Calls to Artists

The City of St. Catharines often engages with artists to put their talents on display for a variety of temporary exhibits, public art commissions, special events and music programming. We issue calls to artists and requests for expressions of interest when opportunities are available.

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New and ongoing opportunities

Stay up to date on the latest opportunities for artists with the City of St. Catharines.

Call for Reviewers: St. Catharines Cultural Investment Program (SCCIP)

As part of the City’s revised SCCIP Policy (adopted in fall 2025), SCCIP review committees shall be comprised of individuals that reflect, as best as possible, a diversity of knowledge, experience and perspective in the areas of arts and culture and, ideally, both professional and community practice. Review committees will include at least five individuals, including two members of the City’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.

The City is therefore seeking applications from interested members of the arts community to sit on SCCIP review committees this spring. Individuals will review applications to either the Sustaining – Core and Midsized programs or the Arts Development and Culture Builds Community programs. More information about these programs, and SCCIP in general, can be found on the SCCIP page of the City’s website.

Eligibility

Any interested applicant must:

Be an engaged member of the arts community in Ontario, either as an artist, arts worker, arts administrator, arts educator, or board member/volunteer of an arts organization; and,
Be available between April 24 and May 26 to:
- review and score grant applications; and,
- meet to discuss and allocate funding.

Important dates

Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Notification: Thursday, April 23, 2026

About the review committees

Members of the review committees will:

Thoroughly review all applications within the time allocated (generally 2 to 3 weeks);
Score all applications using evaluation tools provided by City staff;
Share scores with the Culture Office no later than 24 hours before the agreed-upon meeting time;

Be available to participate in one 4-hour in-person/video meeting to discuss applications and allocate funding (meeting date/time TBD based on review committee members’ schedules); and,
Abide by the Conflict of Interest section of the SCCIP Policy (p.11).

An honorarium of $350 will be provided to each review committee member.

How to apply

Interested individuals are invited to apply by emailing the City of St. Catharines Culture Division with the following information:

Your resume / C.V.
A short paragraph (250 words max.) detailing why you would like to participate as a SCCIP review committee member.

Please also indicate if you would like to be considered for future review committee work.

Call to Artists - 2026 Annual Juried Exhibition

The City of St. Catharines 17th Annual Juried Exhibition, Current, invites artists to explore the forces that shape Niagara Region—its waterways, its histories, and the energies moving through the present moment. This juried exhibition brings together diverse artistic practices that respond to both the literal and metaphorical currents influencing how we live, create, and connect today.

“The Niagara Region is shaped by currents—of water, of industry, of migration, and of culture,” says Chelsea Ryan, Culture Coordinator, Public Art. “This exhibition encourages artists to reflect on both the physical flows that define this place and the contemporary currents—social, political, emotional, and technological—that shape our shared experience.”

We welcome submissions that engage with themes including, but not limited to:

Waterways, flow, and environmental systems
Movement, migration, and change
Industry, infrastructure, and built landscapes
Contemporary culture, news, and global events
Emotional, social, and political currents
Energy, momentum, and transformation

Artists at all stages of their careers are encouraged to apply, including emerging, student, and established artists. This exhibition is open to artists living across the Niagara Region, working in a wide range of media and disciplines.

We invite you to share your work and contribute to a dynamic exploration of the currents shaping our region and our present moment.

The exhibition will be installed in the exhibition space on the third floor of City Hall (50 Church St., St. Catharines).

There are no costs associated with entry.

Selected artists will be compensated $240, based on 2026 CARFAC Fee Schedule Section.

Important Dates

Exhibition Dates: September 18, 2026, to January 22, 2026

Submission Deadline: Monday, June 29, 2026

Selected Artists Notified by Email: Monday, August 10, 2026

Artwork Delivery: Monday, September 14, 2026

Opening Reception: Friday, September 18, 2026

Artwork Pick-Up: Monday, January 25, 2026

Eligibility

Open to all emerging, student and established artists, designers and collectives from across the Niagara Region.
Artworks must be original and created within the last three years.
All selected artworks will be made available for display for the entire period of the exhibition.
Each work must either be:
- Equipped and suitable for hanging on a track hanging system and must not exceed 25 kg. (2D works)
- Suitable for display in a 18” x 18” x 18” pedestal display case (3D works)

Note: Only 1 sculptural piece will accepted for display.

Submission Guidelines

Artists may submit a maximum of three artworks for consideration.
Submissions must include a completed application form, artist statement(s), and supporting image(s) to be considered complete.
Digital images must be submitted in .jpg format (minimum 150 dpi). Please include one to four images per artwork. Files should be labelled as follows: LastName_FirstName_ArtworkTitle.
Artists must reside within the Niagara Region and be 18 years of age or older.
Successful applicants are responsible for delivering their work in accordance with the timelines and instructions provided in their acceptance letter.

All artworks must be able to be safely installed within the gallery space. City staff will oversee final installation.
Selected artworks may be considered for acquisition into the City of St. Catharines’ Civic Art Collection.

Selection Process

All submissions will be reviewed by a jury selected by the City of St. Catharines’ Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.

The jury will consider each application based on the following criteria:

Artistic merit, originality, and quality of work
Relationship and responsiveness to the exhibition theme Current
Creativity in concept, materials, and approach
Clarity and impact of the artist’s statement
Feasibility of installation within the exhibition space

The jury reserves the right to accept or reject any submission and is not obligated to select all entries. Final decisions are at the sole discretion of the jury.

How to Submit

Complete the application form and upload any additional information online.

Apply now

Open Call to Artists - All Disciplines

The St. Catharines Culture Plan 2025-2030: Stay for the Culture presents a transformative vision for culture in St. Catharines, outlining a strategic roadmap to guide municipal support for arts and culture over the next five years.

As part of this roadmap, we are planning to provide additional opportunities for artists of all disciplines to engage the public in activities, lead workshops and host performances in a variety of public spaces throughout the city. These experiences will enrich lives, foster pride, and ensure a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable cultural sector within the city.

Eligibility

This application form is an open call to all artist(s), artist ad-hoc groups or arts and culture organizations seeking to lead a workshop or arts activity as part of programming initiatives undertaken by the City of St. Catharines.

How to submit

Complete the application form and upload any additional information online.

Apply now

Live music programming

Each year, we feature a variety of live music programming at Market Square. These concerts help enhance our Farmers Market and add vibrant character to our downtown.

To apply, complete our Musician Application Form. We accept applications throughout the year and welcome submissions from artists with original songs and covers of recording artists.