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:
- About the gallery
- Current call for proposals
- Application
- Who should apply?
- Selection process
- Compensation
About the gallery
The Rotunda Gallery is located on the ground floor of City Hall. This gallery features month-long, 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, and 48 inches of vertical hanging space above a wall-length bench where visitors can rest. The space is ideal for displaying two-dimensional artwork, 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.
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’re looking for applications for 2023 (August to December) and 2024 (January to December). The deadline for applications is noon on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Application
Submissions are due at noon on Monday, April 3, 2023. We will not consider incomplete or late submissions.
Application requirements
In your application, you will be asked to include:
- a summary of your artistic background, pursuits, interests, achievements and outline of exhibition history (maximum 250 words)
- up to 10 high-resolution images of past or current work
- images included in the application package must accurately represent the actual or proposed works to be exhibited
- a brief description of your proposed exhibition (maximum 250 words)
- consider sharing the medium
- consider how many works you would propose to exhibit
You can upload up to three supporting documents, not including your high-resolution images.
Who should apply?
We will consider applications from Ontario artists. However, 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.
We will not award Rotunda Gallery space to the same artists in consecutive years. Our goal is to maximize the number of applicants 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 an equity-driven, inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free selection process, and to ensuring that the exhibition program reflects the full diversity of the community we serve. We welcome applications from Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ persons, as well as other equity-deserving individuals.
We will accommodate the needs of applicants under the Human Rights Code and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) throughout all stages of the selection process. Please send us an email or call 519-741-2200 ext. 7912 to make your needs known.
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.
Selection process
After applications close on April 3, 2023, the selection committee will choose artists for the Rotunda Gallery.
Criteria
Work is selected based on:
- work must be original: printmaking and photography editions are welcome; no photocopy prints
- 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: jurors will consider these questions and others when choosing artists:
- would the work impact 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
- some existing exhibition history: this can be local, national, or international, showing your ability to prepare a series of works for an exhibition
If you have any questions about the application process, please send us an email.
Selection committee
The Public Art Working Group (PAWG) acts as a jury for submitted proposals. The citizen volunteers of PAWG serve as advocates for visual artists and the arts in Kitchener.
PAWG members advise the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee on matters of public art, the Artist in Residence program and the Rotunda Gallery program.
No city staff members are involved in the selection process.
Schedule
- noon on April 3, 2023: submission deadline
- April 17, 2023: expected selection of artists to exhibit
- week of April 17, 2023: artists notified
This schedule may be subject to change. Subscribe to this page to get an email if it does.
Compensation
We will provide CARFAC exhibition fees to each selected artist. Visit CARFAC’s website to see the current fee listing based on the year of the exhibition.