--- title: "Call for Submissions – Voices and Visibility: Women, Art, and Political Change" description: Juried exhibition at Kawartha Art Gallery in Lindsay, Ontario on women, art and democracy, with $2,000 in awards. Open to Ontario artists 18+. url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/c4f3e3aa-f692-4f93-bdab-0a1dcdffe0b4 type: program status: closed createdAt: "2026-09-03" updatedAt: "2026-09-30" programType: Exhibition organization: Kawartha Art Gallery organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/kawartha-art-gallery deadline: "2026-09-28" entryFee: 50 CAD location: Kawartha Art Gallery, Lindsay, ON, Canada isOnline: false compensationRange: "Cash awards: Highest Achievement $1,000; Award of Merit $500; two Awards of Distinction $250 each." disciplines: - painting - drawing - printmaking - mixed media - sculpture - textile and fibre art - photography - digital art --- # Call for Submissions – Voices and Visibility: Women, Art, and Political Change **Hosted by:** Kawartha Art Gallery **Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** Kawartha Art Gallery, Lindsay, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** September 28, 2026 | **Entry fee:** CA$50 ## About This Program > "Voices and Visibility: Women, Art, and Political Change — democracy, advocacy, leadership, human rights, identity, protest, belonging, representation, and community engagement" ### 2026 Annual Juried Exhibition at Kawartha Art Gallery ### Call for Submissions *Voices and Visibility: Women, Art, and Political Change* Democracy thrives when all people can participate, contribute, and have their voices heard. Throughout history, women have played a vital role in expanding rights, advocating for change, building communities, and shaping the democratic landscape. Kawartha Art Gallery invites artists to explore the relationship between women, participation, and democracy through an exhibition that explores the power of civic engagement, collective action, representation, and social change. From the fight for voting rights to contemporary movements for equality, justice, and inclusion, women have often been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen democratic values and expand opportunities for participation. Kawartha Art Gallery welcomes works that challenge perspectives, commemorate achievements, inspire dialogue, or imagine a future where all people can participate fully in civic and community life. Participation can be expressed in many ways…a raised hand, an open door, a gathering of voices, a bridge built between communities, a path forward, an act of courage, or a vision of change. This theme offers powerful opportunities for metaphor and symbolism, and artists are encouraged to consider both tangible and symbolic representations of participation and democracy through the following themes: - Democracy - Advocacy - Leadership - Human Rights - Identity - Protest - Belonging - Representation - Community Engagement Artists are invited to interpret the theme through personal experiences, historical narratives, contemporary issues, or imagined futures. Whether reflective, celebratory, provocative, or aspirational, submissions should approach the subject with sensitivity, authenticity, and creative intention ### Eligibility - Open to all artists 18 years and older living within Ontario - One entry per Artist - Maximum size of artwork 48in wide x 72in tall - Cost per entry for Gallery Member Artists is $35.00 - Cost per entry for non-Gallery Member Artist is $50.00 - All entry fees are non-refundable - All works to have been completed with the past 24 months - Each entry to include an Artist statement. This is an explanation of your overall vision and the issues/ideas that you have presented in your work (maximum 300-word count) - Each entry to include two good quality images of the submitted piece of work with submitted images in a 300 dpi in JPG (or JPEG) format. With image files not exceeding 2.5MB - Image files submitted with entry form are to be named using the following convention: FirstName, LastName, Title of Work, Date of Work, Format (i.e.: Jane Doe, Title,.jpg) - Mediums welcomed are painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, textile and fibre art, photography and digital art - No AI generated works will be accepted - Artists are responsible for the transportation of accepted artworks to and from the Gallery - The Gallery assumes insurance responsibility only while works are onsite - All works must be delivered ready to install, d-hooks and wire - Works selected for the exhibition must remain on view for the full duration of the exhibit - By submitting, artists agree to allow the Gallery to use images of selected works for promotional purposes - The Gallery reserves the right to decline any artwork that does not meet the exhibition standards or eligibility criteria ### Awards - Highest Achievement – $1,000.00 - Award of Merit – $500.00 - Award of Distinction – $250.00 - Award of Distinction – $250.00 ### Jurying Notification of acceptance will be sent via email on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The juror's decision is final. Only work that has been accepted by the juror will be included in the exhibition. All works not accepted will be required to be picked up from the Gallery on Monday, October 5, 2026, between 11am and 5pm. ### How to Submit Entries can only be submitted via the online submission form. ## Eligibility & Requirements - **Geographic Eligibility:** Regional - **Disciplines:** painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, textile and fibre art, photography, digital art - **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old - **Note:** Open to all artists 18 years and older living within Ontario. One entry per Artist. Maximum size of artwork 48in wide x 72in tall. All works to have been completed with the past 24 months. No AI generated works will be accepted. Artists are responsible for the transportation of accepted artworks to and from the Gallery; the Gallery assumes insurance responsibility only while works are onsite. All works must be delivered ready to install, d-hooks and wire. Works selected for the exhibition must remain on view for the full duration of the exhibit. By submitting, artists agree to allow the Gallery to use images of selected works for promotional purposes. The Gallery reserves the right to decline any artwork that does not meet the exhibition standards or eligibility criteria. Entry fees are non-refundable. All works not accepted will be required to be picked up from the Gallery on Monday, October 5, 2026, between 11am and 5pm. ### Additional Requirements One entry per artist. Each entry to include: - an artist statement (maximum 300 words) explaining your overall vision and the issues/ideas presented in your work - two good quality images of the submitted work at 300 dpi in JPG/JPEG format, files not exceeding 2.5MB, named FirstName, LastName, Title of Work, Date of Work, Format (i.e.: Jane Doe, Title,.jpg) Entry fee of $35 for Gallery Member Artists or $50 for non-members, paid via the online form or e-transfer. ## Compensation & Benefits Cash awards: Highest Achievement $1,000; Award of Merit $500; two Awards of Distinction $250 each. **Includes:** Prize Four awards are given following jurying: Highest Achievement ($1,000.00), Award of Merit ($500.00), and two Awards of Distinction ($250.00 each). Awards are presented at the Awards Reception on Saturday, November 7, 2026. ## Timeline - **Opens:** July 22, 2026 - **Deadline:** September 28, 2026 - **Program Start:** October 7, 2026 - **Program End:** December 19, 2026 ## Contact **Contact:** Susan Taylor **Email:** art@kawarthagallery.com **Phone:** 705-324-1780 ## How to Apply Apply at: https://www.kawarthagallery.com/exhibits/women-art-political-change