Rotunda Gallery call for proposals

Many people pass through City Hall every day, making our Rotunda Gallery the perfect space to showcase your work and talent with the community.

On this page:

1. About the gallery
2. Current call for proposals
3. Who should apply?
4. How to apply
5. Selection process
6. Compensation
7. Timeline
8. Application

About the gallery

The Rotunda Gallery is located on the ground floor of City Hall. This gallery features self-curated exhibits of original work from visual artists.

Since 1995, the Rotunda Gallery has promoted exhibits of a professional standard reflecting contemporary practice in the visual arts to build and promote the development of visual arts in our area. The program welcomes diverse viewpoints and media (painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, mixed media) supporting the principles of intellectual freedom while respecting the public nature of the location.

The gallery is a unique exhibition space, with a curved, wooden hanging wall that includes a 48-foot picture rail. The space is ideal for displaying two-dimensional artwork, medium to large in size, hung using the existing suspended rod picture rail. Each piece of artwork must work with this hanging system. We encourage artists to visit the gallery to familiarize themselves with the space and the hanging hardware or send us an email for clarification prior to applying.

The Rotunda Gallery is a member of the Ontario Association of Art Galleries.

Current call for proposals

If you’re a visual artist with an active practice, consider submitting a proposal to exhibit in the Rotunda Gallery.

We are currently accepting proposals for our 2027 exhibition program. The programs runs from January to December. We will be accepting five artists for the 2027 program, with each artist's exhibition lasting two months. The space accommodates two-dimensional work only (we cannot accommodate sculptures unless they can be wall-mounted using the existing hanging system). 

The deadline to apply for the 2027 Rotunda Gallery exhibition program is Thursday, August 27 at 5 p.m. 

Who should apply?

We will consider applications from Ontario artists. Applicants from the Region of Waterloo or with a connection to the region will be given preference so we can continue to build and promote the development of visual arts in our area.

This call is open to professional artists, defined as someone who has specialized artistic training (not necessarily in academic institutions), is critically recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition), is active in and committed to their art practice, has some history of public exhibitions, and/or has produced an independent body of work.

Are you just starting to exhibit? Not sure if you are ready for a juried application process? If you’re looking for mentorship opportunities on how to get started with an exhibition process with help from City staff, send us an email or consider showing your artwork at the Berlin Tower ARTSPACE.

We will not award Rotunda Gallery space to the same artists in two consecutive years. Our goal is to maximize the number of artists who can showcase their work.

Types of art

The space accommodates two-dimensional work only (we cannot accommodate sculptures unless they can be wall-mounted using the existing hanging system).

Equity and accessibility

We’re committed to creating and supporting an equity-based platform to be inclusive of diverse creative perspectives. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with intersectional identities from groups seeking equity, diversity and inclusion. This includes artists from many diverse backgrounds and origins, but specifically encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, and racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ community members and people with disabilities.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted using the City's online submission form. We recommend you review the submission form prior to beginning your application to familiarize yourself with the requirements. The application can be saved for further revisions before submitting. The application form can be downloaded for review before submitting to help with your preparation.

If you have any questions about the submission process or require any accessible accommodations, please send us an email or call 519-783-8302.

Your application must include:

1. A brief summary of your artistic background, pursuits, interests, achievements, and outline of your exhibition history. This can be in the form of a combined artist statement and biography (maximum 250 words), a resume or a combination of both. Jurors are looking for clarity and cohesiveness. You have the choice of uploading up to two separate documents or combing all information into one file.
2. Between 8 to 10 high resolution images of past or current work. Please include a corresponding image list with title, media, size, and year of creation for each work pictured. A caption for each image may also be included if desired. The images and image list must be combined into one PDF document.
3. A brief description of your proposed exhibition (maximum 250 words). We recommend describing the theme(s) in your work, the medium and how many works you propose to exhibit. 

Selection process

After applications close, the selection committee will choose up to five artists.

Evaluation criteria

• The space accommodates two-dimensional work only (no accommodation for sculpture unless it can be wall mounted using the existing hanging system).
• Applicants from Waterloo Region will be given preference with the aim to build and promote the development of visual arts in our area.
• Work must be original. Printmaking and photography submissions are welcome, but photocopy prints will not be accepted.
• Digital art is accepted. In this application, digital art is defined as artistic work that uses digital technology as an essential part of the creative or presentation process.
• Artwork created with artificial intelligence (AI) software should not be included in your submission. If AI tools were used for research or process support to create your artwork, clearly identify that in the written description included in your submission package. Final artworks must be conceived, designed and executed by the artist and the artist must retain primary creative authorship.
• Images included in the application package must accurately represent the actual or proposed works to be exhibited

Artists are selected based on:

• Excellence and innovation: Jurors are looking for submissions that show dedication to the development of excellence and innovation in the artist’s work.
• Artistic merit: Would the work have an impact on the artistic and/or cultural development of the community? Does it have the potential to draw new audiences? Does the work engage the viewer with questions and wonder?
• Relevance to the artistic and cultural diversity of the community and City Hall visitors.
• Existing exhibition history: This can be local, national or international, demonstrating your ability to prepare a series of works for an exhibition.

Committee

The proposals are juried by the Arts & Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC), a volunteer, resident-based group that includes a range of artists and arts sector professionals. No City of Kitchener staff are involved in the selection process.

Compensation

We will pay a CARFAC (Canadian Artist Representation/Le Front Des Artistes Canadiens) exhibition fee (according to Section A.1.6) to each selected artist. Visit CARFAC’s website to see the current fee listing based on the year of the exhibition.

Upon acceptance, each selected artist will enter into a contract with the City of Kitchener.

Timeline

The application and selection timeline is as follows. Please note that the timeline is subject to change.

• August 27, 2026: applications close at 5 p.m.
• September 2026: artists are selected
• October 2026: all applicants are notified
• January 2027: exhibition program begins

Application

Submissions are due on Thursday, August 27 at 5 p.m. We will not consider incomplete or late submissions. To avoid any issues caused by slow loading speeds or connectivity issues, we recommend you start your application early to leave ample time for submission before the deadline.