City of Orillia launches two Calls to Artists for Public Art at the Orillia Recreation Centre

For immediate release (September 12, 2025) – The City of Orillia, in partnership with community organizers, has launched two new Calls to Artists for public art displays at the Orillia Recreation Centre (255 West St. S.). One call is being delivered in collaboration with Disability Support Worker Eliza Pinney, and the other in collaboration with the Orillia Native Women’s Group.

“Orillia is a city filled with artistic talent, and we are very pleased to offer opportunities to highlight the diverse voices in our community,” said Mayor McIsaac. “Orillia is dedicated to creating spaces where every voice is valued and heard, and these two exhibitions stand as a testament to this commitment.”

The first call, presented in collaboration with Eliza Pinney, is open to all artists who are part of the all-abilities community. The exhibition, which does not ask artists to follow a specific theme, invites artists supported through organizations such as Karis and Empower Simcoe, as well as privately supported artists, to submit new or existing original works of art in any visual medium. All submissions that meet the size and subject matter requirements will be accepted and displayed at the Stack Gallery, located in the Orillia Recreation Centre.

The second call, presented in collaboration with the Orillia Native Women’s Group, invites Indigenous artists to take part in an exhibition titled Expressions of Identity. The exhibition will be displayed in the Indigenous display cabinet across from the aquatic centre in the lobby of the Orillia Recreation Centre. Artists are encouraged to reflect on what identity means to them through an Indigenous lens, exploring themes such as culture, family, teachings, lived experience, language, and connections to the land. Artwork will be selected in collaboration with representatives from the Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH), and the Orillia Native Women’s Group. Selections will be based on artistic merit, diversity of mediums, and contribution to the overall narrative of the exhibition.

Both calls are now open, with a submission deadline of October 31, 2025, at noon. Participation is free. The works will be on display from December 2025 through June 2026.

Preference may be given to those who work or reside in the City of Orillia, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, or the Townships of Oro-Medonte, Severn, or Ramara. Artists can find full details and apply online at orillia.ca/PublicArt.

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Contact Information

Allie Bradford
Culture Coordinator
705-330-6479
abradford@orillia.ca

Angela Grenier
Manager of Communications
705-325-2108
agrenier@orillia.ca