Silk Purse Arts Centre 2026 Exhibitions

ORGANIZATION: WEST VANCOUVER COMMUNITY ARTS COUNCIL
DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
WEBSITE: https://westvanartscouncil.ca/event-6287994

CALL FOR ARTISTS:
The West Vancouver Community Arts Council invites visual artists to submit work for our 2026 Exhibition Program at the Silk Purse Arts Centre!

Who Can Submit:
Submission is open to emerging and established artists working in any medium*. We encourage applicants of all races, ethnicities, identities, abilities, ages, and genders to apply. Artist collectives and groups are welcome (make one submission for the entire group).

Preference will be given to artists who:
A) Have not exhibited or been scheduled to exhibit in a juried exhibition in the Silk Purse Arts Centre or Kay Meek Arts Centre in 2024 or 2025 (SPECTRUM, You Are Here, and other special exhibitions are exempt).
B) Have not had an exhibition at the Ferry Building Gallery, District Foyer, or Memorial Library in 2024 or 2025.

*Due to gallery size constraints, we cannot accommodate large-scale installations, have limited capacity for free-standing sculpture or pottery, and do not have the exhibition hardware for digital, video, or sound installations.

What We Are Looking For:
We seek art that reflects and examines our community and the world beyond; presents new ideas and thought-provoking concepts; celebrates, deconstructs, and recontextualizes traditional art forms and subjects; and encourages creativity and diversity. Our mission is to foster the arts by providing artists with a unique and popular space to exhibit their work and by making art accessible to the public.

Selection Process:
Submissions will be adjudicated by a jury of professional artists and curators. Selected artists will be scheduled for a 3–4 week group exhibition of 2–4 artists at the Silk Purse Arts Centre in 2026. All selected artists must become WVCAC members.

Exhibition Information:
A) Exhibitions will run 3–4 weeks, comprised of 2–4 artists.
B) WVCAC is responsible for installation, curation, and artwork placement.
C) WVCAC will produce promotional materials, press releases, and marketing.
D) WVCAC will provide opportunities for public engagement (artist talks, receptions, etc.).
E) WVCAC will process all sales and retain a 30% commission.
F) The majority of the work should be for sale (no more than 10% “not for sale”).
G) Other Arts & Culture programming will take place in the gallery during exhibitions.

HOW TO APPLY:

1. Visit the Call for Artists site.

2. Select the "Register for this event" button.

3. Complete the submission form, including:

   • Artwork Submission: 6 hi-res images of artwork representing the body of work for adjudication. Name files as: Artist_Title_Media_Size_Price.

   • Artist Statement: Clear and concise statement about your practice and the concepts/themes of the work submitted.

   • Artist Bio: Short biography.

FEES/COMPENSATION:
$25 jury fee.