What are we looking for?
UG’s curatorial theme for 2024-25 is home/land. To get a sense of current and upcoming exhibitions and programs, see What’s On.
To read about our gallery spaces, see Our Spaces + Platforms.
To learn more about the selection, installation, and exhibition process, please see Frequently Asked Questions below.
Student Artists, Curators, and Collectives
Union Gallery puts out calls for student proposals throughout the year, often with specific theme-related criteria in mind. Student art is displayed alongside professional art in the gallery’s Main Space, Project Room, and Feature Wall.
Submitting your work through a targeted call is the best way to get involved. If you have a project in mind that does not fit any of our current calls, you are welcome to submit a proposal through our Ongoing Call For Gallery Proposals. Please note that we plan programs and exhibitions well in advance. All proposals are reviewed by a student-run Selections Committee.
We are unable to offer financial compensation to student artists at this time.
Student Writers
From time to time, Union Gallery posts calls for student writing related to our programming. If you would like to pitch a piece or a project, please use our Ongoing Call For Writing. To see examples of previous writing projects, visit our Publications page.
Professional Artists
Professional artists are selected by invitation through our visiting artist program. Professional art is displayed alongside student art in the gallery’s Main Space, Project Room, and Feature Wall.
This year, we are implementing a new Call For Nominations, through which artists can be nominated or self-nominate for future programming. We are currently collecting nominations for 2025-26.
Professional artists are compensate according to the CARFAC fee schedule.
Current + Ongoing Calls
Gallery Space + Platforms
Main Space: 1,000 square feet with a ceiling height of 12 feet. The gallery's structure includes an overhead grid that supports artworks suspended from the ceiling. Download the Main Space floor plan.
Project Room: 160 square feet with a ceiling height of 12 feet and overhead grid. Ideal for solo exhibitions and installations including new media, video, and sound. Download the Project Room floor plan.
Feature Wall: located on the right side through the entrance to Union Gallery and measures approximately 19 feet long. Ideal for single artworks or small collections.
Off-Site/Virtual: Web-based projects, exhibitions, performances or programs that can be supported on our website, off-site, on-campus, etc.
Wandering Art Station: Projects in any format or medium that will use the WAS as a station for public programming. Projects should be committed to thinking about its specific site, territory and environment, audience, community and publics.
Gallery Garden: Located outside the Union Gallery and Stauffer Library at the corner of Alfred and Union Street, there is a garden bed that is currently home to the Artists in the Garden collective.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are submissions selected?
Each call for submission is juried by our Student-Led Programming Committee. The committee is Chaired by the Gallery Director, with a student-majority composition, including a member of our Board. As a student-centred gallery, the majority of exhibitions feature student artists. Our annual programming decisions are guided by our annual theme Home / Land; equity, diversity and inclusion; ensuring a range of media; projects that are responsive to evolving community needs; and projects that support the exchange of ideas and skills with Queen's and Katarokwi-Kingston communities to foster a diverse network of artistic production, presentation and interpretation. UG encourages submissions that showcase the most recent endeavours of artists and curators, as well as works that incite conversation and represent diverse perspectives. When reviewing submissions, we consider: artists' needs based on identified priorities (i.e. graduate thesis or dissertation exhibition; students in their graduating year; class exhibitions, etc.); artists who identify as BIPOC, QPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+; quality and completion of submission; our capacity to accommodate and support your project.
Do I need to be a member to apply for an exhibition?
You do not need to be a current member to apply for an exhibition. Various benefits including Virtual Studio Visits are available to our members, which is a great opportunity to gain feedback and support on your proposal prior to submitting. Click here to learn more about our membership options.
Do I have to be a Fine Art student to submit?
No, not at all! We are a space and resource open to all Queen's University students, regardless of discipline or program. We also encourage group or curated submissions from student artists, collectives and clubs.
Do I have to be based in Katarokwi-Kingston to apply?
We welcome proposals from artists and curators who are local (based in Katarokwi-Kingston), regional (based in the Katarokwi-Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington area) or national (within Canada).
Can I apply to more than one call?
Yes, artists are welcome to apply to more than one of our submission opportunities unless they have recently exhibited at Union Gallery. Students who have participated in an exhibition with four or fewer artists will not be considered for an exhibition of four or fewer artists within a period of one year. If a professional artist has recently had an exhibition in the Main Space or Project Room, they are not permitted to exhibit again until a period of three years has transpired in order to be fair to other applicants.
Is only visual artwork accepted?
No, not at all! Union Gallery presents and interprets interdisciplinary contemporary art in a critical context, exploring technical, conceptual and experimental production across a wide range of media. This includes new media work, poetry, dance, music, performance art and digital art.
What is the exhibition installation process like?
As a gallery that is centred in experiential learning, artists are responsible for installing their own artworks and exhibitions. Gallery staff and volunteers provide support, guidance and consultation during the entire process. We provide a full inventory of installation materials such as plinths, tools, fasteners; and AV equipment including projectors, flat screens, speakers, media players. AV equipment is limited, must be reserved in advance of installation, and availability depends on concurrent exhibition needs. Any special hardware and equipment are the responsibility of the artist. The gallery completes final touch-ups on installation, finalizes lighting, vinyl and labels, and professionally documents all exhibitions.
Can I sell my artwork through the gallery?
No, we are not a commercial gallery and cannot manage art sales. However, we want to promote your work! Artist websites, social media, etc. will be shared publicly in promotions, with the artist's consent. We send any potential sale inquiries directly to the artist.
What happens after the exhibition ends?
Artists must be present or arrange alternative arrangements to dismantle their exhibitions and remove artworks. We cannot store artwork after the exhibition closes, unless the artist and gallery have mutually agreed to the artwork being donated to the gallery for future fundraising. Union Gallery operates on the principle of Accountability to Future Artists and asks that artists leave the gallery in the condition they found it, if not better. ☺
Can my proposal be reviewed before I submit it?
We do our best to accommodate all requests to review proposals. Gallery members and Queen's University students are invited to book a Virtual Studio Visit to receive specific feedback. Our staff are always available to answer your questions. If you have any questions, or require accommodations during the submission process, please reach out: ugallery@queensu.ca / 613.533.3171
Will I hear back if my proposal is not selected?
We thank all submitting artists and curators for the care and thought put into their proposals. Depending on the timing and high volume of submission, we may not contact or provide applicants with notification of the status of their submission. We encourage folks to reach out and visit to discuss their submissions and how UG can best support. Our programming schedule fills up quite quickly, which plays a big factor in how many submissions we can accept. If you appropriately follow the submission guidelines but your submission is not successful, we encourage you to consider applying again in the future.
Equity Statement
Union Gallery is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our programming and operations. UG welcomes applications from qualified individuals of all sexualities, races, gender identities, socioeconomic statuses, and (dis)abilities. We strongly encourage applications from equity-seeking communities. UG recognizes that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), QPOC (Queer People of Colour) and 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, +) are disproportionately underrepresented within institutional art spaces. Due to ongoing systemic barriers, UG prioritizes applicants who self-identify as BIPOC, QPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+. If you would like to, please indicate if you self-identify as a member of any equity-seeking groups in your submission.
Contact
If you are looking for support with a submission or still have questions after reviewing our FAQ, feel free to get in touch!