Xpace Cultural Centre accepts proposals of all media from emerging and student artists, curators and cultural workers. Exhibitions are selected by our Programming Committee which is composed of Xpace staff and Board of Directors members. There is no fee to apply, and all selected applicants will be paid an applicable CARFAC project fee. This Open Call covers all exhibition spaces (Window Space, Main Space, Project Space) from October 2026 through July 2027.
The 2026-2027 Call for Exhibition Submissions deadline is Sunday, May 31 at 11:59 PM
THEMATICS
Exchange
In moments of isolation, it is exchange that grounds us back into connection and community. With our tongues untied we are able to participate, in dialogue, in the joy of remembering, and in chance encounters that elicit relationality. We are able to see ourselves in one another and flow between self and other. This thematic asks artists and curators to consider exchange as a site of building through connection.
Softness
Between moments of light and shadow, there is softness. A trace, a quiet shift, a slow thaw. Fragility and vulnerability give space to repair and care, while intimacy is felt all around. Our five senses are heightened in moments of softness, ready to receive what is tenderly guided towards them. This thematic prioritizes gentle whispers over loud proclamations.
Illusion
Increasingly our daily lives intersect with illusion. True or false, real or fake, misery or happiness. This can be seen relating to the rise of AI generated content, political propaganda, and a never ceasing algorithm. But despite all that we contend with, illusion is also a tool of resistance and reliance. It is a state of unsettledness where the act of undoing is also doing. This thematic invites artists to explore refusal, failure, losslessness, and moments marked by trends, fads or short lived crazes.
EXHIBITION SPACES
All exhibition archives can be viewed here: www.xpace.info/archive
Floor plans can be viewed here at the bottom of the page: http://www.xpace.info/resources/
WINDOW SPACE
The Window Space looks out onto Lansdowne Avenue and is visible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Works proposed for the Window Space should consider the site-specific nature of an exhibition space with 24-hour access, and its location and presence as a window facing out onto the street. Solo or collaborative works may apply.
MAIN SPACE
The Main Space hosts group exhibitions organized around a connecting theme or idea. Only applications from a curator or curatorial collective will be accepted. Proposals should emphasize the ways in which the artists and artworks relate to the thematic the proposal is responding to. Curators may apply with works already selected, or with a theme only (please include examples of artists/designers and/or the type of works you are interested in).
PROJECT SPACE
The Project Space is intended for installation-based practices. Site-based exhibitions, experimental installations and immersive works will be given priority. Solo or collaborative works, (up to 2 artists maximum) may apply.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants are asked to provide the following items:
1. Artist Bio (150 words max): 2-3 sentences describing who you are. This can include the city you’re based in, education, recent professional experience (if applicable), and/or awards.
2. CV (Max 3 pages): Your CV should include education and exhibition history, as well as any relevant experience you’d like us to know about. Please note: formal education is not mandatory to apply. Xpace only shows work from emerging artists/curators/cultural workers and/or students. Mid-career and established artists will not be accepted. If you are unsure if you fall within our mandate, please ask opencall@xpace.info.
2. Artistic Practice Statement (300 words max): The Artistic Practice Statement should give a description of your overall art practice (ie) themes, issues, processes you’re currently exploring and interested in.
3. Project Description (500 words max): The project description should give a clear and concrete description of the work you are proposing for Xpace. Please specify which exhibition space you intend the work to be exhibited in and why your project suits it specifically. (ie) sound installation, series of sculptures, projections, etc. If you are a curator, please outline the curatorial theme and selected artists (if confirmed).
4. Install/Technical Description (250 words max): The technical description should include: tentative install plan/schedule, equipment and materials required for install, installation assistance (if needed), and any associated expenses . Curators, please list all confirmed artists (if any), and/or the content of your call for submissions (if you are planning on having one). Please note Xpace is not able to support the shipping of art work, and that hanging from the ceiling is only permitted in the Window Space.
5. Floor Plan: Please use the floor plans found on Xpace's website to produce an accurate visual for how you envision your work to be installed. You may upload up to 10 images (JPG format).
6. Visual Support Material (5-10): Images must be in JPG format. You may include links to video and/or audio files. These should be a maximum of 3-5 minutes in total. If there is a specific portion of a longer video you would like the Programming Committee to watch, please indicate it on your support material list.
