Paint Ontario is being reimagined in our newly renovated venue!

Online Entries begin March 1st and close March 22nd, 2024

Paint Ontario’s 27th Show and Sale will run for 18 consecutive days from May 3 – 20, 2024, in an exciting new venue!  A budget of $150,000 has been invested to transform the Grand Bend Legion Community Hall into a premier gallery space with walls and lighting designed to display over 200 paintings and sculptures by participating artists, to the very best advantage.  There will also be a stage for artist demonstrations.

Now located in the heart of Grand Bend, Paint Ontario will welcome walk-in visitors for the first time.  Artists and buyers will all appreciate the demonstration programs planned for the stage area, as well as an on-site bar, lounge, patio and convenient parking.

Sales are key to artists’ success at Paint Ontario and, pre-pandemic, Paint Ontario shows have generated as much as $118,000 in gross sales.  Now is the time to plan your entry in Paint Ontario 2024 and ensure that your work is seen, and sold, alongside the best of your peers.  (Read on for entry details).

Paint Ontario is a highly respected showcase that enhances and reinforces artists’ reputations among art appreciators, who come from all over southwestern Ontario and beyond, often leading to commission work and unique projects.

Our new location is the upstairs Community Hall at the Grand Bend Legion Branch 498 Address 20 Municipal Dr Grand Bend ON, N0M1T0

This page is the entry portal to enter Paint Ontario. We would like you to read these pages before completing the entry form. At the bottom of this page is a link to How to Complete the Entry Form. At the bottom of that page are links to the entry form.

Paint Ontario is an opportunity to sell both your artwork and yourself as an artist. Visitors to Paint Ontario come from all over South-Western Ontario. Many of our artists have gone on to do commission and referred work based on their Paint Ontario showings at the Lambton Heritage Museum. Don’t forget to send us an Artist Bio – see below.

You can find more information about what we are looking for at this link.
You can find out how we jury and award at this link.

Terms and Conditions for Entry.

  1. All entry forms to the show are completed online. Contact us if this is not possible. You may enter up to 3 pieces. Entry is open from March 1st to the 22nd. If your work is accepted into the show, physical drop-off is from April 13th to April 20th at the Grand Bend Art Centre, 16 Municipal Drive, Grand Bend.
  2. Media can be oil, watercolour, pastel, acrylic, pencil, charcoal, mixed media, encaustic — no furniture, photography, computer art or textile art. Sculpture: metal, wood, glass, clay, stone and mixed media.
  3. Size of artwork submitted – including frame. The minimum size is 8″x10″. The largest can be a total of 2300 square inches (e.g. 48″x48″ or 23″x100″). Please be advised that we take into consideration the presentation of the entire show and are working with a set amount of wall space. Submitting three very large pieces will most likely mean that not all three will be accepted.
  4. Size of Sculpture: Floor sculptures must be minimum 48” and maximum 84” in height; diameter maximum 32”. Sculptures on plinths must have a maximum height of 48” to stand on plinths 12”x12” or 24”x24”
  5. All work must be original. No copies from other artists or from published material, including stock photography, no supervised work, no reproductions or prints, will be allowed. All artwork and reference material, including photographs, must be the original work of the artist and may be requested by jurors.
  6. No repeat entries to Paint Ontario. An original work shown in other shows is allowed. Works received, after acceptance, that were submitted as a digital image must match the image (meet the expectations and standards for the show).
  7. All work must be for sale. The minimum for hung artwork is $200 and the maximum price for a painting is $4,500. Sculptures must be priced between $200 and $7500.
    Your painting or sculpture may not be accepted based on price point related to size or saleability.
  8. The Artwork’s Price. The price you enter on the entry form must include the commission payable to Paint Ontario (35%) and any HST that you, the artist, must pay from the amount we pay you after we have taken the commission payable to Paint Ontario.
  9. To be accepted, all work must be properly wired and ready to hang. We will not be repairing or accepting works that are not ready to hang.
  10. Framing: We welcome framed and unframed works, simple is best. With a wide range of subject matters we strive for excellence and continuity when hanging the show in our new space.
    If the work is designed to hang unframed, the sides must be painted for a tailored, finished look and canvas wrapped pieces must have a depth of no less than 1.5 inches. We will not hang works with a canvas with a 1 inch depth, cardboard flat canvas or ‘dollar store’ canvas.
  11. Works will be inspected on delivery and must not be dented or scratched – a note and photo will be taken. The curator will make the final decision on hangability if damage is reparable with a filler pen. If they are damaged on our end we will repair them. We are not responsible for keeping your packaging unless your work is shipped to us and needs to be shipped back.
  12. When a work is rejected because of any of the above, entry fees will not be refunded. Please take care to follow these specifications.
  13. By signing the Entry Form and Exhibit Labels:
    With respect to the attached image and any submitted artwork for the Paint Ontario competition, I hereby represent that I am the owner of the artwork. I hereby grant to Paint Ontario & the Grand Bend Art Centre, their designees, affiliates and licensees the following worldwide, irrevocable rights:
    To use and re-use, publish and re-publish an image of the artwork, in whole or in part, individually or in conjunction with printed matter, or in composite form, and in any medium, for editorial, commercial, promotional, and/or trade purposes in connection with the Paint Ontario competition.
    I hereby waive any right to inspect or approve any copy that is used in connection with the competition. Paint Ontario hereby agrees that any proceeds derived from the sale, publication or use of the artwork(s) shall become the property of Paint Ontario and the Grand Bend Art Centre.
  14. Entering this competition automatically constitutes your acceptance of all published rules and these terms and conditions. Further; Paint Ontario and the Grand Bend Legion shall not be responsible for loss of or damage to any artwork, no matter what the cause.
  15. Fees and Commissions: 
    1. The entry fee for your first piece is $35. The second and third pieces are an additional $10 each.
      Fees are non-refundable.
      Entry is exclusively online.
    2. A sales commission of 35% is payable to Paint Ontario. See 7 above.
  16. Painting entries
    1. The majority of artwork is submitted in this category. Entries default to this category. If submitting a Sculpture see 17.
    2. Entry must be by digital image upload and paid for online.
    3. If a portrait, you must have the permission of the person you have painted. Please do not submit your work unless you have confirmed this and can demonstrate it to us if asked.
    4. Animal paintings done in a Pet Portrait style will not be accepted. Abstracts, fantasy, science fiction, furniture, photography, computer art or textile art are excluded from consideration for this show.
  17. Sculpture Entries
    1. After you enter the details of your artwork you must select the option “Are you entering a sculpture? – Yes” Entries without this ticked will default to the painting category.
    2. As with all entries , entry to this category is by digital image upload and paid online. 

Artist Bio

Please email your bio to mail@gbartcentre.com.

Entry

Online Entry is open from March 1 to 22, 2024