Where the Water Takes Us Application Form

Where the Water Takes Us
Exhibition Dates: October 13 - 25, 2026

Water has carried generations across the world. History is shaped through travel across seas, rivers, and lakes. Goods have been traded, languages shared, and cultures exchanged. Visual Arts Mississauga wants to see how you represent the many travels across water in your own work. How does migration, cartography, separation, trade, travel, and cultural exchange show up in the work you make? What stories about waterways are in need of being told? From the Atlantic to the Nile and the Great Lakes to the Pacific, this exhibition is seeking global perspectives on movement, aquatic environments, and human relationships to water.

This exhibition welcomes work that examines the current social structures, political implications, and cultural developments that arise from human interactions with water along with meditations on personal and familial experiences.

Important Dates:

Submission Deadline: Sunday, September 13 at 11:59pm.
Artists notified: September 28.
Artwork Drop-off: Wednesday, October 7th 1-4pm & 7-8pm and Thursday, October 8th 1-4pm & 7-8pm.
Artwork Pick-up: Monday, October 26th 1-4pm & 7-8pm and Sunday, November 1 10am-1pm.

Please add exhibits@visualartsmississauga.com to your safe senders list to ensure you receive the results.

Submission Details

Artists (18+) may submit up to 3 pieces to this exhibition.
There is a $45 fee to submit to this exhibition. With your submission, you will receive a free year-long membership at VAM that includes discounted class rates, exclusive exhibitions, networking opportunities, a 10% discount at Above Ground, and special perks. You may submit up to 3 works at no additional cost.
NOTE: If you are already an active VAM member, you may submit work for free.
The work must be original and recent (completed within 3 years of exhibition date).
Please do not submit exact copies or reproductions of master works.
Submissions can include 2-dimensional, 3-dimensional, and digital work.
Maximum size of 2-d work is 24 inches wide x 36 inches high. NOTE: The number of large works that will fit in the space is limited and dependant on total submissions.

This exhibition will be on display in The VAM Hallway Gallery for the duration of the show.

Please fill out only one submission form.

Name

First NameLast Name

Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Phone Number

Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.

Email

Please use the email associated with your membership

Artist CV

Number of pieces you are submitting

Image List (Title, Medium, Size)

Include a file with the artwork(s) title, size, and medium in list format [1., 2., 3.]

Artist Statement(s) (250 words maximum/artwork)

In one file, please write about the work(s) you are submitting so we can understand the meaning, materiality, and process. (Answer: WHAT, WHY, and HOW you made it.)

Value

[Title: Value] list format - For insurance purposes, value or price must be listed. This applies to artwork that is listed as not for sale.

For sale?

[Title: For sale/not for sale] list format.

Please attach one image of each artwork. Files must be named as follows: Last Name, First Name, Artwork Title, Medium.

Do you have any installation notes?

TERMS

Upon delivery, each piece must be exhibition-ready with D-hooks and a wire attached. Works with faulty or poor wiring will not be accepted.
Artwork must be dropped off/picked up in person at the dates & times listed above unless otherwise arranged. Please let us know if you are sending someone on your behalf.
Submitting work into this exhibition does not gaurantee the work will be shown. VAM at Riverwood reserves the right select up to 3 of the works submitted and decline submissions deemed unsuitable. This includes work that is not dry; insecurely or improperly framed; created with assistance, reproductions, or copies of another’s artwork (including instructor’s demos); that does not fit in with the curatorial theme; and works inappropriate for our mixed-aged viewers.
VAM at Riverwood will not be responsible for works during drop off, pick up, or those left after the pick-up date.

Exhibition space is limited to 25-30 pieces, and is decided based on curatorial choices and artwork sizes.

Are you an active VAM Member?

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Submission Fee

With this fee you will also receive a full year membership to Visual Arts Mississauga.

$45.00 CAD

Total

Credit Card

First Name

Last Name

Credit Card Number

Security Code

Expiration Month

Expiration Year

Billing Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

City

State / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Country

Signature - indicating agreement with the terms of entry

Where the Water Takes Us Submission Form

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