7. Support Material List: State what each file is and its relation to your proposal. (1-2 sentences per file).
If you have any questions about the proposal process that are not outlined in our FAQ available on our website please contact Xpace staff at opencall@xpace.info before 6pm on May 24rd, 2026. Please note that due to high interest it might take up to 3-5 days to get to your question.
Xpace recognizes the importance of oral culture in the sharing of language, history, knowledge and practice. We will accept oral submissions, when accessibility and/or oral culture is relevant to the project or artistic practice. Oral application requests will be evaluated on a case by case basis. If you’d like to request one, please write avalon@xpace.info before 6pm on Friday, May 24rd, 2026.
Please reference our submission guidelines and FAQ for more information:
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026 @ 11:59PM. NO LATE SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
XPACE WILL ONLY ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED THROUGH OUR FORMAL SUBMISSION PROCESS ON SUBMITTABLE AS OUTLINED ABOVE.
THOUGH STAFF IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT ALL MOMENTS OF THE SUBMISSION PROCESS, WE CANNOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES ASKED THROUGH DIRECT MESSAGE, TEXT OR FACEBOOK MESSENGER. WE ASK THAT APPLICANTS REACH OUT VIA E-MAIL INSTEAD.
APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY JULY 31, 2026 OF THEIR PROPOSAL STATUS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR PROPOSALS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.
Xpace Cultural Centre is seeking applications for the opportunity to participate in our annual residency program! The residency is open to students graduating from OCAD University in Spring 2026 from any program at the Undergraduate or Graduate level. Two artists and one curator will be selected. The residency is intended to take place at Xpace Cultural Centre in person between August 4 - September 4 , 2026.
Residents will be required to commit a minimum of 10 hours a week at Xpace Cultural Centre during gallery hours. (Tuesday - Saturday, 12pm - 6pm)
THEMATIC
Teeming with infinite possibility, Insert Here asks questions of transformation, reinvention and completion. What does it mean to think of a before and beyond? There is an inherent relativity that this thematic situates in - a directiveness asserted in an action. And yet the outcome of this action is unknown. This thematic encourages OCAD U recent graduates to participate in a practice of unfolding, considering presence as a tool as they navigate the transitional period that is post-graduation.
Keywords: transformation, reinvention, next, possibilities, action, unfolding.
ARTISTS The residency offers professional support, mentorship and dedicated time and space to recent OCAD U graduates interested in developing a new body of work to exhibit in Xpace’s Window or Project Space for an exhibition. Two selected artist residents will be provided with the following:
- Studio space at Xpace from August 4 - September 4, 2026;
- A solo exhibition at Xpace from September 4 – October 17, 2026.
- A CARFAC Artist fee.
- A materials budget of up to $300.00.
- Inclusion in Xpace’s VOLUME publication in September 2027.
- The artist will work in collaboration with an emerging writer to write exhibition text for their project. This writer will be selected from Xpace's writers pool.
CURATORS The residency intends to offer professional support, mentorship and dedicated time and space to recent OCAD U graduates with an interest in curatorial practices. The selected curator will have the opportunity to curate a group exhibition (minimum 3 artists) in Xpace’s Main Space and write an accompanying exhibition text. The curator will be provided with the following:
- Studio space at Xpace from August 4 - September 4, 2026;
- An exhibition at Xpace from September 4 – October 17, 2026.
- A CARFAC Curator fee.
- CARFAC Artist fees for any participating artists.
- A materials budget of up to $300.00.
- Inclusion in Xpace’s VOLUME publication in September 2027.
REQUIREMENTS
Applicants are asked to provide the following items:
1. Artistic Practice Statement (300 words max): The Artistic Practice Statement should give a description of your overall art practice (ie) themes, issues, processes you’re currently exploring and interested in.
2. Project Description (500 words max): The project description should give a clear and concrete description of the work you are proposing for the Residency. Please specify which exhibition space you're interested in and why your project suits it specifically. (ie) sound installation, series of sculptures, projections, etc. If you are a curator, please outline the curatorial theme and selected artists (if confirmed).
3. CV (Max 2 pages): Your CV should include education and exhibition history, as well as any relevant experience you’d like us to know about.
