Call for Submissions: Indigenous Artists Invited to Participate in Inaugural Exhibition at Manitoba Legislative Building Winnipeg, MB
The Manitoba Legislative Assembly is inviting submissions from Indigenous artists across the province for its first-ever Indigenous art exhibition, to be held in the heart of the Legislative Building in Winnipeg. Titled At the Heart of this Land, the exhibition will occupy the central space of the building—symbolically and physically placing Indigenous art at the heart of Manitoba’s legislative institution. The exhibition will run for two weeks, with an opening reception on Friday, January 30, 2026.
This project is an early step in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly’s commitment to ongoing, meaningful Reconciliation and the decolonization of institutional spaces. By situating the exhibition at the core of this building, the Assembly seeks to highlight the deep Indigenous connections to the land on which the building stands. This project serves as a reclamation of space and amplification of Indigenous voices in a Neoclassical context. Winnipeg, known as the heart of Turtle Island, serves as a powerful backdrop to this initiative.
Seven works will be selected for the exhibition. Artists are encouraged to interpret the theme through their own unique lens and may submit pieces of any medium, including beading, painting, sculpture, carving, multimedia, or others. The initial selection committee is comprised of:
-Dave Shuttleworth, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Legislative Assembly, Member of the Red River Métis Nation, of the Wolf Clan and son of the Bear Clan.
– Rick Yarish, Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, settler of Ukrainian, Polish, Irish and Scottish heritage.
– Claire Normandeau, Curator of the exhibition and Manager of the Legislative Assembly Visitor Tour Program, Red River Métis, settler French, English, and Scottish.
– Shay Jolicoeur, Indigenous Tour Officer with the Visitor Tour Program, Red River Métis.
An advisory committee comprised of seven elders from across the province, MLAs from various parties, and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly will be consulted in the selection process.
Selected artists will be invited to the exhibition opening January 30 th , 2026. They will also be asked to participate in a short video highlighting their work in context with the exhibition. Each selected artist will be paid an honorarium of $500 for their participation in the exhibition.
Submission Requirements:
High-quality photos of the artwork.
Title of the work.
Year of creation.
A written (max. 250 words) or video (max. 2 minutes) description of the work.
A written (max. 500 words) or video (max. 4 minutes) artist biography.
A self-declaration of Indigenous heritage.
Notes for submissions:
*Artists submitting a video description and/or biography should include a Dropbox link in their initial email submission.
*If your submission is not selected for this exhibition, please note that your contact details will be retained for future Legislative exhibitions and opportunities.
Submissions should be sent to the Manitoba Legislative Assembly Exhibitions Team at: exhibitions@mbassembly.ca by November 28, 2025.
The Manitoba Legislative Assembly is an independent body, distinct from the Government of Manitoba. This initiative marks an important step in the Assembly’s ongoing journey toward Truth and Reconciliation and in the recognition of Indigenous voices in the province’s cultural and legislative landscapes.
