Calls for Entry

The Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) invites Canadian artists to apply for the 2023 Emerging Artists Juried Exhibition.
At the OSA, emerging means experience, not age. Emerging artists must have no more than 5 years of experience as a professional artist.
Whether you are just starting your art career or have come to art as a 2nd or 3rd career, we want to see your work. We welcome all manner of 2D visual art (drawing, printing, painting, photography, mixed media).
This is a biennial exhibit of the OSA with the purpose of promoting the best art that Canada has to offer from emerging artists. With that as your guide, the jurors will be looking for:
- Originality
- Artistry in composition and design
- Excellence and Skill in the chosen medium
$2,000 in cash prizes will be awarded ($1,000 Best in Show, + 2 x $500 Awards of Excellence).
A LIVE Exhibition will be held March 9-24, 2023 at the John B. Aird Gallery, Artscape West Queen West, 906 Queen Street West, Toronto. An opening reception will be held on March 11, 2023.
Critical Information:
- Submission Close: Thursday February 2, 2023, 9:00 PM (EST) or max 500 submissions, whichever comes first
- Notification date: February 15, 2023
- Artwork Delivery: Thursday March 3 & Friday March 4 (2-4 PM)
- Opening Reception: Saturday March 11, 2-5 PM
- Artwork Pick Up: March 25, 2-4 PM
- Application Fee: $40.00
- TWO submissions maximum per artist
For detailed information and application go to:
https://form.jotform.com/223437644590258
Digital submissions only.
Special note: if you are an OSA member, please do not apply for this show. There are several other shows coming up specific to OSA artists. Check back here on the OSA website for future exhibit opportunities.
Emerging Artists Juried Exhibition
produced for the OSA by:
Lori Ryerson, OSA
Kari Serrao, OSA

The Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) invites Canadian artists to apply for the 149th Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition, with the theme Colour Splash. This exhibition will welcome spring with splashes of reviving and re-invigorating colour after the dormancy of winter. We look forward to seeing how you use colour to inform and shape your work.
The Exhibition will be held April 6 – May 4, 2023, at the John B. Aird Gallery, Artscape West Queen West, 906 Queen Street West, Toronto. An opening reception will be held (date TBA).
Criteria
This is an annual exhibit of the OSA with the purpose of promoting the best art that Canada has to offer from emerging and established artists. With that as your guide, the jurors will be looking for:
- Originality
- Artistry in composition and design
- Excellence and skill in the chosen medium
Jurors
We are pleased to have these renowned members of the art community as jurors: Joshua Heuman, David Griffin & Anne Cavanagh.
Prizes
$1,000 – Award recipient chosen by an OSA Life Member
$1,000 – Best in show award recipient chosen by the Jurors
$250 – Award for excellence will be awarded to four artists chosen by the Jurors
Important Dates
- Submissions open: Monday January 16, 2023, 9:00AM (EST)
- Submissions close: Friday, February 24, 2023, Midnight (EST) or maximum 500 submissions, whichever comes first
- Notification date: March 6, 2023 (by email)
- Artwork delivery: Wednesday March 29 & Thursday March 30
- Show dates: April 6 – May 4, 2023
- Artwork pick up: Friday May 5
For full details and to submit your work, please go to https://form.jotform.com/223514655869265
Submission Deadline: Friday February 24, 2023
Questions? Contact the OSA OJE Coordinator: Robin Kingsburgh, OSA.