4. Support Material (10 items max): Images must be in JPG format. You may include links to video and/or audio files. These should be a maximum of 3 minutes in total. Writing excerpts or short essays, prose, or excerpts from longer pieces also accepted.
4. Floor Plan: Images must be in JPG format. Please use the floor plans found on Xpace's website to accurately depict your ideas for the installation of your work.
Please reference our submission guidelines and FAQ for more information:
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026 @ 11:59PM. NO LATE SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
XPACE WILL ONLY ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED THROUGH OUR FORMAL SUBMISSION PROCESS ON SUBMITTABLE AS OUTLINED ABOVE.
THOUGH STAFF IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT ALL MOMENTS OF THE SUBMISSION PROCESS, WE CANNOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES ASKED THROUGH DIRECT MESSAGE, TEXT OR FACEBOOK MESSENGER. WE ASK THAT APPLICANTS REACH OUT VIA E-MAIL INSTEAD.
APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY JULY 16, 2026 OF THEIR PROPOSAL STATUS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR PROPOSALS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.
Xpace Cultural Centre is seeking workshop proposals from emerging artists, curators and arts administrators for our 2026/2027 Programming Year.
Our workshop program is presented to the Toronto/Tkaronto art and design community free-of-charge. It is programmed annually with the intention of responding to the needs and interests of emerging creative practitioners in our community.
This year, our four exhibition thematics are; Insert Here - (OCAD University Graduate Residency), Exchange, Softness, and Illusion. Please ensure to outline how your workshop will respond to one or more of the thematics in your workshop proposal.
Workshops are programmed with the intention to empower artists to advocate for themselves and their communities, as well as support creative growth and wellbeing. We are seeking workshops that allow for hands-on interaction and learning for a group of 30-40 people. Examples could be; beading, wet felting, weaving, tarot reading or more embodied workshops such as intentional movement or breath work.
Xpace will prioritize projects that:
- Utilize free or PWYC resources and/or require minimal to no purchases on behalf of the participants (ie) paid softwares like Adobe, expensive equipment, tools or materials.
- Are accessible to the public and audience(s).
- Engages with specific skills that benefit emerging artists and students.
- Are spotlighting new skills and ideas.
- Are taught in person on location at Xpace Cultural Centre.
Workshop facilitators are paid a CARFAC fee to develop and execute their project, with the option of requesting CAD $50 for additional materials.
The duration of a workshop must be 2-3 hours and be able to accommodate 30-40 people. If you are interested in proposing a larger project, workshop series or partnership, please contact opencall@xpace.info with details with the subject line ‘2026/27 Workshop Open Call’.
Applicants are asked to provide the following items:
1. Workshop Facilitator Bio (300 words max): Please provide a biography that highlights relevant experience and/or interest within the arts, community engagement and workshop facilitation (if applicable).
1. Workshop Title
2. Workshop Outline (500 words max): Please provide a brief overview and description of the workshop you are proposing to facilitate at Xpace. What format will it take? Note how you see the workshop responding to one the exhibition thematics.
3. Workshop Objectives (300 words max): Please outline your objects for this workshop. What skills, knowledge and / or abilities will participants take away from the workshop? Who are you hoping to engage with and why? How many folks would be an ideal number for this workshop?
4. Timeline (200 words max): What is your ideal schedule to plan, develop and execute this workshop? Do you have preferred dates/times for the workshop to take place?
5. Support Material (optional): Any materials deemed relevant for the jury to view that will help illustrate your workshop (i.e, if you are hosting a zine-making workshop, including photos of zines you have made in the past).
THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2026 @ 11:59PM. NO LATE SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
XPACE WILL ONLY ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED THROUGH OUR FORMAL SUBMISSION PROCESS ON SUBMITTABLE AS OUTLINED ABOVE.
THOUGH STAFF IS HAPPY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT ALL MOMENTS OF THE SUBMISSION PROCESS, WE CANNOT RESPOND TO INQUIRIES ASKED THROUGH DIRECT MESSAGE, TEXT OR FACEBOOK MESSENGER. WE ASK THAT APPLICANTS REACH OUT VIA E-MAIL INSTEAD.
APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY JULY 16, 2026 OF THEIR PROPOSAL STATUS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR PROPOSALS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST.