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
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.
The 2023 and 2024 calls for proposals are now closed. Subscribe to this page to get an email when we post the 2025 call for proposals.
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.
Compensation
We will provide CARFAC exhibition fees (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.