“MUSKOKA in the OPEN AIR – Celebrating the Act of Painting Outdoors“
November 2025 – May 2026
Location: Township of Muskoka Lakes – Public Gallery Space at 1 Bailey Street, Port Carling, Ontario P0B 1J0
The Bala Plein Air group is inviting its members to participate in a unique opportunity to exhibit their work at the Township of Muskoka Lakes building in Port Carling in the Public Gallery over the winter and spring. We will try to include as many Bala Plein Air Group artists and their work as possible based on the theme and space limitations. This will be a juried exhibition.
ARTIST ELIGIBILITY: Artists who have attended at least 3 Bala Plein Air sessions in one season (July – Oct) in any of the years from 2020 to 2025 are eligible to submit up to 4 pieces of art that was initiated and inspired by the plein air painting sessions. If demand is high, preference will be given to artists who attended more than three (3) sessions.
Artwork in this exhibition is not for sale during the exhibition time frame. However, if there is interest in purchasing a piece, individuals will be directed to contact the Bala Plein Air Group and then the artist. Information relating to our group’s activity will be displayed with the exhibit.
ELIGIBLE WORKS OF ART: Original paintings, drawings or 2-dimensional art initiated in one of the scheduled sessions/locations located within the Township of Muskoka Lakes* in any media: watercolour, acrylic, oil, gouache, pastel, pencil, ink, fabric or in combination. Subjects may include some connection to the community (Muskoka), such as buildings, people in Muskoka, landscapes*, town scapes, water, forests, nature, animals, cranberries, etc. The art work does not need to be fully completed en plein air but must originate from a plein air sketch or study at a Bala Plein air organized event. Plein air works based on other Muskoka locations that we did not attend as a group, are not eligible. Art work must be ready to hang. See link to submission guidelines and checklist below. *Muskoka Lakes does not include Gravenhurst Wharf or Rosseau.
HOW BALA PLEIN AIR GROUP MEMBERS CAN SUBMIT ART to this EXHIBITION:
Step 1. Send an EMAIL to exhibit@balapleinair.ca indicating your interest and include the following:
- Attach photo of your artwork (jpeg photo or screenshot with your phone is acceptable)
- Size of the artwork in inches including the frame
- Title of the art work
- Bala Plein Air location (must be within Muskoka Lakes)
- Medium(s) used
- Name of artist and date (month/year) it was painted
Submission Timeline: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 to Wednesday October 1, 2025 up to 4:30 PM.
SELECTION: Art work for this exhibition will be representative of our group and the theme – Muskoka in the Open Air – Celebrating the Act of Painting Outdoors. A jury making the selection for this exhibition includes past award winners at the Cranberry Festival, Jane Love Elliott (Grand Cran 2023) and Joanne Schwartz (Grand Cran 2024). from our group. As many artists will be included in this Exhibition as possible. All artists will be notified by October 10, 2025 regarding their submission.
Step 2. Artists with selected art works will be contacted to arrange for delivery and drop off prior to the November 1st installation date. Art work must be signed, ready to hang and labelled on the back.
Additional information attached here in pdf.
Be Art Love Art