Being Scene 25th CALL FOR GUEST CURATOR

• Individual curators and collectives are welcome to apply
• Must have 3-4 years of experience in curating exhibition and/or public programs 
• Must be available in person in Toronto between January and March 2027 (to install and deinstall the exhibition, implement public program)
• Must be available from July 2026 to February 2027 to develop and finalize work plans and curatorial proposal with the Visual Arts team (either online or in person) 

• Work closely with the Visual Arts Manager and Program Coordinator to implement their proposed curatorial vision, exhibition and/or public program 
• Work closely with Communication Manager to prepare promotional material 
• Work with selected artists to develop new works and/or programs 
• Work with art installers to install and deinstall the exhibition 
• Follow WA’s code of conduct and mandate 

• Curatorial fee $3,000 (collectives will share this fee) 
• Artist fees (highly recommended to have 5 artists maximum) 
• Production fees for producing new artworks (art materials)
• Exhibition production (install fee, shipping, equipment, publication, opening reception, etc.) accurate numbers will be given to the shortlisted curators before their interviews 
• Public program (speaker fees, workshop fees, etc.)
• Administrative and financial mentoring/assistance from Visual Arts team
  Access to WA Offsite Gallery at 32 Lisgar Street 

 Repair and Rebuilding Community

We believe it is urgent now to open the conversation for our community and all artists with lived experience to help us envision a future of sustainable access to subsidised art spaces in Toronto. Through these conversations with the larger arts community we will best understand the impacts of losing accessible art spaces and how to work collaboratively on repairing connections amongst our community. Sustaining channels of empathy, creativity and togetherness within the arts community will improve the professional wellbeing of artists. 

The selected curator/s will be prioritizing and engaging BIPOC groups and artists living with MH/A in different capacities including collaborative and intergenerational programs/workshops.

The Being Scene exhibition began over 25 years ago on the grounds of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Every year, Being Scene exhibits a juried survey of over 100 artworks by Workman Arts member artists as well as  artists with lived experience who have received services from CAMH. Since 2018, Workman Arts introduced a smaller curated exhibition as part of the overall  exhibit. Working closely with a guest curator, artists gave shape to compelling ideas and narratives, covering a wide range of conceptual and material approaches from diverse experiences. 

Being Scene cultivates public appreciation and understanding of invisible disabilities by providing opportunities to encounter art/artists that may not otherwise be exhibited. For the Curated exhibition, artists produce new artworks or develop/finalize existing artworks to fit the exhibition theme. This exhibition priortizes direct financial support to artists with lived experiences, many of whom live on fixed/limited incomes and/or ODSP and OW. 

Workman Arts will equip the guest curator/s with tools on ways to interact, and engage with vulnerable artists and understand the impacts of mental health and addictions on artistic production. For example, how to support artists with lived experience in developing their artistic practice through educational programs, offering flexibility around deadlines and ways to manage expectations.

Workman Arts has identified equity and anti-oppression as strategic priorities and strongly encourages qualified applicants from diverse communities to apply and self-identify in their proposals. 

Workman Arts is a multidisciplinary arts organization that promotes a greater understanding of mental health and addiction issues through creation and presentation. We support artists with lived experience through peer-to-peer arts education, public presentations and partnerships with the broader arts community. We offer these opportunities to a growing member base which consists of artists with varying levels of experience ranging from emerging to professional artists, in all forms of practices such as Media, Literary, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts. Member artists have an existing art practice and goals to further develop, professionalize and share their practice.