Resources for Artists

Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Program

McIntosh Gallery is a third-party recommender organization that participates annually in the Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance Program (Zone 1). The program provides grants to assist visual artists working in traditional and new media with the costs directly related to presenting their work in a confirmed, upcoming, public exhibition. Through these grants, McIntosh Gallery aims to cultivate and support practicing artists, including emerging artists, who reside in Zone 1 (as described by the OAC). We evaluate applications according to artistic merit, recent exhibition history, and potential benefit of the exhibition to the artist’s career. Applications for grants in the amount of $500-$2000 must be made through the Ontario Arts Council portal. If applicants do not have a profile with the OAC, they will need to create one in order to apply.

2026-27 program is now open.

Additional information about the program including application procedures, eligible expenses and activities, etc. can be found on the Ontario Arts Council website.

Our Priorities:

  • Artistic merit
  • Potential impact of the exhibition on the artist's career or on the development of the artist's practice
  • Artists from underrepresented groups or OAC priority groups
  • We prioritize exhibitions that are non-commercial in nature, such as exhibitions at public art galleries and artist-run centres
Contact
Helen Gregory, Curator
hgregory@uwo.ca