Call for Proposals for the 2026 Fraser Valley Biennial

Organization:

The Reach Gallery Museum

Deadline:

Aug. 31, 2025

Website:

http://thereach.ca/submissions/

Call for Artists Description:

Organized and circulated by The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford, BC, the Fraser Valley Biennial is a regional group exhibition of contemporary art that brings together exemplary works created over the previous two years in a wide range of mediums. Since its launch in 2011, the Fraser Valley Biennial has presented works by more than 250 local and regional artists, many of whom have gone on to accomplish significant achievements in their respective practices.

After a brief hiatus, the Fraser Valley Biennial will return in 2026 with a meaningful twofold mission: to play a more active role in fostering regional artistic creation and to pluralize and/or complicate mainstream understandings of regional history by engaging audiences in little-known or forgotten Fraser Valley microhistories.

Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to:
• unsung heroes, particularly individuals who inspired others with their dignity and strength; resisted oppression; and/or overcame adversity and/or marginalization to make meaningful contributions to their communities;
• place-based histories whose material traces have undergone erasure;
• historical events or junctures whose legacy is underrecognized, wider knowledge of which has the potential of making a positive contribution towards more resilient communities in the Fraser Valley and beyond.

Rather than submitting existing works for consideration, artists interested in being considered for the 2026 Fraser Valley Biennial are invited to submit a research-creation proposal indicating a specific topic and collection of materials held at an archival repository in the Fraser Valley. The Reach is delighted to be partnering with the Chilliwack Museum & Archives on the research phase of this project. Kris Foulds, Curator of Historical Collections at The Reach (kfoulds@thereach.ca) and Tristan Evans, Archivist at the Chilliwack Museum & Archives (Tristan@chilliwackmuseum.ca) both look forward to hearing from you! However, participating artists are not restricted to conducting research in one of these two archives; if you are interested in holdings at a different repository in the Fraser Valley, you are welcome to contact the relevant staff member(s) at your archive of choice and make the necessary arrangements for research access.

Successful applicants will be invited to complete a mini research residency at the archival repository identified in their proposal and create the proposed work(s). Said works will subsequently be presented in the 2026 Fraser Valley Biennial exhibition. Subject to receipt of necessary project grant funding, commissioned artists will receive:

• A stipend to offset labour, transportation, materials, and other costs associated with the research residency and production of works; and
• Artist exhibition fees for the presentation of their work(s) in the 2026 Fraser Valley Biennial at The Reach and tour venues, as applicable.

Exact amounts awarded will be determined based on the amount of funding available, the number of successful proposals, and other relevant factors.

How to Apply:

Submission Guidelines If interested in being considered for this project, please prepare a single PDF containing the following materials:

1/ A 1 to 2-page narrative addressing the following:
❖ your proposed topic of research;
❖ which Archive(s) will support your research (wherever possible, identify specific holdings) and confirmation that you have been in communication with staff at your selected Archive(s);
❖ how your proposed research topic and/or resulting creative work will speak to Fraser Valley audiences of different demographic categories, affinities, etc., as applicable;
❖ a preliminary description of the artistic forms and/or strategies you plan to employ in treating your research topic (with the understanding that these might change as you embark on the project); and
❖ a provisional project plan outlining;

Note: Applicants are welcome to provide the narrative of portion of their proposal in spoken form, should verbal communication be better suited to self-expression. Recordings (any common video or audio file type) can be either uploaded to the submission folder (along with your other documents) or included via a viewing link to a file-hosting platform, along with any password necessary for access, as applicable.

2/ A short bio statement of no more 250 words;

3/ A full CV, including the following:
❖ contact details (email address and phone number);
❖ location (city/town required; full address optional);
❖ education, exhibitions*, commissions, and publications, as well as teaching, curatorial, and/or other types of relevant experience, as applicable; and
* Please make sure to indicate participation in past editions of the Fraser Valley Biennial

4/ An indicative selection of up to 10 images documenting past works and/or projects, accompanied by brief identifying captions).

Submissions will be accepted until Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm PST, and can be uploaded to https://reachacc-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/ktialiou_thereach_ca/EindGDO2WJ9Fg3qOT5PaUqQBreE67HihRW0i4IWjb1rpTQ?

Fees/Compensation:

There are no fees associated with applying for this opportunity.

Contact Name: Kelley Tialiou
Contact Email: ktialiou@thereach.ca
Contact Phone: (604) 746-5367