scale artwork selected for the 6 foot x 5 foot Feature Wall. - Three $500 prizes are awarded, one each, for the three small-scale artworks selected for the Small Works Wall. Artist prize payments are distributed after successful installation. ## Timeline - **Opens:** September 3, 2026 - **Deadline:** September 21, 2026 - **Program Start:** October 1, 2026 - **Program End:** September 30, 2027 ## Contact **Contact:** Tyler Durbano **Email:** tyler@maclarenart.com ## How to Apply Apply at: https://forms.gle/oShxdT5x9iT7A9yPA