Artistic & Professional Development

A Black Art Fair: Call For Submissions

Applications close June 11.

Date	May 20 - 11, 2025

Submit your artwork for a chance to exhibit at A Black Art Fair 2025!

Apply Now

A Black Art Fair is making its return for a third edition — and we want you to submit.

We recognize that the purchasing of artwork plays a huge role in advancing the careers of Black artists, and that there are thousands of you across the country with brilliant ideas and the talent to bring them to life. With that in mind, we’ve decided to bring back our one-of-a-kind exhibition of works by Black-Canadian artists, open to artists in all disciplines and from all stages of their careers.

This isn’t just an opportunity to showcase your work alongside your peers. It’s also a way of creating new opportunities, building connections, and fostering a culture where Black art is celebrated and sustained.

Important Dates

Deadline to submit: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Event Date: We’re aiming to host A Black Art Fair here at Nia Centre, 524 Oakwood Ave, from Oct. 25-26, 2025.

Submission Guidelines & FAQs

Important Submission Guidelines

All entries should be original in concept, composition, and execution, and must not infringe on any copyrights or the intellectual property of others.
Submissions must also be completed works, not conceptual ideas or works-in-progress.
We welcome submissions of both individual and collaborative pieces that have been completed within the last five years.

What is the theme for the exhibition?

Black Artistic Expression. The theme is a bold and intentionally open concept, which we hope invites you to explore, play, and create without constraint.

Can I submit if I don’t live in Toronto?

Yes! This call is open to any Black-Canadian artist, aged 18 and older, who is based across all provinces and territories within Canada.

Can I submit work in any medium?

Yes, all artistic mediums — photography, sculpture, mixed media, painting — are accepted, but we will be prioritizing wall-based art for display purposes. Please include accurate sizing and weight in your submissions.

How does the pricing work?

If your artwork is for sale, please include the price in your submission. A small commission fee will be applied to all works sold during the Fair. If you are not sure of how to price your work, we will provide some guidance in an orientation session before the Fair.

Can I submit more than one artwork?

We welcome up to five artwork submissions.

When will I hear back about my submission?

Due to the high volume of submissions we receive for A Black Art Fair, we ask for your patience as our curatorial team carefully reviews and deliberates your submissions. The application review process may take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks, and we ask that you do not send any emails to follow up on the status. When we have made our selections, we’ll reach out to you!

What’s the submission deadline?

The submission portal for A Black Art Fair will be closing on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 11:59pm.

Do I need a Certificate of Authenticity for my artwork?

Yes, if selected, please be sure to provide a signed copy of a Certificate of Authenticity for each piece of artwork you plan to sell. These documents will be used to prove that the work is original and to provide documentation and details on the value of the artwork to buyers. Consult CARFAC’s Certificate of Authenticity Template or other similar copies for examples.

If I am based outside of Toronto, will I receive support from Nia Centre for the fees associated with the shipping of my artwork to the fair?

If you’re based outside of Toronto then we want to understand your capacity to bring/ship your artwork to our Centre in the ‘Shipping, Handling & Availability’ section of your submission.

Is my attendance at the fair mandatory?

While we understand that you may have constraints or responsibilities at the time of the fair, your attendance at A Black Fair would help support your professional development by exposing you to new audiences, allowing them to hear about your work from your perspective. We encourage all selected artists to attend at least one day of the fair.

If I am based outside of Toronto, will Nia Centre support my travel and lodging expenses?

It is the artist’s responsibility to cover their travel and lodging expenses.

How will my artwork be stored?

Your artwork will be stored in our secure and temperature-controlled storage facilities.

Do I have to be an experienced artist for my work to be considered for A Black Art Fair?

Not at all! Our curatorial team will primarily be looking into your artwork’s artistic merit so we encourage artists of all levels to submit their best pieces! We’ll be developing professional development activities to support any particular areas you are looking for support in but feel free to let us know which areas that might be of interest in your submission.

If I am an experienced artist, is it worth submitting my artwork for consideration or should I expect an invitation from Nia Centre for a ‘Featured Artists’ portion of A Black Art Fair?

Our curatorial team will be selecting works from submitted works. If you’d like to be selected for the A Black Art Fair, please submit your work. Otherwise, we will not be able to consider your work during the selection process.

A Black Art Fair was an incredible experience! I connected with so many collectors and community members who truly appreciated, understood, and related to my work. The event not only showcased our stories but also created a space for meaningful conversations and new opportunities. This was my first time engaging directly with art collectors in a space dedicated to celebrating Black artists. I was able to sell my first original canvas (yay!) which was a huge milestone, and I’m deeply grateful to Nia Centre for providing this platform. It gave me a chance to practice the business side of being a creative and connect with others
Chawntay Barrett Former Artist-in-Residence, participant in A Black Art Fair 2024