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Call Summary The London Arts Council invites artists and creators living in London and surrounding First Nations - the Chippewas of the Thames, the Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Munsee-Delaware Nation - to submit high-resolution digital images of their original artwork for purchase and use in a public art project. Artwork images will be printed onto a vinyl wrap and attached to traffic light boxes at street light intersections around London. Application Requirements Digital images at 300 dpi. Aspect ratios 1:1 and 2:3 are best suited for this project. Please ensure your image contains no advertising. And please bear in mind that very busy or complex images can be visibly inaccessible to some members of the public. Please note: Applicants must review London Arts Council's Guidelines on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Projects Payment Selected artists and creators will receive $400.00 per image used, as per the current CARFAC rate. The artwork provided must be original artwork and the sole intellectual property of the artist or creator, with no copyright infringements. Please refer to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office website link for clarification on copyright: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-internetopic.nsf/eng/h_wr02281.html Eligibility Professional Artist, Creator, and Practitioners of Traditional Arts This project is open to all professional artists and creators (emerging and established) who are 18 years of age or older, and who reside in London Ontario or surrounding First Nations - the Chippewas of the Thames, the Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Munsee-Delaware Nation. The London Arts Council defines a professional artist and creator as someone who has developed skills through training or practice, is recognized by artists and creators working within the same artistic tradition, has a history of public presentation, seeks payment for their work, and actively practices their work. Short breaks in artistic work history are permitted under this definition. Online Submission Artists/Creators/Practitioners of Traditional Arts wishing to be considered must complete all application requirements. Please complete all required fields of the online application form and submit the required application documents. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications submitted through other means, such as fax, mail, and email will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application is submitted by the deadline. Please check back for future calls in 2026. For any questions regarding this project, please email: info@londonarts.ca

The Gallery In response to demand from local artists for exhibition space and to promote and celebrate our talented local artists, the London Arts Council and the City of London Culture Services have collaborated with RBC Place London to pilot The Gallery program at RBC Place London as part of our London Arts Live (LAL) program offerings. The purpose of The Gallery is to promote the work of artists and creators residing in London and surrounding First Nations to display original artworks for exhibition, with sales opportunities, on highly prominent and specially designated wall space within this municipally owned building. For the eighth exhibition, The Gallery featured artworks created by Michael Czupryna , a lens-based artist working in London, Ontario, creating images inspired by nature. A recent awakening has drawn his attention to the forest, in particular, trees and water. This perspective has been developed through lived health experiences, the pandemic, and learning that trees contribute directly to human well being, while also forming a seemingly intelligent ecosystem. “Growing up in London’s suburbs, nature was not a part of my life. I never went hiking or camping. My limited experience was the carefully arranged gardens and the strategically placed trees of the urban environment. During the lockdowns of the pandemic, curiosity led to a nature walk for the first time. The woods felt disorienting, like a kaleidoscope of limbs engulfing me, but later a sense of calm strangely emerged. I had never felt something like this before. I researched ‘forest bathing’ and discovered that trees emit phytoncides that reduce cortisol in humans and help our immune systems fight disease. It was a revelation to learn that trees actively assist me in fighting my ailments. Why would they do this? Writings by Donna Haraway, “Staying with the trouble: Making kin in the chthulucene” have influenced my perspective on these experiences - specifically her concept of seeing nature as our kin, inspiring me to name these portraits “Oddkin." My photographs are taken in environmentally significant areas here in London, Ontario.” - Michael Czupryna An Interview with Michael Czupryna Oddkin by Michael Czupryna (January - May, 2026) Q: You describe yourself as a lens-based artist. How long have you been working in this medium and how has it changed for you during that time? A:  I discovered film photography in the 1980s at Fanshawe College and was immediately struck by how one could manipulate realistic images to express abstract ideas, such as putting two negatives together to create a new reality. There are many elements involved such as light and time that one can control. Film gave way to digital imaging, which I initially found less engaging because I preferred the tactile nature of working with film. Now, however, I can capture imagery with a digital camera that illustrates the concepts I wish to convey.   Q: You mention that you grew up in London, Ontario’s suburbs. How has London shaped your creative output do you think? A:  I grew up in London's east end, where the urban met the industrial landscape and the examples of real nature were the small patches of wild trees and bushes growing behind the fences of corporations that cautioned "no trespassing" to me. This experience created my view of a human-made world of concrete and asphalt with rigid edges and harsh geometry, in contrast to the distant wild nature.   Q: Walk us through the creative process behind this work. How do you go about capturing images like this? A:  Discovering nature walks during the pandemic and ruminating on health issues, I found myself drawn to the water below me, which mirrored the trees and sky, and also acted as a lens exposing the detritus below the water's surface. Blending these elements together, the images capture light and water movement to suggest a kind of "life" to the trees.   