The Studio Open Call
October 8–31, 2026
Gallery 881 | Vancouver, BC
Presented by Gallery 881
Sponsored by PrintMaker Studio
About The Studio
Exhibition & Public Programming
Exhibition Overview and Why This Exhibition Matters
The Studio begins with a simple question: where does creative work begin?
Before an artwork reaches a gallery, stage, book, screen, public space, or collection, it begins somewhere. It may begin in a studio, darkroom, kitchen, rehearsal room, garage, shared workspace, classroom, print shop, bedroom, storage unit, or borrowed corner of the city.
In Vancouver, the conditions that allow artists to keep working are increasingly fragile. The Studio brings these spaces into public view, asking artists to show where their work begins and inviting the public to consider what artists need in order to remain, work, and create in the city.
Presented October 8–31, 2026, alongside a broader civic conversation about the future of Vancouver, The Studio is both an exhibition and a public statement. Related programming may take place during the exhibition, focused on artists’ places of practice, studio access, affordability, and the conditions that allow creative work to continue in Vancouver.
The exhibition will be presented in two parts. The Front Room Exhibition will feature a curated selection of finished, exhibition-ready works produced through PrintMaker Studio. The Centre Room will present a broader works-on-paper installation of standardized 5 × 7 inch prints, bringing together the wider body of eligible submissions as a collective studio wall.
Gallery 881 intends to include every eligible submission that responds to the exhibition theme, with one work per artist. Gallery 881 Members receive one free submission.
Sample submission image for The Studio. Pictured: artist Christian Nicolay at work in his studio. Image © Christian Nicolay.
APPLICATION & SUBMISSION
Open Call Submission Form
Please complete the submission form and review all requirements before submitting. After submitting the form, you will be redirected to complete payment. A submission is only considered complete once both the form and payment have been received.
Each artist may submit one artwork. Gallery 881 intends to include every eligible submission that responds to the exhibition theme, with one work per artist. The Selection Team will determine which works are invited into the Front Room Exhibition and which works will be included in the Centre Room works-on-paper presentation.
Files must be no larger than 10 MB. A non-refundable $20 CAD submission fee plus applicable tax applies and includes production for the Centre Room works-on-paper presentation. This fee also helps support the real costs of producing and presenting the exhibition, including installation, administration, curatorial support, documentation, and public outreach.
Artists may also choose to be considered for the Front Room Exhibition. If a paid submission is selected for the Front Room, the $20 submission fee will be applied toward the production cost of the artwork. Front Room production costs are separate and will be discussed with selected artists before production begins.
Gallery 881 Members receive one free submission and do not need to pay the entry fee. To access the free member submission option, members must log in to their Gallery 881 for their unique promo code.
Artists retain full copyright of their work. By submitting, you agree to the Terms of Service outlined on this page.
Open Call Dates
Submissions Open: June 28, 2026
Submission Deadline: August 15, 2026, midnight PT
Front Room Notifications: September 1, 2026
Production Period: September 1–30, 2026
Exhibition Dates: October 8–31, 2026
Eligibility
Open to artists working across disciplines, including photographers, painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, writers, designers, performers, filmmakers, ceramicists, floral artists, printmakers, craft artists, makers, collectives, and interdisciplinary artists.
Applicants must be the legal Age of Majority in their jurisdiction.
Submitted images must be original works created by the artist.
Artists are invited to submit a photograph of the place where their creative practice begins. This may include a studio, darkroom, desktop, kitchen table, kiln, rehearsal room, workshop, print shop, shared space, residency, street, borrowed room, or another site of practice.
What Kinds of Images Are We Seeking?
We are seeking photographs of the places where creative work begins.
This may include traditional studios, darkrooms, rehearsal spaces, workshops, kilns, print shops, writing desks, editing stations, music rooms, dance spaces, classrooms, shared studios, artist-run spaces, home studios, kitchen tables, garages, storage units, vehicles, public spaces, temporary work areas, borrowed rooms, outdoor sites, or other places of practice.
