Call for Artists: Owen Sound Art Banner Exhibit Prepares for 20th Anniversary
The Owen Sound Art Banner Exhibit invites artists to submit work for its 20th anniversary in 2026. Submissions are open now for this major public art display.
The Owen Sound Art Banner Exhibit is gearing up for its 20th anniversary in 2026, and organizers have launched an early call for artists to submit their work for the city’s largest annual public art installation.
First introduced in 2006, the Banner Exhibit has featured over 1,500 works by more than 1,000 artists. Banners are displayed prominently along the harbourfront and in the Owen Sound & North Grey Union Public Library, transforming public spaces with vibrant, original art each summer.
“Public art has a profoundly positive effect on the well-being of a community,” said organizers from Urban Easel, the volunteer group currently managing the initiative. “We love doing this work for our local artists and community—it’s so satisfying to see all that beautiful art displayed.”
The 2026 exhibition will mark two decades of continuous display, making it what organizers describe as “the largest continuous public art display of its kind in our region—and probably the province.”
With promotion already underway for the upcoming cycle, Urban Easel is encouraging submissions from artists of all skill levels. While the call for art has traditionally opened in November or December, organizers are beginning earlier this year to allow more time for planning and production.
“There’s a mountain of work required to prepare 75 art banners well before the printer gets them,” organizers noted in a recent message to participating artists. “We absolutely needed a better plan to start engagement sooner—and the good news is, we have, and it’s working.”
Newer features introduced since Urban Easel took over production in 2024 include 10 banners reserved for community organizations that incorporate art into their programming, and a dedicated “Artist of Distinction” banner. The 2025 banner featured Eleanor Pauling, a founding member of the exhibit.
Organizers are currently accepting nominations for the 2026 Artist of Distinction.
Submissions are open now, and artists can register via the Urban Easel website. Community members are encouraged to help spread the word by sharing promotional materials and following the project on social media.
Follow updates and view past banners on:
Facebook: Owen Sound Community Artists Studio Tour
Instagram: @osstudiotour
For more information or to submit artwork, visit Urban Easel online.
