Key Facts

• Application Fee: $45.00
• Method of Payment: by Credit Card by clicking the red "2026 New Membership Application Fee" at the bottom of this page.
• Notification Method: Accepted applicants will be notified by December 11, 2026 by email and invited to join the OSA. 
• Annual Membership Fees for Successful Applicants:  $150.00 due May 1, 2027
• Our successful candidates will be able to start participating in January 2026 in all of our projects developed by the Ontario Society of Artists.

• The decision of the New Members Selection Committee and the OSA membership is final.

 Application payments are non refundable. Do not pay until you are certain you wish to apply for membership.

Criteria for Application

 

•  Achievement, excellence, and the demonstration of skill in a single discipline are required. Applicants must clearly show their ability and dedication to their chosen artistic field.
• A professional level of accomplishment in the arts is expected. Candidates should be able to provide evidence of their status and achievements as practicing artists.
•  Applicants must demonstrate a willingness to actively participate in the operations of the Society. This includes contributing organizational skills and indicating how they can be involved in various Society functions.
• Online Application: All applicants must be capable of managing basic digital tasks, such as creating and uploading properly sized photographs of their artwork, accurately labelling files, and submitting their work according to the provided instructions.

Entry Instructions

The application process consists of four parts.

1.  Part One:

Contact Information

2.  Part Two:

Extended Biography, CV & Artwork Images

Prepare a PDF DOCUMENT containing the following information:

1. Professional C.V. that includes educational background as well as relevant work and volunteer experience.
2. A professional Artist Statement.
3. A comprehensive list of all exhibitions, trade shows, or other venues, websites, or publications where your work has appeared in the past five years. The list should be organized chronologically by year, starting with the current year and working backwards.
4. A statement outlining all professional representation.
5. A complete list of online sales platforms where your work is available, if applicable. Please include relevant links.
6. An explanation of your willingness to contribute volunteer hours to the OSA, which may involve assisting with events, working behind the scenes, or other tasks. This is a Society reliant on volunteer efforts. Please describe how you can contribute.

• Provide a list of the 10 artworks you plan to submit, including the following details for each piece: Title, Medium, Size (unframed dimensions, height by width, in inches), and Year Completed. Please focus on one discipline only for this application.

Online Application: All applicants must be capable of managing basic digital tasks, such as creating and uploading properly sized photographs of their artwork, accurately labelling files, and submitting their work according to the provided instructions.

3.  Part Three:

Upload and Describe Your Artwork Images

In this section, you are required to upload images of 10 sample artworks. Please arrange the images according to their importance in your portfolio.

Image Preparation Guidelines

Before uploading, you must resize and retitle your images following the instructions below:

• All images must be saved in jpg format.
• Each image file must be less than 4MB in size.
• The resolution of each image should not exceed 2000 pixels on the longest side.
• Files should be labelled using the following format:

SequenceNumber_LastName_Title_Medium_Dimensions_YearCompleted.jpg

Labelling Examples

For example:

01_MyLastName_Sunset_OilOnCanvas_45x36_2024.jpg

02_MyLastName_AfterCoffee_OilOnBoard_40x30_2025.jpg

If you are an artist working in 3 dimensions and you are shortlisted, we will contact you for additional images. If you are an artist working in video, please upload a still image that can act as a title page for each video and then in your CV, please provide online links to each of your ten videos. 

Image Upload Instructions

Important Note: After selecting your artwork image, a small preview will appear. Above this preview, you will find two buttons: Delete and Upload. Please make sure to click Upload for each image you wish to submit.

4.  Part Four:

Payment, and Confirmation

Once you have paid the $45 application fee, you will receive an email confirming your payment. YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE AN EMAIL WITH THE LINK FOR THE APPLICATION. 

Please note that application payments are non-refundable. Ensure you are certain about applying for membership before completing your payment.

Questions and Support

QUESTIONS? If you have questions after reading all the information above, please email [newmembership@ontariosocietyofartists.org]

(mailto:newmembership@ontariosocietyofartists.org).

Reach out after you have reviewed all instructions.

Our volunteers are happy to answer your questions. If you need extensive assistance preparing your application, please consider hiring a professional.

Application Evaluation Process

Applications will be evaluated through a process involving adjudication by a committee of experienced professionals from our membership, followed by a vote open to the entire OSA membership.

The adjudication committee confirms that applicants meet the basic requirements for membership.

Basic Membership Requirements

• Residency in Ontario
• Evidence of work as an arts professional
• A significant level of achievement in the Visual Arts.

 

Eligible Discipline

The Ontario Society of Artists extends membership to professionals representing a wide range of visual arts disciplines.

Artists practicing in traditional mediums like oil and acrylic painting, charcoal, pencil, and pastel are invited to apply. Mixed media creators, fibre artists, and photographers are also welcome. The Society embraces modern approaches, including digital art, sculpture, video, moving images, installation, and performance-based collage or assemblage. Innovative and emerging trends in contemporary visual art are valued as well, demonstrating the Society’s dedication to fostering a lively and inclusive artistic community.