(robin.kingsburgh@gmail.com)
Current Exhibitions
Oct 2022 – Six Months. Breath. Heart. Spirit., The Lieutenant Governor’s Suite at Queens Park, Toronto
Past Exhibitions
Oct 2022. Standing Up for Ontario’s Old Growth Exhibit, Arts & Letters Club of Toronto, Toronto
Sep 10 – Oct 16, 2022. Ambient Landscapes, The Eastern Hub, Art Gallery of Northumberland, Cobourg
Jul 23 – Sep 24, 2022. Conversations: the OSA 150 Years, OSA Member Group Exhibition, Orillia Museum of Art and History Exhibition, Orillia
June 18, 2022. Book Launch for Breath. Heart. Spirit. Event, The Women’s Art Association of Canada, 25 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto
Mar 1 – Apr 1, 2022. Breath. Heart. Spirit. OSA Member Group Exhibition, The Northern Hub, The Nipissing Region Curatorial Collective, North Bay
Oct 2 – Nov 28, 2021. Breath, Heart, Spirit. The First OSA 150th Anniversary Members Exhibition, Glenhyrst Art Gallery, Brantford
Sep 8 – 26, 2021. 2021 Members’ Exhibition of Selected Works. Neilson Park Creative Centre, Toronto
May 10-30, 2021. 148th Open Juried Virtual Exhibition. Neilson Park Creative Centre, Toronto
Mar 25 – Apr 22, 2021. 2020 & 2021 OSA New Members Online Exhibit. Neilson Park Creative Centre, Toronto
2020. 147th Annual Open Juried Exhibition. Neilson Park Creative Centre, Toronto
2020. 2020 Members’ Exhibition of Selected Works. Online.
2020. Selected Works of the Ontario Society of Artists Eastern Hub, Parrot Gallery, Belleville. Artists: Carmel Brennan, Anne Cavanagh, Nancy R. Chalut, Shaukat Chaney, Peer Christensen, Laura Culic, Sheila Davis, Mary Derrick, Carole Finn, Kathy Haycock, Rebecca Last, Peter Large, Dayna Law, Lisa Martini-Dunk, Nancy Moore, Rob Niezen, Evelyn Rapin, Alan Douglas Ray, Barb Sohn, Charles Spratt, Roger Sutcliffe, Bob Tunnoch, Carol Westcott
2019. Masterworks — Westland Gallery, London, Ontario. A group exhibition featuring the works of OSA members Bruno Capolongo, Cathy Groulx, George Langbroek, James MacDougall, Janice Mason Steeves, Jesse Gledhill, John Maurer, Josy Britton, Lee Munn, Marg Peter, Marianne Reim, Peter Dušek, Radek Vizina, Robert Amirault and Steve Wilson.
2019. OSA Eastern Hub Exhibition, Agnes Jamieson Gallery, Minden
2019. Members’ Exhibition of Selected Works, Withrow Common Gallery, Toronto’s Exhibition Place. Visit our Online Exhibition page to view the artwork.
2019. Peripheral Visions, Agnes Jamieson Gallery in Minden Hills. Presented by the OSA Eastern Hub.
2019. Biennial New Members Exhibition, Nielsen Park Creative Centre. This was a group exhibition showcasing the superb artwork of artists inducted into the OSA in the previous two years. Visit our Online Exhibition page to view the artwork.
2019. 146th OSA Open Juried Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto. Visit our Online Exhibition page to view the list of participating artists, the award winners, and the artworks.
2018. OSA Members’ Exhibition of Selected Works, PaperMill Gallery, Toronto, Eighty-six member artists participated. Juror: Darrin Martins. Chair: Steve Wilson.
2018. OSA 145th Annual Juried Exhibition, John B. Aird Gallery, This was a stunning show of 48 contemporary works of art selected by esteemed Jurors Richard Rhodes, William Huffman, and Janet Hendershot OSA SCA. (Co-Chairs: Jacquie Green, Marilena Isacescu Carlea)
2017. OSA New Members’ Exhibition, Opening Reception is December 14th 6-8pm – An exhibition of work done by New Members of the OSA elected in 2015 and 2016 – John B. Aird Gallery (Co-Chairs: Lisa Murzin, Frances Patella and Dominique Prevost)
2017. OSA Members’ Exhibition of Selected Works – Carrier Gallery, Co-Chairs: Tony Vander Voet & Susan McCrae.
2017. MOSAIC – Ontario Society of Artists 145th Anniversary Exhibition – Aurora Cultural Centre, May 11 – August 5, 2017
2017. OSA Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto