sylvie bélanger gallery

The Sylvie Bélanger Gallery is Artcite’s main exhibition space. We present new and experimental art across all media, welcoming submissions from local, regional, national, and international artists for recent or proposed works. We also accept curatorial proposals from artists, curators, and collectives. Our annual submission deadline is April 30, and our program schedule is typically set 12–24 months in advance. Artists invited to exhibit in the Sylvie Bélanger Gallery are compensated according to the CARFAC fee schedule.

Artists may be approved for a solo exhibition, invited to participate in a two-person or group exhibition, or encouraged to resubmit previously shown works that were not originally proposed. Off-site exhibition areas may also be arranged for special projects, performances, and site-specific works.

Programming decisions for the Sylvie Bélanger Gallery follow a two-stage review process. First, Artcite members in good standing are invited to review submissions and provide feedback. Then, our Programming Committee—led by Artcite’s Programming Director and composed of community members and board directors—juries the submissions and makes final selections. Submissions are reviewed annually, within two months of the deadline. Only complete submissions will be considered. Application materials will be kept on file for one year.

We welcome applications from everyone, including emerging artists and those from racial and cultural backgrounds who have been historically marginalized and underrepresented in Canada. We encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQI+ artists, as well as artists living with disabilities.

Please contact Stephen Mueller, our Programming Director, if you have any questions.

What we provide:

  • An exhibition fee in accordance with current CARFAC guidelines.

  • A presentation fee for a supporting event that engages our local community (optional but recommended; e.g., artist talk, workshop, etc.).

  • A flexible funding allocation that may be used to reimburse expenses related to artist travel, accommodations, shipping, exhibition documentation, writing fees, additional public engagement events, or other essential exhibition costs, as determined in collaboration with the Programming Director.

  • All-risk insurance throughout the exhibition.

  • A catered reception.

Submissions should include:

  • Exhibition proposal and title (maximum 500 words)

  • Community outreach component, if applicable (e.g., artist talk, workshop, performance, lecture, etc.) (maximum 300 words)

  • Artist or curator statement (maximum 300 words)

  • Artist bio (maximum 200 words per artist)

  • CV (maximum 3 pages)

  • Support material (images or video of previous and/or proposed works)

  • Technical requirements, if any (e.g., monitors, projectors, media players, speakers, etc.)

Gallery features:

  • 420 square feet of exhibition space

  • 81 feet of running wall

  • Drywall throughout with 3-foot plywood backing (4–7 feet high)

  • 11-foot drywall ceiling

  • Ceiling mounted LED track lighting with adjustable heads

  • Marmoleum flooring

  • Four standard duplex wall receptacles (baseboard height)

  • Two standard floor receptacles

  • Two standard ceiling-mounted receptacles