The World of Threads Festival 2023 International Call for Submissions

Deadline May 21, 2023 11:59 pm

The World of Threads Festival 2023 International Call for Submissions is open now

 Extended  submission deadline of May 21, 2023

 

We are open to submissions of artwork from all countries which have been made between January 2019 and April 2023. 
The World of Threads Festival is a leading international showcase of contemporary fibre and textile art. We are a not-for-profit initiative with charitable status run by a few dedicated volunteers. We believe that some of the most exciting and compelling artwork being made today is happening in the field of fibre arts. Through our initiatives we have discovered some remarkable artists and brought them to the attention of Canadian and International audiences.
Festival 2023 will be focused around our usual venue Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. In addition to the beautiful gallery, we will also be using the Display Area Gallery, the Corridor Galleries, lobbies and open public spaces of the entire facility.
Important Festival Dates

Your work needs to be available from early Sept. 2023 to mid Jan. 2023.

  • Artwork shipments must arrive between: Sept. 11-15, 2023.
  • Artist in-person drop off between: Mon. Sept 11 – Fri. Sept. 15, 2023.
  • Festival install period: Sept 18 to Oct 9, 2023.
  • Festival starts: Tues. Oct. 10, 2023.
  • Opening Reception: Sat. Oct 14, 2023.
  • Festival ends: Sun. Dec. 17, 2023.
  • Festival take down period: Mon. Dec. 18 – Fri. Dec. 22, 2023.
  • Artists can collect work in-person between: Dec. 18 – 22, 2023.
  • Artwork return shipping to artists between: Tues. Jan. 2 – 12, 2024.
Three Options for Submitting:

Body of Work – Maximum 10 pieces + details.
Individual Pieces – Maximum 10 pieces + details.
Installations – Maximum 10 images + details and renderings.

All works submitted will be considered for the main gallery exhibition.
Bodies of Work: We encourage this, as we plan to devote entire hallways to individual artists. Your work might inspire an entire exhibition! Some pieces from a Body of Work may also be selected for a group show.

Individual Pieces: The group shows will draw from these.

Installations: Installations will be considered for the main gallery and the public spaces. There are several areas where we can display large work.

We may also curate smaller group shows in the halls.

Eligibility
  • Artists cover the cost of shipping.
  • We are open to artists from all countries.
  • All artwork must have been made between Jan 2019 and Apr. 2023.
  • No entry can be withdrawn from the exhibition once it has been accepted.
  • All work must be original – No patterns or commercial kits are acceptable.
  • One submission constitutes a Body of Work, or Individual pieces or an Installation.
  • You can send us as many submissions as you want and we will consider them.
  • There is a submission fee for each submission.

Submission Fee:  $60.00

This fee covers a maximum of ten pieces (10 full images and 10 details) or 1 installation. If you would like to submit an additional round of pieces of another installation, you may do another submission by paying an additional $60.00. Submission fees are non-refundable. You can submit as many applications as you want.

Why we have a submission fee: 

The submission fee covers our costs and time for processing the submissions and helps us run the festival. The World of Threads Festival as a whole, is organized by a few dedicated volunteers and people paid for specialized services. We do a massive amount of work on behalf of the artists. It’s a not-for-profit organization with charitable status. Because we don’t have the revenue of a gallery, we need to charge submission fees to make this event happen. We don’t have the money to pay artist fees. Running the festival involves paying for exhibition space, promotional materials, professional installers, installation materials, liability insurance for the galleries, sponsored buses, opening reception, to name a few. We receive a small grant that helps to cover our annual costs and a few donations, but they are not sufficient to run an international art festival.

How to Submit 
  • Go to our website: Submission.
  • Download the Submissions PDF and follow the instructions.
  • Make sure you read all the information on the website.

Questions? Contact [email protected]