In May 2021, the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival will celebrate its 25th anniversary. To mark this occasion, CONTACT is offering free registration for lens-based artists to participate in the Featured and Open Call exhibition programs.
Featured Exhibitions, selected through a jury process, showcase exceptional photo-based projects throughout the city of Toronto. Open Call Exhibitions present a range of works at galleries and alternative spaces. At the core of the Festival’s founding mission created in 1996, these exhibitions continue to cultivate engagement between artists and curators of all career levels and communities across the greater Toronto area.
While CONTACT enthusiastically plans for the Festival in May 2021, preparations are in place to adjust appropriately to evolving COVID-19 health and safety regulations.
Featured Exhibitions
Deadline for Submissions: December 4, 2020 by 11:59pm EST
CONTACT welcomes proposals from emerging, mid-career, or established Canadian and international artists and curators for the Featured Exhibitions component of the Festival. This juried initiative is open to solo or group exhibitions on any subject matter, and to all photo-based practices.
Featured Exhibitions are highlighted prominently in the Festival’s communications, including the CONTACT catalogue, website, and newsletter; they also benefit from promotion and coverage through CONTACT’s extensive public relations initiatives, drawing significant attention to the artists and venues involved.
To be eligible, exhibitions must take place for a minimum of two weeks during the month of May. Preference is given to those held in professional gallery spaces, and to bodies of work not previously shown in Toronto. If your proposal is not selected, it will be included in the Festival as an Open Call Exhibition.
Please visit the CONTACT website for detailed information on how to submit your proposal.
Open Call Exhibitions
Deadline for Registration: December 14, 2020 by 11:59pm EST
This non-juried category is open to all, encouraging a variety of photographic practices. Open Call Exhibitions can be held in any type of venue, from art spaces to community centres, cafés, or retail shops. To accommodate evolving COVID-19 health and safety regulations, Open Call Exhibitions can also be presented online as a virtual exhibition.
Your exhibition and artist information will reach CONTACT’s extensive audience through the Festival catalogue (20,000 copies) and website (200,000 visitors.)
Please visit register.scotiabankcontactphoto.com to register your Open Call Exhibition.