Kawartha Art Gallery uveils timely new theme for Annual Juried Exhibition

Kawartha Art Gallery has unveiled the theme for its 2026 Annual Juried Exhibition, Voices & Visibility: Women, Art, and Political Change, inviting artists from across Ontario to explore the evolving relationship between democracy, participation, and the role of women in shaping communities through creative expression.

More than an annual juried exhibition, Voices & Visibility marks an important evolution for Kawartha Art Gallery. As the Gallery enters a new chapter, it is expanding its curatorial vision through exhibitions that empower artists to engage with contemporary issues, encourage meaningful public dialogue, and demonstrate the power of art to connect communities.

Running from October 7 to December 19, the exhibition invites artists to interpret themes of democracy, advocacy, leadership, identity, protest, belonging, representation, human rights, and community engagement through painting, sculpture, photography, fibre art, digital media, and other artistic disciplines. Artists are encouraged to draw from personal experience, historical events, contemporary issues, or imagined futures to create work that inspires reflection and conversation.

“Artists have long understood the transformative power of creative expression, and science is now affirming what they have known for generations” said Gallery Executive Director, Susan Taylor in a press release. “A growing body of research demonstrates that participation in the arts can improve mental health, reduce loneliness, strengthen social connection, and enhance overall well-being. This year’s Annual Juried Exhibition reflects that evidence, inviting visitors to experience art not only as a form of creative expression, but as a catalyst for connection, understanding, and meaningful community dialogue.”

The exhibition also builds on the momentum created by the Gallery’s recent Empty Seats exhibition and community discussion, which demonstrated the community’s appetite for thoughtful conversations about civic participation and representation. Voices & Visibility broadens that conversation by inviting artists from across Ontario to contribute their own perspectives through creative expression.

To recognize artistic excellence, the Gallery will present $2,000 in cash awards, including the Ken Found Memorial Award for Highest Achievement ($1,000). Presented annually, the Ken Found Memorial Award for Highest Achievement recognizes the artist whose work demonstrates the highest level of artistic excellence while most effectively reflecting the theme and intent of the Annual Juried Exhibition. Established through the Ken Found Art Fund, the award celebrates Ken Found’s enduring legacy of championing local artists and enriching the cultural life of the Kawartha Lakes community.

The exhibition is open to Ontario artists aged 18 and older working in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, sculpture, fibre art, photography, and digital art. Online submissions close Monday, September 28, and the awards reception will be held on Saturday, November 7.

Voices & Visibility will be the Gallery’s first exhibit in its new home at 19 Cambridge Street South in Lindsay, Ontario, and reflects the Gallery’s continued evolution as a vibrant

cultural destination, one that champions artistic excellence, embraces timely and relevant themes, and creates opportunities for artists and communities to connect through meaningful cultural experiences.

For more information, please visit https://www.kawarthagallery.com/exhibits/women-art-political-change