Toronto Outdoor Art Fair Call for Artists

Calling all visual artists working in all mediums and backgrounds! Join Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor & online art fair in July 2024.

Artists can choose to participate:
In-person Fair at Nathan Phillips Square + Online Fair, or Toronto Online Art Fair (Online Only)

Join Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor & online art fair, launching artists’ careers since 1961. Our iconic white tents have hosted many renowned Canadian artists, such as Edward Burtynsky, Barbara Astman, Joanne Tod and many more. Our community is passionate about supporting artists and exceptional talents through awards, special programs and opportunities.

TOAF is Canada’s best-attended art fair! An invested community of 150,000 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. The Online Art Fair has quickly become a digital hub for discovering Canadian artists. Within 3 years of its launch, there is an established network of visitors and collectors from Canada and beyond who have purchased over 2,000 artworks online.

Deadline: Early Bird Deadline: February 28, 2024 (11:59 PM)
Final Application Deadline: March 7, 2024 (11:59 PM)

Application Fee

Regular: $50
Students: $30
Late Fee: $50 additional (beginning March 1, 2024)

Before you begin, please prepare the following:

A cohesive body of 6 artwork images
1 image of your artworks in context (in a booth, table top or on a wall)
A brief Artist Statement (500 characters, not words)
Description of your artworks/process (200 characters, not words)
Each applicant is carefully considered by an external jury, and each year there are new jurors
Multidisciplinary artists can submit up to 3 different applications, but they must be in different mediums/categories (Fees apply)
Jury Results will be announced via email in March 2024 (Date TBC)
Application support is available at support@TOAF.ca or by phone at 416-408-2754 (text welcome)

What category do I apply in?

Each artwork medium belongs to one of the categories below. You can submit up to 3 applications in different Fair categories with separate bodies of work (fees apply).

Painting: Works created in oils, acrylics, watercolour, gouache etc.

Photography & Digital Media: Photographic prints made from the artists’ original image, which have been processed by that artist. Digital works refers to any original work for which the original image, or the manipulation of other source material, was executed by the artist using a computer or other digital device.

3D Works: Three-dimensional artworks, using additive or reductive techniques, including freestanding sculptures, reliefs, assemblages etc. created using either traditional or experimental materials.

2D Works: Two-dimensional artworks, created using one or more physical materials, including Drawing, Printmaking, Illustration, Collage, Mixed Media works, etc.

Craft & Design: Hand-crafted objects (functional or decorative) created using fine craft and/or industrial design practices including, Ceramics, Glass, Jewellery, Textile, Wood/Furniture, etc. Exclude machine-screen patterns or other forms of mass production, and factory-produced wearable items regardless of additional modification.

Launch and sustain your career

TOAF is Canada’s best-attended art fair! An invested community of 150,000 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.

Win a coveted award

Each year, $40,000 cash and in-kind are awarded to outstanding artists in their fields. The Catherine Bratty 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 $5,000 cash or in-kind awards.

A trusted discovery platform

The Online Art Fair has quickly become a digital hub for discovering Canadian artists. Within 3 years of its launch, there is an established network of visitors and collectors from Canada and beyond who have purchased over 2,000 artworks online.

All participating artists have access to the Online Fair. Artists from anywhere in Canada can now choose to join the annual Fair Online-only to showcase their work to art lovers and collectors.