Pride In Art
BY PRIDE IN BUSINESS
Radical Joy
Presented By: Pride in Business
Creative Director: Fernando Vargas
Curator: Felipe Jasso
Radical Joy: Celebrating Diversity
We are thrilled to announce the call for submissions for Pride in Art 2025, an exhibition celebrating the vibrant, unapologetic joy within the queer community and its allies. Radical Joy: Celebrating Diversity explores liberation, self-love, and resistance in the face of adversity. Art has the power to uplift, heal, and connect us, and this exhibition will highlight how joy serves as both a tool of empowerment and a radical act of defiance.
Theme: Radical Joy: Celebrating Diversity is a call to embrace joy as a revolutionary force. In a world where minorities have been marginalized, joy becomes a radical act—one that fosters self-empowerment, healing, and solidarity. This exhibition highlights the diverse ways artists express and experience joy, from playful freedom to collective celebration. We invite all artists, especially queer artists, to submit works that explore joy, resilience, and the beauty of diversity within the community.
Artistic mediums: We want to welcome submissions including, but not limited to, paintings, drawings, mixed media, 2D and 3D pieces, photography, mixed media, digital art, video/recorded performance art, film, etc.
We seek artworks that go beneath the surface to reveal aspects of the subjects that usually remain hidden.
We encourage artists to explore diverse techniques and the boundaries of their chosen medium to create impactful art that resonates with the audience.
Eligibility: This exhibition is open to artists from all walks of life, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. We strongly encourage submissions from emerging artists, underrepresented communities, and artists with diverse backgrounds.
No previous gallery or exhibition experience is required to participate in this show.
Submission: For detailed information on how to apply please read the sections below, Call for Submission Requirements, and Submission (How to Submit Your Work).
Timeline
Pride In Art event date (exhibition date): Friday, May 23, 2025
Art submission deadline: Wednesday, April 25, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: Monday, April 28th, 2025
Available for a published article Interview: From Saturday, April 28, 2025
Location: 54th Floor Sky Garden — The Bow Building
** Set-up will happen on the day of the event. You need to be available to bring and assist in the setup of your artwork.
** Artists need to be available the day of the event from 2:00 pm until 10:00 pm (Event date Friday, May 23)
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Pride In Art by Pride In Business is an Exhibition that focuses on supporting established and emerging artists across all art disciplines.
It is a unique opportunity for LGBTQ2S+ artists in Calgary, Alberta, to showcase their work to the community through an energetic event that celebrates the arts in our province.
Our volunteer team provides our time, effort, and professional skills to put together a wonderful exhibition. Pride In Business fronts all event costs to showcase and promote the artist.
The sole purpose of the event is to create visibility for artists in our community and introduce them to our members, sponsors, and a wider audience.
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Pride In Business was established in 2011 to promote and encourage networking between LGBTQ2S+ businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers (whether as a self-identifying member, ally and/or supporter). The intent is to help provide more visibility within our community, allowing community members to better support our local LGBTQ2S+ professionals and businesses. Learn more about Pride In Business.
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Pride In Business offers:
• Artist honorarium of $100
• Our volunteer team provides our time, effort, and professional skills to put together a wonderful exhibition.
» Pride In Business fronts all event costs to showcase and promote the artist.
» The sole purpose of the event is to create visibility for artists in our community and introduce them to our members, sponsors, and a wider audience. To truly showcase what our community has to offer.
• Prior to the art show, we will be featuring a short article (about you and your artwork). The article will be featured on the Pride In Business website in conjunction with the PIB social media channels.
» You would need to be available to either meet in person, over the phone, or via zoom for the interview.
• Pride In Art by Pride In Business is an exhibition with great opportunities for artists to sell their art (if they choose to), If you have any marketing collateral for yourself (for self-promotion), you are welcome to bring it.
» To support the artists, Pride In Business will not take any commission for artwork sold during the event.
• The intent of this event is to provide a free space for the chosen artists to showcase their work to our network of sponsors, other professionals, and business owners in the community.
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*** Who is the Community Spotlight For Artists intended for?
• LGBTQ2S+ self-identifying member, ally, and/or supporter.
• Artists who are established or in the early stages of their career (self-identify as emerging).
• Seeking to make a profession and aspire to make a primary income from their artistic work.
• LGBTQ2S+ immigrants/newcomers creating work.
• LGBTQ2S+ First Nation two-spirit community members.
• **** The selected artists will be provided with guidelines; however, they will be responsible for shipping, installation and staying during the event upon acceptance. All art sale will go to artist and they will be responsible of doing arrangements with art collectors. However, art must stay on display until the end of the event.
Once selected, artist must ensure their work is ready for sale, framed if necessary.
Selected artist will have a plus one free ticket.
• Artists who reside in Calgary: must be available for installation (artwork drop off and artwork pick up on event day).
• Artists who reside in Calgary: must be available on event day to drop off artwork 2 hours before the event start time.
• Artists who reside in Calgary: must be available to pick up and remove their artwork at the end of the event time.
• Artwork must be completed, delivered, and ready for display
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• Meet the above (general requirements)
• First and Last Name | email | phone number | preferred pronouns
• Artist biography/ Artist statement (250 words max)
• Include a link to your portfolio (professional) Website and social media
• Artwork info (title, medium, year, dimensions, price).
Each piece of artwork must be accompanied by a work description, including the title, medium used, and price.
All this information is important for your benefit and exposure if selected• Maximum of 4-8 pieces (one or all may be selected by our panel) • Digital images of artwork (as jpeg attachments)
• All works must be professionally presented (for example: framed, wired, foam core, no loose prints).
• In the case of video submissions, audio may not be presented at the exhibit.
• Artwork must be complete on drop of DATE
• Artist must be available for installation (artwork drop off and artwork pick up on event day).
• Artists must be available on event day to speak about their work and /or self-promote their work to the event attendees.
• Be available for a short interview (a published article)
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PLEASE EMAIL YOUR SUBMISSION TO:
prideinart@prideinbusiness.caEMAIL SUBJECT LINE:
• 2025 Pride In Art: Your nameSUBMISSION DEADLINE:
• April 25th 2025NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE:
• April 28th 2024EVENT & INSTALLATION DATE:
• Location: 54th Floor Sky Garden — The Bow Building
• Exhibition Dates May 23th 2025• Set up will happen on the day of the event. You need to be available to bring and assist in the setup of your artwork.
• Artist need to be available the day of the event from 2:00 pm until 10:00 pm (Event date Friday, May 23th 2025)
• Include your work examples in the email attachment (with title, medium, year, dimensions, price). For details see the section on 2025 CALL FOR SUBMISSION SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
PARTNERS AND SPONSORS