Arts and Culture in the Hall
Art and Culture in the Hall is an exhibition program that celebrates local artistic and creative talent. Exhibitions are updated throughout the year, showcasing artworks, projects and collections from artists, cultural organizations and groups in Durham Region, View the exhibition space at City Hall, in Oshawa, Ontario, outside City Council chambers.
Current exhibitions
The following exhibitions are currently on display at Art & Culture in the Hall:
- The travelling exhibit "We Were So Far Away: The Inuit Experience of Residential Schools" from the Legacy of Hope Foundation. This exhibit tells the stories of eight Inuit Residential School Survivors presented in their own words and illustrated with personal and historical photographs, including their memories of childhood and their experiences of school, the struggles they have already overcome and the challenges they still face today.
- An exhibition honouring National Day of Awareness and Action for MMIWG2S+/Red Dress Day. This exhibition provides information on the creation of the Red Dress exhibition and artist Jaime Black, the impact of the Red Dress exhibitions and the significance of Red Dress Day.
Call for exhibition proposals
The City of Oshawa is excited to invite Oshawa-based organizations, collectives and post-secondary programs in the creative and cultural industries, or Indigenous organizations, to submit proposals for temporary exhibitions to be displayed at Art & Culture in the Hall located outside Council Chambers at City Hall, 50 Centre Street South, Oshawa.
Selected exhibitions will be on display from February 16, 2026 to August 10, 2026.
Up to four (4) proposals will be selected to exhibit at Art & Culture in the Hall. Proposals can include, but are not limited to, art exhibitions, heritage exhibitions, cultural exhibitions and community storytelling exhibitions.
Please note this call is for organizations, collectives and post-secondary programs. A call for artists for Art & Culture in the Hall will launch in early 2026.
Applications must be submitted before October 3, 2025 at 12 p.m. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Details about this call for exhibition proposals can be found below.
| How to apply |
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Complete the online application form. If the files exceed 12 MB (6 MB exhibition proposal/letter of intent and 6 MB for additional information or supporting documents), applicants are asked to email [email protected] and use an external file share program. Applicants will be asked to submit the following:
If you experience difficulties with the submission form, please email your submission to [email protected]. |
| Context and project objectives |
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The City of Oshawa is situated on lands and waters within the Williams Treaties Territory, home to seven (7) First Nation communities of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg, who have cared for and maintained these lands from time immemorial and continue to do so to present day. Learn more. Each year the City of Oshawa is proud to offer arts, culture and heritage programming in alignment with Oshawa's Cultural Strategic Plan, Culture Counts: Oshawa’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Plan. This call provides increased support for local art, cultural and heritage community organizations by providing an opportunity to exhibit in a City operated facility. |
| Exhibition space |
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The exhibition space consists of four locked display cases in the Council Wing hallway The measurements for the locked vitrines are listed below: Vitrine 1: Length – 70 inches, Depth - 22 inches, Height - 95 inches; Vitrine 2: Length – 103 inches, Depth – 22 inches, Height – 95 inches; Vitrine 3: Length – 103 inches, Depth – 22 inches, Height – 95 inches; and Vitrine 4:
Each vitrine is equipped with an exhibition hanging system installed at 72 inches in height. Vitrine 1, 2 and 3 are equipped with a shelf rail system for adjustable shelves, however, shelving is limited. |
| Selection process and criteria |
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A selection committee will review the submissions. The selection committee may consist of representatives from the City’s Cultural Leadership Council, Public Art Task Force and/or City staff. The applicants selected will be chosen based on the following criteria:
These selection criteria have been developed in connection with key strategic plans and policies, including the Oshawa Economic Development Strategy, Culture Counts: Arts Culture and Heritage Plan, Public Art Master Plan and Public Art Policy. |
| Anticipated timeline |
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Submission deadline: October 3, 2025 Selected applicants notified: November 10 to November 14, 2025 Final images of artwork, artifacts, objects, etc. submitted to City staff for review: Exhibition statement and plans submitted to City staff: January 5 to January 9, 2026 Exhibition installation: February 10 to February 13, 2026 Exhibition takedown: August 10 to August 14, 2026 *The timeline may be subject to change. |
| Terms and conditions |
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The applicants selected will be required to enter into a contract with the City of Oshawa for the exhibition, which will include providing proof of Commercial General Liability insurance coverage in an amount not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per accident or occurrence with the City of Oshawa named on the policy as Additional Insured. If the City and a selected applicant cannot agree on the terms of the contract, the selection committee may, at the City of Oshawa’s sole and absolute discretion, choose another applicant to install their exhibition. No applicant shall have any rights against the City of Oshawa arising from participation in this Call for Exhibition Proposals or submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration. By submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration, applicants hereby release and hold harmless the City of Oshawa from any and all actions, charges, claims, costs, damages, demands, liabilities, losses, suits, proceedings, costs and expenses pertaining to the applicant's participation in the Call for Exhibitions. By submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration, applicants agree that all decisions of the City of Oshawa and its employees in relation to the Art & Culture in the Hall exhibition are final and binding. Applicants also agree that the selection of the winners by the selection committee is final and not subject to any right of appeal or review. By submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration, applicants represent and warrant that they have read and understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. The City of Oshawa will not be responsible for insurance coverage of the items while they are on display. |
| Equity statement |
| The City of Oshawa is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive community that celebrates the diverse lived-experiences of our residents. We encourage submissions from organizations that support equity-deserving groups that have been historically underrepresented in the arts, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying individuals, people who are d/Deaf and persons with disabilities, and strive to eliminate barriers to the meaningful inclusion of members of these communities. |
| Content guidelines |
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All projects must meet certain requirements. The following content guidelines must be adhered to for the exhibitions: The content is not in conflict with any laws, City by-laws or policies; The content does not conflict with the City’s values, vision or strategic goals; The content does not conflict with goals as outlined in key strategic plans, including the Diversity and Inclusion Plan and the Culture Counts: Oshawa Arts, Culture & Heritage Plan; The content does not contain material which could be considered inappropriate, discriminatory, hateful, violent, abusive, insensitive, culturally appropriative or otherwise offensive; and The content should be suitable for audiences of all ages, and should not include content involving references to drugs, injury, obscene gestures, and/or crude content. |
| Freedom of information statement |
| Personal information on this form is collected pursuant to Section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended, and will be used to administer the Call for Exhibition Proposals. Questions about this collection should be directed to the City’s Freedom of Information Coordinator at 50 Centre Street South, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 3Z7, by phone at 905-436-3311 or by email at [email protected]. |
If you have questions about applying, or require accommodations to participate in this process, please contact [email protected].
We are happy to provide support and advice related to the application to make this Call for Exhibition Proposals as accessible as possible to applicants.