Expressions of Diversity Worldwide
Multimedia Virtual Exhibition – Submission Guidelines
1. Exhibition Theme
“Expressions of Diversity Worldwide” celebrates cultural, social, and personal diversity across global communities. Submissions should explore identity, heritage, inclusion, intersectionality, or lived experiences that reflect diverse perspectives.
2. Eligibility
Open to artists worldwide, ages 18+ (or with guardian consent if under 18). Individual artists, collectives, and students are welcome. All work must be original and created by the submitting artist(s).
3. Accepted Media
We welcome a wide range of multimedia formats, including visual art (painting, drawing, photography, digital art), video art and short films, audio works (spoken word, sound art, music), animation and motion graphics, and interactive or web-based works if accessible online.
4. Artistic Standards
To ensure a high-quality exhibition, all submissions must meet the following:
Originality & Integrity
Work must not infringe on copyright or intellectual property rights. AI-assisted works must be clearly disclosed and meaningfully directed by the artist.
Conceptual Clarity
The work should clearly engage with the theme of diversity. A short artist statement (100–300 words) must explain the concept and context.
Professional Presentation
Images must be properly lit, cropped, and free of watermarks. Audio and video must be clear, with intentional editing and sound quality. Incomplete, low-effort, or draft works will not be accepted.
Ethical Considerations
Respectful representation of cultures and identities is required. Works promoting hate, discrimination, or harmful stereotypes will be rejected.
5. Technical Requirements (Virtual Exhibition Standards)
Images
Format: JPG or PNG. Resolution: Minimum 1920 px on the longest side. Maximum file size: 10 MB per image.
Video
Format: MP4 (H.264 recommended). Resolution: 1080p preferred (minimum 720p). Duration: Up to 10 minutes. Maximum file size: 500 MB.
Audio
Format: MP3 or WAV. Duration: Up to 10 minutes. Audio must be clear with minimal background noise.
Interactive/Web-Based Works
Must be accessible via a stable URL and compatible with standard browsers such as Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. No downloads or special hardware may be required.
6. Submission Requirements
Each submission must include artist name and country, title of work, medium and year created, artist statement (100–300 words), and technical details such as dimensions, duration, and format. A maximum of five works may be submitted per artist.
7. Accessibility & Inclusivity
Subtitles or captions are strongly encouraged for video and audio works. Artists are encouraged to include alt-text descriptions for visual works where possible. Avoid flashing visuals that may trigger photosensitivity.
8. Selection Process
Submissions will be reviewed by a curatorial panel. Selection criteria include relevance to the theme, artistic quality, technical execution, and originality and impact. All decisions are final.
9. Rights & Usage
Artists retain full copyright of their work. By submitting, artists grant permission for online exhibition display and promotion via website and social media with proper credit. Artists are responsible for securing permissions for any third-party content.
10. Code of Conduct
Submissions must not contain hate speech or discriminatory content, explicit violence without clear contextual justification, or plagiarized or unauthorized material.
11. Important Notes
Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Selected artists may be asked to provide higher-resolution files. The exhibition will be hosted on a virtual platform, and formatting may be adjusted for optimal display.
12. Submission Fees
Submission fees help support the administration and digital hosting of the exhibition.
Non-Members
$25 CAD for the first submission and $20 CAD for each additional submission.
Members
$15 CAD for the first submission and $10 CAD for each additional submission.
A maximum of five (5) digital works may be submitted per artist. Fees are non-refundable regardless of acceptance status. Each submitted work counts as one entry, and payment must be completed at the time of submission for the application to be considered.
13. Awards & Recognition
To celebrate outstanding artistic achievement, the exhibition will present the following awards:
Top Prizes
1st Prize: $300 CAD
2nd Prize: $200 CAD
3rd Prize: $100 CAD
Honourable Mentions
Three Honourable Mentions will be awarded. Each recipient will receive a complimentary one-year membership to Art Pontiac and official recognition in the exhibition and promotional materials.
Additional Notes
Awards are determined by the curatorial panel based on artistic excellence, originality, and alignment with the exhibition theme. Winners will be announced during the virtual exhibition launch event.