Open Call: Emerging Photographers & Lens-Based Visual Artists
Solo Exhibition – Gallery 881 Centre Room
Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025, at Midnight PST
Exhibition Date: Summer 2025

Gallery 881, in partnership with PrintMaker Studio, is excited to announce an open call for emerging photographers and lens-based visual artists. This opportunity offers a dedicated venue and professional support to help an artist refine and execute project based work that is completed or nearing completion. The selected artist receives a solo exhibition in the Gallery 881 Centre Room, $500 in print support, $200 for installation expenses, and $2,000 in-kind donation of venue space, and curatorial mentorship. This initiative is designed to foster innovation and provide a platform for compelling, lens-based work.

Eligibility & Criteria for Emerging Artists

• Artists should be in the early stages of their career with a growing but not yet fully established exhibition record.

• Applicants may be recent graduates, self-taught, or have limited solo or institutional exhibition experience.

• Work must be lens-based, including but not limited to photography, experimental photography, digital media, and mixed-media incorporating photographic elements.

• The project can be completed or in-progress, but it must have a clear conceptual foundation.

• Artists from underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Selected Artist Will Receive:

• Solo exhibition at Gallery 881’s Centre Room in Summer 2025 for a minimum of 2 weeks.

• $500 digital printing by PrintMaker Studio to support exhibition production.

• $200 installation allowance by Gallery 881 to assist with the hanging and installation of artwork at Gallery 881

• $2,000 of in-kind venue space by Gallery 881 for the duration of the exhibition (minimum 2 weeks exhibtion).

• Art consultation and curatorial mentorship by John Goldsmith, offering insight into exhibition development, editing, sequencing, and presentation.

• Promotion through Gallery 881’s platforms, including the G881 Newsletter, and community networks.

• Additional costs & funding considerations: While the financial support provided covers a portion of exhibition costs, artists may need to secure additional funding for printing, mounting, framing, or other expenses, depending on their exhibition plans. Any additional funding needs will be identified during the curatorial and planning stages.

Submission Requirements:

Submit the following in one (1) pdf. Maximum file size is 10MB.

• A brief artist statement (max 250 words) outlining the project concept, themes, and its current stage.

• Up to 10 images representing the proposed project.

• A short bio (max 250 words) highlighting exhibition history and relevant experience.

• CV or Resume

• A project description detailing technical requirements, print sizes, and installation considerations.

• An optional statement on how this opportunity would support your artistic practice.

Submission Fee:

• A $25 submission fee is required to help cover administrative and exhibition costs.

• Fee waivers are available for artists facing financial hardship—please include a brief statement in your application if requesting a waiver.

Sales & Representation:

• Gallery 881 respects copyright ownership of artists. Exhibited artwork remains the sole property of the artist.

• As a commercial gallery and by agreement with the artist, artwork is sold with 50-50 commissioned sales with the artist.

• Artists exhibiting at Gallery 881 are represented for a one-year period beginning at the start of the exhibition. During representation, only artwork exhibited is represented, and may be stored onsite and marketed to collectors, gallery visitors, and via online art sales.

• At the end of representation, and possibly before, unsold artwork is returned to the artist.

• While artwork may no longer be sold via our portals, except by mutual written agreement, the artwork may still appear on the Gallery 881 website and used for promotion.

• The successful artist is eligible for Letter of Reference from Gallery 881 that may be used for outside grant applications and/or external funding opportunities.

How to Apply:

• Complete the Application Submission below.

• Ensure your document is in PDF format.

  Submission packages not in PDF format may be submitted by special request. Please contact us if required.

• Pay the application fee of $25 below.

Important Dates:

• Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025, at Midnight PST

• Notification of Selection: Mid-April 2025

• Exhibition Opening: Summer 2025 (TBA)

This open call is an excellent opportunity for emerging photographers to develop their practice, gain exhibition experience, and receive curatorial and other means of support in a professional gallery setting. We look forward to your submissions!