DEADLINE EXTENDED: January 10, 2022

Intuition against the grain 

“A map is more unreal than where you’ve been or how you feel” 

The speed at which intuition and our practices develop outruns the systems we work within, and art can act as a guide for systems to follow. 

How does leaning into your intuition interact with power?  How does intuition challenge the system? How do we build trust in our ability, and our body as a site for sensing and knowing? How is intuition practiced? 

Intuition invites complexity, exploration and play that moves beyond established hard edges of what is often considered by institutions as “valid” or “useful knowledge”. We invite you to explore process-based modes of learning to resist ideas of perfection in art-making and presentation. Extending out to bring in those who may not see themselves reflected in the arts into our process of experimentation, we invite proposals that consider intuitive ways of knowing and learning with your community. Your community can be as intimate as one person, or a site-specific consideration. We encourage collaborative approaches, and applications from collectives. 

Some questions to consider: 

• How can learning with your loved ones provide deep insight and build community? 

• How does intuition bring up levels of shame and doubt? How does our intuition entrap us, and how can we liberate it from the deep grooves carved by power into our consciousness?

• How can movement, gesture or somatic practices support learning intuitively?

• How do we create access to learning that resists institutional and colonial frameworks? 

• How can the focus on process push back against capitalist obsession with delivering the shiny object? 

• If your proposal is on-site: how does your proposal consider Whippersnapper’s unique storefront window and connection to the street? 

• If your proposal is for an off-site project: why have you chosen this location and community? How does this site enhance your idea? 

  
  

Whippersnapper welcomes proposals from emerging artists, curators, arts organizers, and other cultural producers from any background and age, practising across a variety of disciplines and media for on-site (594B Dundas Street West), off-site, or digital projects. Project proposals can vary in format to include but are not limited to: a series of workshops, performances, play with the format of artist talks & lectures, exhibitions, tours, activities, audio series, podcasts, interviews, public art, community arts involvement, digital projects, workbooks etc. Exhibitions are selected by our Programming Jury which is composed of Gallery staff, Board members, representatives from the Toronto Arts community as well as embedded community members. 

Whippersnapper is committed to paying fair fees to artists, curators, and other cultural producers (in accordance with CARFAC). We will work collaboratively with you to submit any additional project funding, and in this process emerging artists will gain grant writing skills that can be applied to future projects. Whippersnapper does not pay for the creation of the works to be displayed in the gallery, but will recommend artists for exhibition assistance if they host a show in the space (please see eligible expenses). 

The 2021-2022 Call for Curatorial/Artist Projects deadline is January 10, 2022.

To apply for the Open Call for Curatorial/Artist Projects please submit your application by January 10, 2022 via google forms here.

We welcome varying application formats that are relevant to your project idea. You can submit your application as a video or an audio tour that describes your practice and project. Please see below for a list of what to include in your application. 

We want to ensure that the submission process is as accessible as possible. Accessibility means many things for us, so let us know what you’d like us to be aware of and we’ll do our best to accommodate. This information will be kept confidential between Whippersnapper staff and (if needed) our Board. If you have further questions about the application process after reviewing the full call and guidelines, please contact Marina Fathalla at programming@whippersnapper.ca at least 24 hours before the deadline.

Applicants are asked to provide the following items:

1. Artist Statement (500 words max): Giving an overall description of your practice as it relates to the specific project you are proposing for Whippersnapper Gallery. 

2. Project Description (500 words max): The project description should outline the concepts, materials and format of the work you are proposing. A reminder to consider the feasibility of your project and if applicable please include any installation support you may need to realize the project.  

3. Secondary Programming (500 words max): We treasure our community and want to give both artists and the public opportunities to be involved in the conversations happening from shows held within the space. The theme of the call asks to center your community in your project idea. That said, if you are proposing an exhibition, we strongly encourage the inclusion of a secondary programming element to the exhibition. Examples of this can include artist talks, workshops, tours, activities, community arts involvement etc. Any secondary programming will be paid in accordance with CARFAC fees.

4. Curriculum Vitae (Max 3 pages): Your CV should include education and exhibition history, as well as any relevant experience, reviews, etc. Whippersnapper Gallery only shows the work of emerging artists/curators/designers/arts organizers. Whippersnapper Gallery acknowledges that we all have different paths and that passion is a great driver in the artistic journey. Formal education is not mandatory in this application process.

5. Visual Support Material (5-10): Please upload your support material as 1 PDF labelled: WS_lastname_firstname. You may include links to video and/or audio files. These should be a maximum of 3-5 minutes in total. If there is a specific portion of a longer video you would like the Programming Jury to watch, please indicate it on your support material list.

6. Support Material List: ordered and labeled to match the Visual Support Material PDF. You may also choose to include a short description of the projects (max 50 words per project).

If you have any questions about the proposal process please contact Gallery Director, raven lam at general@whippersnapper.ca or Director of Programming, Marina Fathalla at programming@whippersnapper.ca

Applicants will be notified within 2 months of their proposal status. We are looking to program 4 confirmed slots for the upcoming year, however we will consider select applicants and work with them to apply for additional funding for future projects. Thank you for your interest in showing at Whippersnapper Gallery, we look forward to seeing what you got!