40th Annual Juried Exhibition
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40th Annual Juried Exhibition 〰️
error 404: WORK IN PROCESS
For the past 40 years, Scarborough Arts has produced the Annual Juried Exhibition as a showcase of works created by local, emerging artists in Scarborough. Through incredible support from funders and sponsors, and the committed work of staff and volunteers, we have maintained a low-barrier, high-quality show that has changed and evolved over the years.
Scarborough Arts currently sits at a pivotal moment in its history; the organization is almost five decades old, and working on revitalization and strategic planning to reimagine how we can provide meaningful artistic opportunities for all members of our community. Likewise, the Annual Juried Exhibition has reached its 40th year! As we look back at the various transformations the organization and the program have undertaken, we cannot help but think about the vulnerability of being in process.
Part of being in process is working through surprising breakthroughs and moments in evolution. error 404: Work in Process asks you to look back on your own artistic journey and the nature of process(es). Show us artistic experiments gone wrong, cringe-worthy reflections, and radical shifts between art styles. Show us the BAD and the TRANSFORMED. We want to see your old(est) works right beside your new(est) to tell the world that we are all WORKS IN PROCESS.
Illustration by Jesse Read
PRIZES
As this is an anniversary year for the Annual Juried Exhibition, we have increased the prize money for this year only!
$5000 & swag bag - 1st place
$2500 & swag bag - 2nd place
$1500 & swag bag - 2nd place
$500 & swag bag - Scarborough Arts Student Achievement Award*
$500 & swag bag - Staff Pick Winner
*Scarborough Arts Student Achievement Award: This prize is for a student of any age currently enrolled or planning to attend secondary school (9-12) or post-secondary school (university/college, etc.) in the 2025-26 academic year. When you submit your application for this category, please identify yourself as a Student, indicate your area of study, and your current year of study below.
The Student Achievement Award is generously supported by community donations.
Submission requirements:
We ask that you submit two pieces per entry that speak to this journey:
Piece 1: An early piece from your first artistic practice*
Piece 2: A newer piece created within the last 2 years*
In your artist statement (150 words maximum), describe the process at play; where did you start your artistic journey, and how did you come to where you are now? What is evoked when you look back at your older pieces? Tell us about your artistic transformation and being a work in process.
*Each entry can be multidisciplinary. We accept pieces that fall under the categories of literary arts, visual arts, and auditory arts. See below for a description of each category.
Featured works will be selected by a panel of jurors.
Visual Arts (maximum 10 minutes long - short performances, short/experimental films, sculptures, paintings, textile work, etc.)
Literary Arts (maximum 500 words - short prose, fiction, poetry, etc.)
Auditory Arts (maximum 10 minutes long - sound and music)
HOW TO ENTER:
Submission fees are:
$25 for Students & Seniors (55+)
$45 for Adults
Payment Options:
PayPal - please Register via PayPal at paypal.me/ScarboroughArts
Cheque - please make cheques payable to Scarborough Arts and note "Entry Fee for Annual Juried Exhibition"; all cheques can be mailed to: Scarborough Arts, 1859 Kingston Rd., Scarborough ON M1N 1T3
Scarborough Arts is a non-profit, charitable organization, offering local, community-driven arts and cultural services, programs and advocacy; your Annual Juried Exhibition entrance fee directly supports our work and supports local Scarborough-based artists and cultural workers. The majority of our programs are offered free or low-cost/low-barrier. Thank you for your support! and contribution to Scarborough Arts programs!
Deadline for submissions is Sunday, October 19th, 2025 at 11:59pm. Payment must be made in order to complete your submission. Failure to pay the submission fee by this date may result in your submission being declined.
The Jurors
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Raoul Olou
VISUAL ARTS
Raoul Olou is a multidisciplinary artist who creates work that references personal experiences, ontology, and intuition, inspired by speculative fiction, science and popular culture.
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Dynesti Williams
SOUND ARTS
Dynesti has had a lasting impact as a rapper, singer, dancer and artist development coach based in the city of Toronto. Her music is a powerful fusion of neo-soul, conscious hip-hop, and reggae/dancehall leading her to open for artists such Sean Paul and Dax and collaboration with brands like Holt Renfrew. As an artist development coach Dynesti has a gift for helping artists break out of their shells and step into their power on stage. Known for her interactive and challenging (yet fun!) approach, she’s earned multiple awards and a solid reputation in Toronto’s live performance scene. Over the years, she’s coached hundreds of emerging artists across the GTA, guiding them to discover their unique stage presence and performance style.
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Adrian de Leon
WRITTEN ARTS
Adrian De Leon is an award-winning writer, critic, public historian, and former co-host at PBS Digital Studios. He is the author of two books of poetry and two books of history, and co-editor of FEEL WAYS: A Scarborough Anthology (Mawenzi House, 2021). His debut work of literary nonfiction, Notes from a Wayward Son: A Memoir, is forthcoming with Bond Street Books in 2026. Born in Manila and raised in Scarborough, he has lived and worked in Honolulu, Seattle, Vancouver, and Los Angeles. He currently lives in New York, where he teaches American and Philippine histories at NYU.