Open Call: Public Arts Institute of Canada
Public Arts Institute of Canada
Deadline for finished artwork: April 20, 2026
All Mediums Welcome
About The Dear Canada Exhibition
Dear Canada is a public art exhibition — the first in a national series — asking one question of Canadians coast to coast: What is Canadian culture? Each show is free, public-facing, and designed to gather real responses from real Canadians on who we are and who we want to become. Calgary is where it begins.
Centring Indigenous Perspectives
This country was here before Canada was a country. Indigenous peoples have shaped this land, its languages, and its relationships to place for thousands of years — and that history is not background. It is the foundation.
As we build a series asking what Canadian culture is, that question cannot be answered honestly without Indigenous voices at its centre. We are making that invitation direct: your perspective is not a footnote here. It is essential.
Call For Artists
We have space for additional artists and are particularly — though not exclusively — seeking submissions from those who self-identify as Indigenous in Calgary and the surrounding communities.
The Vision
Canada cannot be taken for granted. It requires active, engaged people willing to do the work of building something better, more just and more honest.
This show is a space for constructive conversation. We welcome perspectives that challenge, provoke, and inspire — including work that names what is broken, grieves what has been lost and sits with contradiction. What we ask is that every work be rooted in the spirit of building forward. Work that exists purely to diminish or inflame without offering any bridge toward dialogue will not be accepted.
What We Are Looking For
Work in any medium that reflects your perspective on Canada and Canadian culture — what it is, what it has been, what it could be. Mediums include but are not limited to:
- Painting and photography
- Textile and sculpture
- Installation
- Video and audio
- Mixed media and wearable art
- Digital work
Note: You may submit a minimum of one work and a maximum of four.
How To Apply
Email info@gracemorgan.ca — subject line: Dear Canada — Artist Submission.
Please include:
- Your Concept — What is the piece exploring? What conversation does it want to start? A few sentences is enough.
- Status Of The Work — Is it complete, or does it need to be created? The work will need to be ready by April 20, 2026. Please make clear if that is possible.
- Exhibition History — Have you shown work publicly before? First-time exhibitors are welcome.
- A Bit About You — How you would describe yourself and your artistic practice.
- Images Or Supporting Material — Attach photos or include a link if available.
Exhibition Dates
The exhibition will run on the following dates:
- April 23, 2026
- May 7, 2026