Images may be quiet, documentary, staged, poetic, abstract, observational, personal, direct, messy, minimal, beautiful, unresolved, or in progress. They may show tools, materials, light, surfaces, traces of labour, unfinished work, equipment, storage, notes, walls, floors, worktables, instruments, costumes, props, screens, stains, dust, clutter, order, ritual, absence, or evidence of use.
The artist may be pictured or not. It does not need to show finished artwork. It does need to be a photograph. We are interested in images that reveal something about practice: the conditions, spaces, routines, constraints, and possibilities that shape how creative work is made.
Submission Fee & Limits
The submission fee for The Studio is $20 CAD plus applicable tax. This fee is non-refundable and includes production for the Centre Room works-on-paper presentation.
Gallery 881 Members receive one free submission and do not need to pay the entry fee. To access the free member submission option, members must log in to their Gallery 881 account before submitting to access their unique promo code..
Artists may also choose to be considered for the Front Room Exhibition. If a paid submission is selected for the Front Room, the $20 submission fee will be applied toward the production cost of the artwork. Front Room production costs are separate and will be discussed with selected artists before production begins.
Submission and payment of the fee do not guarantee placement in the Front Room Exhibition. Gallery 881 intends to include every eligible submission that responds to the exhibition theme, with one work per artist.
File Requirements
Images submitted through the open call should be suitable for review and for small-format exhibition printing. If an artwork is selected for the Front Room Exhibition, the artist will be contacted to provide a higher-resolution file suitable for fine art printing and exhibition production.
Accepted formats: JPEG, PNG, or HEIC
Resolution: 300 DPI, approximately 7 inches on the long side, or approximately 2100 px
Colour space: sRGB or Adobe RGB (1998) accepted
Bit depth: 8-bit or 16-bit
Maximum file size: 10 MB
Naming Convention:
firstname_lastname_artworktitle_year.ext
Example:
alex_smith_sunrise_2025.jpg
Artwork & Presentation Standards
The Studio will be presented in two parts: a curated Front Room Exhibition of finished works and a broader Centre Room works-on-paper presentation. All submissions are included.
The Front Room will include approximately 11 to 17 finished works, selected by the exhibition’s Selection Team based on the submitted images, relationship to the exhibition concept, final production size, presentation needs, and available gallery space. These works are intended to be finished, exhibition-ready artworks. Final size and presentation will be determined in consultation with Gallery 881 and PrintMaker Studio.
All Front Room works must be produced through PrintMaker Studio, Gallery 881’s in-house fine art print studio and sponsor. This ensures consistency, professional presentation, and readiness for installation. Production options may include archival pigment printing, mounting to Dibond or UltraMount, spacer-based framing, AR70 glass as a minimum glazing standard, backing, hanging hardware, and a range of frame profiles and finishes.
Front Room works must be available for sale. Gallery 881 will manage sales inquiries and transactions for Front Room works. Sales will be commissioned at 35% Gallery 881 / 65% artist.
All eligible artists not selected for the Front Room will be included in the Centre Room works-on-paper presentation, with one work per artist. Centre Room works will be produced as standardized 5 × 7 inch photographic prints. The image will be placed within the 5 × 7 inch sheet with a minimum ¼ inch border at the widest possible image size. Image dimensions may vary depending on file ratio, but all Centre Room works will share the same 5 × 7 inch paper format.
The Centre Room will be installed as an unstructured salon-style presentation, creating a collective studio wall of artists’ places of practice. These works will be presented unframed and installed in a manner that reflects the working, exploratory nature of the studio itself. Centre Room works are presented as part of a collective works-on-paper installation and will not be listed for sale through Gallery 881.
Selection Process
The Studio will use a curatorial selection process rather than a traditional jury model.
