About UpTown Gallery Showcasing Local Artists & Artisans

The application review and training process involves considerable time of committee members. Therefore, it is expected that you will commit to the gallery for at least one year.

Application requirements

An artist who wishes to apply for membership at UpTown Gallery should provide a CD or USB stick (only doc or docx files plus jpgs- no PDFs) plus a hard copy with the following material: 

1. A letter of introduction explaining why you wish to join UpTown Gallery and how you hope to contribute to the gallery.

2. A biography: a maximum of 75 words of biographical information that pertains to your art practice. This biographical information should be written in the third person.

3. An artist statement: a maximum of 75 words about the body of work you will present or an overview of your art practice.

4. Images of 7 artworks. These jpg images should have a high resolution, be labeled with the artwork's title and in the standard style for documenting artwork (straight on with a neutral or no background).

5. An image list including the name of the artwork, year created, medium, and size.

6. Your contact information including your email address and phone number.

7. Your website or blog address (if you have them).

8. If accepted, a photo of the artist, such as a portrait, at work in your studio, or other representative image, is required. 

The Benefits of being a member of UpTown Gallery

• Every two months, a new exhibition to participate in. 
• No commission on artwork: 100% of sale goes to the artist (minus current bank charges).
• Once a year, you can be a featured artist, along with one or more other members of the gallery. As a featured artist, your work should express a facet of the title. UpTown Gallery encourages interpretion of the titles.
• If you are not a featured artist in the show, you are not required to work to the current show's title. You can choose to use the title as a theme if you wish.
• No exclusivity: You may exhibit at other galleries or events.
• The gallery currently has an area where members may teach art classes.
• You can advertise your workshops or other outside events in which you are participating on the UpTown Gallery website and on the gallery information shelves.
• Your membership fee includes a webpage on the UpTown Gallery website.

What the gallery expects from its artist members

The application review and training process involves a considerable amount of time from committee members.  Therefore, if you are offered membership, it is expected that you will commit to the gallery for at least a year.

There is no paid staff at UpTown, and the gallery is open seven days a week.  Therefore, the artists are expected to:

• staff the gallery approximately three shifts a month. Each shift is 3 ½ hours long. The monthly number of shifts will vary depending on the number of members.
• pay a membership fee of $40 for a two month period.
• do housekeeping and maintenance at the gallery as well as help with moving the gallery should this need arise.
• be a member of a committee.
• contribute to the collective in a positive way.
• have a computer or some way of reliably receiving and sending emails on a daily basis.
• as one of the featured artists, you may be expected to contribute nominal costs toward your opening reception.
• submitting applicable taxes is your responsibility if you collect them.
• only submit artwork that satisfies Canadian copyright law.  Artists must refrain from using other people's work as reference material unless the work is the public domain or is specifically permitted by the copyright holder. 
• a one-year commitment to being an active gallery member.

Notification of Selection

Our Selection Committee will review your submission and/or website, and you will receive a phone call if we wish to consider your work for the gallery.   We require at that time that you bring in some samples of your work to us in person.  All work must be original and image sources must adhere to Canadian copyright laws.  Your submission is juried by our Executive Committee, and this process may take some time. 

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