Q: You mentioned the writings of Donna Haraway in your artist statement. How do these philosophical texts affect or translate into a visual practice for you? A:  I believe that she is suggesting a way of being that unites humans and the environment in a way that is transformative for our shared ecology. Her concept of "oddkin" proposes new ways of relating across species, reframing the relationship between humans and more-than human ecologies through care, responsibility, and co-existence. Connecting humans with our odd kin.   Q: Why does creativity matter to you? A:  Creativity and Imagination are important because they take us to places that we wouldn't otherwise go. Imagination is the way we conceive of a new reality and creativity is the engine that makes that happen.   Q: What gaps currently exist when it comes to supporting the Arts? What kind of support is needed? A:  More funding and exhibition spaces for emerging artists in London.   Q: What do you envision now for your future in the Arts here in London? A:  I am very happy to be able to share my perspective on nature and photography in the Gallery at RBC, and hope to find other opportunities in the future. I see unlimited inspiration in the Forest City and will continue, with a renewed perspective, to record the wonders of our natural ecosystems.   Q: What made you most excited about putting yourself out there to work with the London Arts Council and RBC Place London for this exhibition? A:  The opportunity to share newfound knowledge and share the images that were created from that experience. Contact: Website: https://michaelczupryna.com Instagram: @michael.czupryna X: https://x.com/McArts1000 View Oddkin at RBC Place London on the following dates: January Jan. 10 (11:00am - 4:00pm) Jan. 11 (11:00am - 4:00pm) Jan. 15 (11:00am - 2:00pm) Jan. 22 (11:00am - 2:00pm) Jan. 26 (11:00am - 5:00pm) Jan. 27 (10:00am - 2:00pm) Jan. 29 (11:00am - 2:00pm) February Feb. 4 (5:30pm - 8:30pm) Feb. 5 (11:00am - 2:00pm) Feb. 6 (9:00am - 5:00pm) Feb. 7 (5:00pm - 10:00pm) Feb. 18 (9:00am - 5:00pm) Feb. 19 (9:00am - 8:00pm) Feb. 20 (9:00am - 2:00pm) Feb. 26 (11:00am - 9:00pm) Feb. 28 (5:00pm - 9:00pm) March Mar. 2 (10:00am - 4:00pm) Mar. 3 (9:00am - 4:00pm) Mar. 4 (9:00am - 2:00pm) Mar. 5 (11:00am - 2:00pm) Mar. 6 (8:00am - 10:00am) Mar. 12 (9:00am - 2:00pm) Mar. 13 (9:00am - 4:00pm) Mar. 19 (11:00am - 2:00pm) Mar. 26 (11:00am - 2:00pm) April Apr. 1 (9:00am - 3:00pm) Apr. 2 (10:00am - 3:00pm) Apr. 7 (9:00am - 5:00pm) Apr. 8 (8:00am - 4:00pm) Apr. 9 (10:00am - 3:00pm) Apr. 10 (10:00am - 6:00pm) Apr. 11 (10:00am - 6:00pm) Apr. 12 (10:00am - 4:00pm) Apr. 16 (10:00am - 3:00pm) Apr. 17 (8:00am - 8:00pm) Apr. 18 (8:00am - 8:00pm) Apr. 19 (8:00am - 4:00pm) Apr. 23 (3:00pm - 8:00pm) Apr. 24 (9:00am - 8:00pm) Apr. 30 (11:00am - 2:00pm)   May May 6 (8:00am - 3:00pm) May 7 (11:00am - 2:00pm) May 14 (11:00am - 7:00pm) May 21 (11:00am - 2:00pm) May 25 (8:00am - 8:00pm) May 26 (8:00am - 1:00pm) May 28 (8:00am - 8:00pm) May 29 (8:00am - 8:00pm) May 30 (8:00am - 8:00pm) ** enter via the main doors on York St.** The objectives of the Gallery program are: to create a beautiful, unique, and cultured atmosphere; provide compelling experiences for local, national, and international visitors; educate the public by presenting a series of diverse artworks created by local professional artists; and provide professional opportunities for local artists, including increased promotion, sales, and career enhancement. For more information about this project or inquiries regarding purchasing artworks, please contact the London Arts Council at info@londonarts.ca

While the cold weather continues to pervade this month, the arts community continues to warm our hearts! ❤️   As February is Black History Month , we have been sharing events taking place this month to celebrate, learn, connect, and engage as we honour the legacy of Black artists and Black artistic communities. We would like to express our year-round commitment to celebrating Black history and artistry.   The 2026 theme for Black History Month in Canada is: “ 30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries ” which celebrates three decades of Black History Month in Canada and recognizes the enduring legacy of Black Canadians, whose leadership, creativity, innovation and resilience have shaped our past, continue to influence our present, and will inspire future generations.     Thank you to our operational partners for your ongoing support. Your funding and partnership provide crucial support for LAC  in maintaining and growing capacity for ongoing development, implementation, and delivery of professional artistic programs and services for our community and the local arts sector. We extend our gratitude to our strategic programming partners whose generosity helps us support the local arts community and artists with meaningful programs and opportunities. PUBLIC ART PROJECTS Michael Czupryna  is a lens-based artist working in London, Ontario, creating images inspired by nature. Czupryna on the creative process:  "Discovering nature walks during the pandemic and ruminating on health issues, I found myself drawn to the water below me, which mirrored the trees and sky, and also acted as a lens exposing the detritus below the water's surface. Blending these elements together, the images capture light and water movement to suggest a kind of "life" to the trees."   The exhibit at RBC Place Gallery runs January – May, 2026. PROGRAMS AND LEARNING Upcoming Program – Artists in Practice Workshop Series   Stay tuned for more details on the exciting Artists in Practice Workshop Series  — a targeted initiative designed to support emerging and mid-career visual artists in London and surrounding First Nations communities, including Oneida Nation of the Thames, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, and Munsee Delaware Nation. This program is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s (OTF) Seed Grant . The London Arts Council would like to thank OTF for their support. ARTS ACTIVATIONS With performances added to the calendar on an ongoing basis, check out who's performing in our community and support local talent.   OPPORTUNITIES CAIP for Individuals & Collectives   Applications for 2026 CAIP funding are now open for Individual Artists and Collectives. Applicants can book a consultation with an LAC team member by contacting investment@londonarts.ca   The City of London’s Community Arts Investment Program is administered by the London Arts Council through a Purchase of Service Agreement with the City of London. Deadline: Friday, March 27 at 4:30pm CONNECT WITH US If we are connected on Facebook or Instagram you may have noticed a couple videos which have launched a "Get to Know Your London Arts Council" series. This is our way of helping address the many questions we have received over the years and highlight our wonderful team members in the process! Want to follow along? Click on the buttons below.