Skip to main content

Artist & Curator

Submissions

The MacLaren’s curatorial team is dedicated to staying current and responsive to the outside arts community. In this spirit, unsolicited submissions from artists and curators are accepted on an ongoing basis. The review process provides a valuable resource for program development and a means of advancing critical discussion.

Exhibition programming at the MacLaren is generally confirmed three years in advance. Exhibitions reflect a wide range of influences and media, from more traditional to multi-faceted installations, and diverse cultural, material, and aesthetic orientations. Priority is given to practicing professional artists who achieve outstanding results while demonstrating consistency, concentrated investigation, and imaginative investment.

The MacLaren’s exhibitions feature work by contemporary Canadian artists in all stages of their careers, especially artists of regional interest. Programs elucidate concerns around the expanding city of Barrie, the unique landscape of Simcoe County and local histories, fostering links between our exhibitions and our audiences. In shaping the artistic program, the curators regularly present exhibitions using artworks from the MacLaren’s Permanent Collection and develop exhibitions that support, reflect, and animate the collection, making it an accessible, relevant and meaningful resource.

How to Submit

Please email all submissions to lisa@maclarenart.com. While digital submissions are preferred, if hard copy submissions are the only means of conveying information, please mail them to the attention of the curator. Hard copy submissions will not be returned.

Submissions are accepted and reviewed on an ongoing basis. We thank all artists and curators who submit a proposal but only those selected for further conversation will be contacted.

Please note that the Carnegie gallery is an event space with large windows, limiting the type of exhibitions suitable for this space. If you are interested in using this space, please confirm suitability with the curator prior to submitting your proposal.

Submissions must include:

  • Cover letter
  • Artist or Curatorial statement, maximum 500 words
  • Up-to-date curriculum vitae, maximum 3 pages
  • Maximum of twenty digital images and up to three videos (please format images as jpegs at 300 dpi and approximately 10 cm on the long side)
  • Corresponding key list of images, indicating title, date of execution, medium and dimensions
  • Copies of relevant support material (articles, reviews, catalogues, etc.) in PDF form

The MacLaren pays artist fees to exhibiting artists for exhibitions, public discussions and workshops in accordance with the recommended fee schedule set out by CARFAC. The MacLaren is a member of Galeries-Ontario-Galleries, the Ontario Museums Association, and the Canadian Museum Directors’ Organization, and subscribes to a code of professional standards, ethics and legal requirements as set forth by these organizations.

Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Grants

The MacLaren Art Centre is a third-party recommender for Ontario Arts Council (OAC) Exhibition Assistance Grants for 2023-24. Eligible applications will be reviewed on an ongoing, first come first serve basis until funds are depleted.  Please visit the OAC website for submission guidelines and to download the application.

NOTE: All funds for the 2023 in-take for Exhibition Assistance have been allocated.