Call to Artists

Hearth Gallery 2026 Season

Application Deadline: Thursday August 29th  2026

The Hearth Gallery (Bowen Island Arts Council) is planning its 2026 season, featuring a dynamic mix of art exhibitions and cultural events. Alongside gallery shows, we’ll celebrate youth, host visiting artists, offer workshops, hold fundraisers, and more.

At the Hearth Gallery, we stay creative and adaptive in a changing art world—supporting artists of all genres, offering a space to create, perform, sell, teach, and connect. As a nonprofit, we balance innovation with financial responsibility, while remaining a vibrant hub for locals and visitors to experience art in all its forms.

The Hearth is an inclusive community gallery—artists of all backgrounds and practices are warmly encouraged to apply.

The Gallery welcomes proposals in all media and styles—2D, 3D, literary, and beyond—provided all work is original and created by the artist. Art in cultural styles to which the artist has no ancestral or cultural connection will not be considered.

We invite submissions from Bowen Island artists, those with ties to the island, and a limited number from the southwest corner of BC. Solo, group, and collaborative exhibitions are encouraged. Group proposals must present a cohesive theme and name one primary contact. Solo applicants may be paired with others for a joint exhibition.

If you’ve shared your work at the Hearth before, we invite you to pause for three years before reapplying—making room for fresh voices to emerge and the creative circle to widen.

Please include the following information with your proposal:

  1. A Completed Application Form

  2. An artist statement with a description of the theme of your proposed exhibition and (if possible) a description of previous work that relates to the theme

  3. CV/Resume which includes your contact information and exhibition history

  4. Three to five images representative of your current body of work with title, year, medium, price, and dimensions attached in a separate file titled “image list”.

The Selection Committee sets the gallery calendar and schedules all exhibitions. Please ensure your submission reflects clear artistic intention and thoughtful purpose—the committee values genuine consideration in every proposal for a show at the Hearth Gallery.

Incomplete applications cannot be considered.

We encourage artists to consider offering workshops, demonstrations, artist talks or other creative interactive opportunities.

DETAILS

  • Selections will be made by Selection Committee. Artists will be notified by mid-September 2025

  • In consultation with the artist, the Curator reserves the right to choose the location where the art will be placed and the number of pieces that will be included in the art show. Shows start mid-week and ends on a Monday

  • The Artist pARTy is generally held on a Saturday evening. Exhibition lengths are typically 3 weeks

  • The Hearth will provide a simple selection of appetizers for the Artist pARTy. Artists are warmly encouraged to contribute to the menu and help make the celebration their own.

  • We encourage artists to promote their art show to their clients, friends and families

WHAT THE HEARTH PROVIDES

  • Hearth Gallery Website and social media platforms are managed in-house by staff (check it out: thehearth.ca)

    • Weekly E-newsletter that focus on the Hearth Gallery and the arts on Bowen

    • Regular posts on Facebook and Instagram

  • Professional design of Poster & media files.

    • Print and distribution

  • Artist pARTy with simple menu of appetizers, and a cash bar for each art show

  • Skilled volunteer hosts & staff trained to represent and sell your art

Our usual offerings:

  • Install the art show, sell and wrap art safely when sold

  • Provide info on the artist and their artwork to clients

  • Provide & print art tags, artist statement and additional information on the art pieces & artist

  • Keep inventory lists and sales records

  • Quick turnaround for commission payments to the artist

Art sales are split 65% to the artist and 35% to the Hearth. The Hearth’s portion supports the promotion and management of gallery exhibitions.

We request that no more than one piece from your exhibition be marked “not for sale”.