Gallery 881 intends to include every eligible submission that responds to the exhibition theme, with one work per artist. The Selection Team will determine which works are invited into the Front Room Exhibition and which works will be included in the Centre Room works-on-paper presentation.
Selection and placement may consider the strength of the submitted image, relationship to the exhibition concept, clarity of intention, suitability for finished presentation, final production size, overall exhibition rhythm and balance, available Front Room wall space, and production timelines.
Being selected for the Centre Room is not a rejection from the exhibition. The Centre Room is an essential part of The Studio, functioning as a collective studio wall, archive, and broader participatory presentation of artists’ places of practice.
Printing & Production
Front Room works included in The Studio will be produced through PrintMaker Studio, Gallery 881’s in-house fine art print studio and sponsor.
PrintMaker Studio is a Canson Infinity Certified Print Lab and custom picture framer. Producing the Front Room works through PrintMaker Studio helps ensure consistency, professional presentation, and a cohesive exhibition standard.
Front Room works require a finished exhibition presentation and will involve additional production costs. These costs may include archival pigment printing, mounting, framing, spacers, AR70 glass, backing, fitting, hanging hardware, and labour. Front Room artists will receive a private consultation and detailed production estimate before proceeding.
As a rough guide, finished Front Room works may start at approximately $600, plus applicable taxes. A smaller finished work around 20 × 20 inches may cost approximately $600, while a larger finished work around 40 × 40 inches will cost more. Final costs will depend on the selected artwork, final size, paper, mounting, glazing, frame choice, and finishing requirements.
Centre Room works will be produced as standardized 5 × 7 inch photographic prints. The submission fee helps support the real costs of producing and presenting the exhibition, including print production, installation, administration, curatorial support, documentation, and public outreach. There are no additional production costs for artists included in the Centre Room.
Selection Team
PUBLIC PROGRAMMING & EVENTS
Public Programming & Cultural Advocacy
Related public programming may take place during the exhibition, focused on artists’ places of practice, studio access, affordability, and the conditions that allow creative work to continue in Vancouver.
Events may include artist conversations, informal gatherings, community discussions, or partner-led programming. Additional details will be announced as the exhibition develops.
Sponsors
The Studio is made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, partners, and funders, whose contributions help sustain open, accessible, and community-driven photographic programming at Gallery 881.
The exhibition is sponsored by PrintMaker Studio, a full-service fine art print lab and custom picture framer, and a Canson Infinity Certified Print Lab, supporting high-quality production and presentation of photographic work.
To inquire about sponsorship opportunities for The Studio, please contact info@gallery881.com.
Friends of Gallery 881
The Studio is supported by individuals who have contributed time, expertise, resources, and direct support to help make this project possible. Their contributions may include opening doors, making introductions, sharing expertise, and supporting artist access and participation.
Art Sales
Front Room works must be available for sale through Gallery 881 during the exhibition and for 30 days following the close of the exhibition.
Gallery 881 will manage sales inquiries and transactions for Front Room works. Sales will be commissioned at 35% Gallery 881 / 65% artist.
Retail pricing will be determined in conversation with Gallery 881 and each Front Room artist. Artists should consider production costs, edition structure, market value, and the finished presentation of the work when setting prices.
At the end of the 30-day post-exhibition sales period, unsold Front Room works will be returned to the artists. After the works have been returned, Gallery 881 will no longer represent those specific works for sale or receive commission on any future sales, unless a separate written agreement is made.
Images and artwork information may remain on the Gallery 881 website as part of the permanent exhibition record and archive. This online record is intended to document the exhibition and participating artists, not to extend Gallery 881’s sales representation beyond the agreed sales period.
Centre Room works are not listed for sale through Gallery 881. Instead, they will form part of the collective Centre Room installation, which Gallery 881 intends to preserve after the exhibition as a civic artwork, public document, and statement on the need for affordable artist space.
