Tom Thomson

The Tom Thomson Art Gallery is thrilled to announce the return of Convergence, its juried exhibition dedicated to contemporary artwork with a renewed focus on environmental themes. These may include ecology, climate change, sustainability, natural landscapes, and our evolving relationship with the planet. Running from October 18, 2025, to January 17, 2026, this dynamic exhibition will showcase the work of both emerging and established artists from across Ontario.

Presented every two years, Convergence offers artists the opportunity to exhibit in a professional gallery setting and connect with diverse audiences. Celebrating artistic innovation and excellence, the exhibition will embrace a wide range of mediums and practices that reflect the depth and vitality of environmentally engaged contemporary art in the province. All submitted artwork must relate to the environment in some capacity, underscoring the exhibition’s commitment to fostering creative dialogue around one of the most urgent issues of our time.

Rooted in the Gallery’s vision to be “an open landscape for exploring art,” Convergence will invite artists and audiences alike to engage in meaningful exchange, discovery, and reflection. It will serve as a meeting point for ideas and perspectives, supporting a vibrant and growing community of artists committed to environmental engagement through art.

Submission deadline is August 27, 2025 at 5pm

Eligibility

• Open to all artists residing in Ontario (18 years of age and older)
• Artists may submit up to two works
• Submissions can include painting, drawing, mixed media, textile, sculpture, photography, new media, and video
• All submitted works must have been created within the past two years

Terms of Entry

• Application Deadline: August 27, 2025 
• Application Fee: $40.00 per artwork (non-refundable)
• All submissions will be juried by a panel of external professionals
• Artists are responsible for the transportation of accepted artworks to and from the Gallery
• The Gallery assumes insurance responsibility only while works are onsite
• All works must be delivered ready to install 
• Works selected for the exhibition must remain on view for the full duration of the show
• By submitting, artists agree to allow the Gallery to use images of selected works for promotional and archival purposes
• The Gallery reserves the right to decline any artwork that does not meet the exhibition standards or eligibility criteria
• The jury’s decision is final. Only work that has been accepted by the jurors will be included in the exhibition

Honorarium

Each artist selected for the exhibition will receive an honorarium of $100 per artwork.

Prize Categories

Three $1,000 cash awards:

• People’s Choice – Presented by Algonquin Outfitters
• Jury’s Choice – Presented by Algonquin Outfitters
• TOM Curator’s Choice – Presented by Algonquin Outfitters

Sales and Consignment

Artists will have the option to offer their exhibited work for sale. If the artwork is sold:

• The Gallery will retain a 40% commission on the sale price 
• Artists must indicate retail value and sale preference at the time of submission
• All sales will be handled by the Gallery
• Sold works must remain in the exhibition until its official closing date

The Jurors

Kristine Moran, Artist
Jennifer Norman, Executive Director at the Art Gallery of Durham 
Martin Pearce, Associate Professor, Studio Art at the University of Guelph

Important Dates

Submission deadline: August 27, 2025 at 5pm
Artists notified: the week of September 15, 2025
Artwork drop-off: October 6–10, 2025
Installation period: October 14–17, 2025
Exhibition dates: October 18, 2025 – January 17, 2026
Opening Reception: October 18, 2025 2 – 4pm 
Artwork pick-up: January 19–23, 2026

Submission and Payment Instructions

*Coming soon*