Over the past two years, the Ottawa School of Art held annual visual arts contests, celebrating different subjects and mediums. This year, OSA is turning to the ceramic artists of Ottawa to exhibit the creativity and range of contemporary ceramic practice in our community.
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Exhibit your work
Selected works will be exhibited at the Ottawa School of Art's Orléans Campus Gallery at the Shenkman Arts Centre.
Earn recognition
Prizes will be awarded to select works at the exhibition's vernissage. Grand Prize: $2 500; Second Prize: $1 000; Youth Prize: $500; People's Choice: OSA course of your choice.
Support local arts education
The money raised from this competition will support improvements to OSA's ceramics studio and the Outreach Program.
Important Dates
March
16
Registrations open
April
30
Paperwork submission deadline
Jun
25
Vernissage and People’s Choice voting period
Jun
25-28
Exhibition & Sale
Prizes
The following prizes will be awarded during the vernissage:
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Grand Prize: $2 500
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Runner-Up Prize: $1 000
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Youth Prize: $500
People’s Choice Award
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Awarded to the artwork receiving the most public votes during the vernissage
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Prize: One free Ottawa School of Art course (at either campus or online)
Voting process
Starting at 5:00 p.m., upon arrival, visitors will be given ballot on which they can indicate their artwork of choice and place it in the ballot box at the gallery entrance.
Voting closes: 6:15 p.m.
Award announced: 6:30 p.m.
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Rules & Eligibility
Fire & Form is a competition and sale celebrating contemporary ceramic work in our region. Proceeds from artwork sales support the Ottawa School of Art’s Outreach Program and improvements to OSA's ceramic studio.
Exhibition & Sale:
June 25 - 28, 2026
Vernissage: June 25, 2026 | 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Ottawa School of Art Orleans Gallery | Shenkman Arts Centre
245 boulevard Centrum Boulevard, Orléans, Ontario
Eligibility
This competition is open to participants that meet all the following criteria:
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A current Ottawa School of Art membership
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Aged 12 and older
Artwork Criteria
Artworks not meeting this criteria will not be considered.
Submissions must be original ceramic artworks
Submitted artwork must be available for sale
Artwork dimensions must not exceed:
Height: 14" | Width: 14" | Depth: 14"
Works created within the past two years (i.e. since June 2024)
All submitted works must meet the submission requirements outlined below
Submission Requirements
Once registered, to complete your submission, artists must provide all of the following by the deadline.
Email all submission materials to:
osacontest@artottawa.ca
Submission Form
Completed Artwork Submission Form
Image of Piece
One JPG image of the submitted artwork
Maximum file size: 5 MB
Resolution: 300 dpi, RGB
Minimum size: 1200 pixels (height or width)
Images may be used for promotion and will be displayed in an online gallery.
Artist statement
Completed artist statement of 250 words or less for each submitted piece.
Registration Fee
Participation requires a current OSA membership and a $30.00 non-refundable registration fee.
Exhibition Logistics
Accepted artworks must be hand-delivered or dropped off at:
OSA Orléans Campus – OSAO Gallery
Main floor, Shenkman Arts CentreDelivery dates:
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Sunday, June 21, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
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Monday, June 22, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Artworks will not be accepted outside of these dates and times.
Packaging requirements:
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Artwork must be soft-wrapped
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Clearly label the exterior with:
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Artist name
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Contact information
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“OSAO – FIRE AND FORM CONTEST”
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All artworks will be for sale during the exhibition
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Artists receive 60% of the sale price
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40% of each sale supports the OSA Outreach Program and improvements to our ceramics studio
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Artist payments will be issued by e-transfer within two weeks of the exhibition closing
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All unsold artworks must be collected at one of the following times from the OSAO Gallery:
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Monday, June 29, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
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Saturday, July 4, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Winning artists must pick up their artwork, (or arrange to have their artwork picked up), from the OSAO administration office, August 4 to 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
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By submitting, artists confirm that:
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The submitted work is their own original creation
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The artwork meets all eligibility and submission criteria
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The Ottawa School of Art is not responsible for loss or damage due to theft, vandalism, or accidental breakage
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Submitted images may be used for promotional purposes, with artist credit
Full terms are acknowledged and accepted as part of the submission form.
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Ready to Register?
Registrations are not yet open for Firm & Form, but we will let you know as soon as registrations become live.
Jury Panel
All submissions will be juried by three art professionals (jury members TBA).
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Payton Hillman
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Chloe Wilson
Describe the team member here. Write a brief description of their role and responsibilities, or a short bio with a background summary.
Jessica Davis