Artwork Collection & Shipping
Following the conclusion of the exhibition and the 30-day post-exhibition sales period, artists with unsold Front Room works are strongly encouraged to collect their artwork within one week or to make arrangements for return shipping. Artwork pickup begins after the close of the post-exhibition sales period.
Pickup location: Gallery 881, 881 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Artists who are unable to collect their work in person must arrange and cover all costs associated with shipping, including packaging, insurance, and courier fees. Gallery 881 does not cover shipping costs for returned artwork.
Due to limited long-term storage capacity, any Front Room artwork remaining at Gallery 881 more than three months after the end of the post-exhibition sales period may become the property of Gallery 881. Artists are encouraged to plan accordingly and communicate with the gallery in advance if special arrangements are required.
Gallery 881 is not responsible for unclaimed artwork beyond the designated pickup period.
Centre Room works are intended to remain together as part of the collective Centre Room installation and will not be returned to individual artists after the exhibition.
Promotion & Marketing
Participating artists may be featured through the Gallery 881 website, the PrintMaker Studio website, social media platforms for Gallery 881, PrintMaker Studio, and partners, email newsletters, exhibition materials, press releases, media outreach, and exhibition documentation. Artists will be credited with links to their websites and social media where applicable.
Content Restrictions
Gallery 881 reserves the right to decline or remove works that are deemed offensive, inappropriate, discriminatory, unsafe, unlawful, or otherwise inconsistent with the exhibition’s purpose, Gallery 881’s values, or applicable laws.
Copyright & Image Usage
Artists retain full copyright and ownership of their submitted images and artworks.
By submitting to The Studio, artists give Gallery 881 and PrintMaker Studio permission to use the submitted image, artist name, artwork title, and related artwork information for purposes connected to the exhibition. This may include exhibition presentation, promotion, documentation, press, email newsletters, printed and digital materials, the Gallery 881 and PrintMaker Studio websites, social media, and the permanent online exhibition record. This permission does not transfer copyright from the artist to Gallery 881 or PrintMaker Studio. Gallery 881 and PrintMaker Studio will not sell or license submitted images as standalone works without the artist’s permission. Artists are responsible for ensuring they have the right to submit the image.
Centre Room Civic Document
Centre Room works are presented as part of a collective works-on-paper installation and are not listed for sale through Gallery 881. Following the exhibition, Gallery 881 intends to preserve the Centre Room installation as a collective artwork, civic document, and public statement on the urgent need for affordable artist space. The completed body of works may be offered to the City of Vancouver, Mayor and Council, or another appropriate civic or cultural body as a public record of the spaces artists rely on, and as a call for meaningful action to protect the conditions that allow artists to live, work, and create in Vancouver. By submitting to the open call, artists acknowledge that Centre Room works are intended to remain part of this collective installation and civic document after the exhibition.
Liability
Gallery 881 and PrintMaker Studio will take reasonable care in handling artwork and files submitted for the exhibition. Gallery 881 is not responsible for technical failures, lost files, corrupted uploads, website or payment processing issues, delayed communications, shipping damage, courier delays, force majeure events, or circumstances beyond the gallery’s reasonable control. Artists are responsible for maintaining their own copies of submitted and final production files.
Governing Law
All matters related to this open call are governed by the laws of British Columbia and the applicable laws of Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a theme for the exhibition?
Yes. The Studio asks artists to submit a photograph of the place where their creative practice begins. This may be a studio, darkroom, desktop, kitchen table, rehearsal space, workshop, print shop, shared space, residency, street, borrowed room, or another site of practice. The exhibition is about artists, studios, affordability, cultural infrastructure, and the spaces that allow creative work to begin and continue.
How is the exhibition structured?
The Studio will be presented in two parts. The Front Room Exhibition will include approximately 11 to 17 finished, exhibition-ready works, selected by the exhibition’s Selection Team and produced through PrintMaker Studio in consultation with Gallery 881. The Centre Room will present a broader works-on-paper installation of standardized 5 × 7 inch photographic prints, bringing together the wider body of eligible submissions as a collective studio wall.
