Call for Submissions: Paint Ontario 2025 Juried Art Exhibition & Sale
Paint Ontario Call for Painters and Sculptors
Submission Entries: February 28 – March 16, 2025
Awards and Prizes: $14,000
Exhibition & Sale: May 2 – May 19, 2025
Opening Night Gala: Friday May 2, 2025 | Doors open at 4 pm
Venue: Grand Bend Legion, Community Hall
Virginia Bergmann, Jill Hobson, Robin Nyikos
The Grand Bend Art Centre is calling for artists to submit their representational paintings and sculptural pieces. Paint Ontario 2025 is a juried show that will feature a mix of figurative landscapes, still life, and sculpture that highlight the rich tapestry of Ontario. With a focus on capturing the essence of everyday experiences, the artist brings a fresh perspective to familiar scenes, celebrating the beauty and diversity of the province.
A word from the Curator – Teresa Marie Phillips
“Let me tell you a little bit about how the work is chosen. As the Curator, I choose the Jury and Judges with the support and approval of the Grand Bend Art Centre board. The people I choose to work with to make the final choices for the show have different artistic backgrounds and different painting styles than my own. The heart of the show remains representational, yet this has a broad definition. We choose to use the most encompassing definition to provide a variety of work for purchase and help to include more artists. The show is juried as a whole, which means we jury from the best work, down to those that are not as strong artistically. Jurying is also partly done on the basis of saleable qualities such as the subject matter and framing. Paint Ontario relies on sales to be successful and most artists agree that one of the best compliments is the sale of a painting.” – Curator, Teresa Marie Phillips
John Clinton, Muskoka Boy
Painting Awards: 1st Prize: $3,000, 2nd Prize: $1,000, 2 Honourable Mentions: $500 ea
Sculpture Awards: 1st Prize – $1,000, 2 Prizes of $500 & 2 Honourable Mentions: $250 ea
Sponsor Choice Awards: In 2024, over $3,500 were given as “Sponsor Choice” awards by repeat businesses and patrons. Each prize is $250. Paint Ontario provides an opportunity for art lovers to be judges and sponsor a prize. Most often the sponsors are not artists themselves and choose work based on their own personal appreciation.
Opening Night Gala May 2, 2025: All artists whose work is accepted will receive entry into the Gala.
Photo: Janice Cuckovic
For Artists
Organizers offer events for artists – such as a workshop with Marion Anderson and speaker Joanne Poluch. For updated information closer to the show go to paintontario.com/artists.
New Drop-off Locations
The organizing committee is arranging artwork and sculpture drop-off locations in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Collingwood, and Windsor-Chatham. This will be in cooperation with other art organizations. A flat fee of $10 will cover the cost of transportation. Details will be added closer to the show. Large and very heavy sculptures will need to be delivered by the artist directly to the Grand Bend Art Centre.
More Information About the Event
Paint Ontario is not just a painting and sculpture show and sale. This event also offers patrons on-site demonstrations, workshops, special events and the Host Gallery – “Art Centre Shoppe” with pieces from the hosts and demonstrators.
Demonstration by Marion Anderson. Photo: Kelli Phillips
With custom designed lighting and display walls, the Legion Hall is transformed into a stunning gallery for over 225 juried paintings and sculptures, selected from as many as 700 competition entries resulting in a truly prestigious event.
Our venue is set along the shores of Lake Huron in the town of Grand Bend with one of the top ten sunsets in Canada. The area boasts plenty of nature trails, golf courses and of course the beautiful sandy beach. With luxury hotels, restaurants and a plethora of shops, you can make your visit a mini vacation.
This exhibition is presented by The Grand Bend Art Centre, a registered not-for-profit organization. 2025 will mark the 28th successful year of this event and it is made possible thanks to the GBAC’s team of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who bring the show to fruition through every stage of production and throughout the show.
Accepting entries starting February 28, 2025
Submission Deadline: March 16, 2025
How to Enter
Visit the Paint Ontario website for entry details.
Fee: $35 for the first piece and $10 each for subsequent pieces for a maximum of 3 pieces entered.
For show details and specifications: paintontario.com/artists
For additional questions contact: [email protected]
Grand Bend Art Centre
PO Box 1150
16 Municipal Drive
Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0
519-238-1155
Venue:
Grand Bend Legion, Community Hall
20 Municipal Drive
Grand Bend, Ontario N0M 1T0
Fully Accessible