Call for Artists

TOAF65 Call for Artists opens on December 1, 2025 at 12AM EST.

Join Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor & online art fair, launching artists’ careers since 1961. TOAF is a juried and original artworks-only Art Fair. 

There are many access points and opportunities for artists to participate in the annual Fair.  Learn more about the Exhibition Bursaries and Art Encounters program, Travel Support, and Public Art Projects at TOAF.

Key Dates

Launch & sustain your career

TOAF is Canada’s best-attended art fair! An invested community of 170,000 art lovers come back year-after-year to discover high-quality art and connect directly with artists. Our visitors spend over 2 million dollars on art during the fair. Artists are regularly approached by curators, corporate collectors, gallerists, publishers and collectors for commissions, showcases and many exciting opportunities. 

Breakthrough awards

Each year, $46,000 cash and in-kind are awarded to outstanding artists in their fields. The Best of Art Fair Award, Murray & Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award, Mayor’s Purchase Award and many others offer artists unique opportunities. Online-only artists are eligible for $4,000 cash or in-kind awards.

Connecting artists to a global audience

The online Art Fair has quickly become a leading digital hub for discovering Canadian artists. Four years since its launch, it has built a strong network of visitors and collectors from across Canada and beyond, with over 2,000 artworks purchased online.

All participating artists gain access to the Online Fair. Artists from anywhere in Canada have the option to join the annual Fair Exclusively Online, showcasing their work to art lovers and collectors around the world.

Affordable & accessible

TOAF is a registered charity and non-profit. That’s why we prioritize keeping costs low and providing accessible and flexible participation packages for artists in all stages of their careers. Artists also keep 100% of their proceeds for in-person sales and only a modest admin fee of up to 15% for online art sales.

A robust Access and Outreach program

We are committed to uplifting and amplifying the voices of artists from priority groups as defined by the Ontario Arts Council, with a focus on Indigenous artists, Deaf artists & artists with disabilities, Newcomer artists and New Generation artists (18–30 years old).
We recognize that many artists face barriers—whether physical, financial, or community-based—that can limit their access to professional opportunities. Art Encounters helps remove these obstacles, fostering meaningful connections and ensuring diverse artistic voices are represented.

Unmatched exposure

With a dedicated online programming team, we make sure to keep eye on your profile year-round! This is how:

– Getting your work in front of 100K website visitors 
– Curator invitations to our wildly-popular digital programming: Curated Collections, Studio Tours, Artist Chats and blogs 
– Opportunity to be featured in the PR campaign  
– Social media promotion to TOAF audiences that increases your followers!

2025 participating artists had an average of 16% growth in their social media followers after the Fair. 

Top-notch and far-reaching marketing & media campaign

Benefit from our multi-platform local and national marketing and promotions ($150K value) including:

– Print and digital advertising (BlogTO, CBC Arts, Globe & Mail, transit, wild postings and radio stations)
– Publicity and earned media coverage (TV, radio, magazine interviews & features)
– Social media and newsletter campaigns with 41K reach
– Posters, postcards, fair guides and promotional materials
– Community partnerships with 10 million reach

Onsite & online support

– 250 amazing volunteers for onsite artist relief
– Onsite Art Storage (limited) 
– Online portfolio support
– Feedback Fridays: 1-on-1 consultations during Call for Artists
– App Camp workshop with the mock jury to prepare artists for successful applications
– Booth Camp workshop to plan for logistics of showing at an outdoor Fair
– Artist Handbook and Fair Survival Guide
– Learn more about how to get application support.

Application Fee

Regular: $50
Students: $30
Late Fee: $50 additional (beginning March 1, 2025)

Onsite Booth & Online Fair*

Student Booth: $515
Regular Booth: $825
Prime Location Booth: $980** 
5×10′ Tent Packages (all inclusive): $720

Exclusively Online Fair

Regular: $185
Student: $120

*All participation fees for in-person Fair at Nathan Phillips Square include an online platform fee.
**Prime booths offer maximum visibility and the highest foot traffic throughout the square.

Participation and booth fees are collected upon acceptance in March. More information on budgeting for the Fair.

What to submit?

• A cohesive body of 6 artwork images
• 1 image of your art in context (in a booth, table top or on a wall)
• A brief artist statement (500 characters, not words)
• Description of your art/process (200 characters, not words)

Who can apply?

We are welcoming to artists from all stages of their careers, all racial backgrounds, and all abilities. Individual artists and makers working in photography, sculpture, painting, printmaking, illustration, glass, wood, textiles, jewellery and more, with formal or informal training are encouraged to apply. TOAF is committed to equity and inclusion and continues to be inclusive, accessible and radically welcoming to all artists and art enthusiasts.

How are the applications selected?

All applications are reviewed by an external multidisciplinary panel of jurors made up of established artists, industry professionals and leaders in the visual arts community. The Toronto Outdoor Art Fair team does not participate in the selection panel. Each year we enlist a new group of jurors in order to keep the Fair fresh and exciting. Jurors are announced in the Spring after results are sent to artists.

Jurors select the strongest work based on artistic excellence, originality, consistency of ideas and design. Decisions are based on the material in your application, paying particular attention to the 6 images you submit. 

“I hadn’t shown my work in person for ten years, and I honestly couldn’t have picked a better art fair to jump back in. The whole experience was amazing. The organizers and volunteers were so supportive—I’ve never felt more encouraged and taken care of at an event like this. It was the perfect way to return to the art scene.”

– Meaghan Ogilvie, Winner of Best of Photography & Digital Media Award

“Showcasing my work at TOAF provided me with an invaluable opportunity to engage more deeply with the art community. Interacting with fellow art enthusiasts not only brought more attention to my work, but also enabled me to exchange ideas with other artists, offering valuable insights that have pushed me to expand my creative boundaries.”

– Nick Hoang, Artist

Helpful Links

Application Tips & FAQs
What Does it Cost?
Hear from the Artists
Reproduction Policy
Call for Community Booths
Exhibition & Travel Bursaries

Contact us

416-408-2754 | [email protected]
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