Who can submit?
The open call is available to artists working across disciplines, including photographers, painters, sculptors, musicians, dancers, writers, designers, performers, filmmakers, ceramicists, floral artists, printmakers, craft artists, makers, collectives, and interdisciplinary artists. Artists do not need to identify primarily as photographers. However, the submitted work must be a photograph created by the artist.
Does submitting guarantee my work will be exhibited?
Gallery 881 intends to include every eligible submission that responds to the exhibition theme, with one work per artist. The Selection Team will determine which works are invited into the Front Room Exhibition and which works will be included in the Centre Room works-on-paper presentation. Submissions that do not meet the exhibition theme, eligibility requirements, file requirements, or content standards may be declined.
Can I submit more than one image?
No. Each artist may submit one artwork. Because Gallery 881 intends to include every eligible submission that responds to the exhibition theme, artists should submit their strongest image and choose the work they feel best represents their place of practice.
Can I submit a series or multi-panel work?
No. The open call accepts one photographic image per artist.
Can I submit work that has been exhibited elsewhere?
Yes, provided the work has not previously been exhibited at Gallery 881.
What is the submission fee?
The submission fee is $20 CAD plus applicable tax. This fee is non-refundable and includes production for the Centre Room works-on-paper presentation.
Do Gallery 881 Members receive a free submission?
Yes. Gallery 881 Members receive one free submission and do not need to pay the entry fee. To access the free member submission option, members must log in to their Gallery 881 account before submitting.
What are the important dates?
Submissions Open: June 28, 2026
Submission Deadline: August 15, 2026, midnight PT
Exhibition Dates: October 8–31, 2026
Do I have to print and frame my work through PrintMaker Studio?
If your work is selected for the Front Room Exhibition, yes. Front Room works must be produced through PrintMaker Studio, Gallery 881’s in-house fine art print studio and sponsor, to ensure consistency, professional presentation, and readiness for installation. Centre Room works will be produced as standardized 5 × 7 inch photographic prints. There are no additional production costs for artists included in the Centre Room.
What does it cost to be in the Front Room Exhibition?
Front Room production costs are separate from the submission fee and will depend on the final size, paper, mounting, glazing, frame choice, and finishing requirements. As a rough guide, finished Front Room works may start at approximately $600, plus applicable taxes. Selected Front Room artists will receive a private consultation and detailed production estimate before proceeding. If a paid submission is selected for the Front Room, the $20 submission fee will be applied toward the production cost of the artwork.
Do Front Room works have to be for sale?
Yes. Front Room works must be available for sale through Gallery 881 during the exhibition and for 30 days following the close of the exhibition. Sales will be commissioned at 35% Gallery 881 / 65% artist.
Will Centre Room works be for sale?
No. Centre Room works are not listed for sale through Gallery 881. They will form part of the collective Centre Room installation.
Will Centre Room works be returned after the exhibition?
No. Centre Room works are intended to remain together as part of the collective Centre Room installation and civic document after the exhibition.
Can Gallery 881 use my submitted image online?
Yes. By submitting to The Studio, artists give Gallery 881 and PrintMaker Studio permission to use the submitted image for purposes connected to the exhibition. This may include exhibition presentation, promotion, documentation, press, email newsletters, printed and digital materials, the Gallery 881 and PrintMaker Studio websites, social media, and the permanent online exhibition record. Artists retain copyright of their submitted images and artworks.
What file type should I submit?
Accepted formats are JPEG, PNG, or HEIC. Files must be no larger than 10 MB. Submitted images should be approximately 300 DPI, 7 inches on the long side, or approximately 2100 px. sRGB or Adobe RGB (1998) are accepted.
What happens if my work does not meet the requirements?
Gallery 881 reserves the right to decline work that does not meet the exhibition theme, eligibility requirements, file requirements, production deadlines, content standards, or professional presentation standards.