Art Volt celebrates a banner year
The Art Volt Collection (AVC), a juried sales and rental program supporting recent graduates from Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts, is preparing to welcome its 2026–27 cohort of emerging artists.
At the same time, it’s celebrating what has been a banner year for the program.
From its first-ever appearance at Art Toronto, Canada’s premier contemporary art fair, to institutional acquisitions of alumni like Dayna Danger, the past year and a half has highlighted both the professional achievements and growing recognition of Art Volt artists.
Much of this momentum was propelled by new institutional support. In June 2025, Concordia announced a historic $1-million donation from Power Corporation of Canada to expand Art Volt’s mentorship, training, residencies and visibility initiatives, strengthening support for emerging artists as they transition from graduation to professional practice.
The Art Volt Collection booth at the Plural fair 2026.
Breaking onto the national stage
The Art Volt Collection’s debut at Art Toronto 2025 marked a first for the program outside Quebec. Eleven works were sold, including Story-teller by Paras Vijan, acquired by the Desjardins Collection.
At the 2025 Plural Contemporary Art Fair in Montreal, where the Collection was also presented, works by Concordia alum Dayna Danger, MFA 17, earned a permanent place in a major institutional collection.
At this year’s Plural fair, which just wrapped up, Gabor Bata, MFA 23, entered the Desjardins Collection with Excavation Site (2026), while also selling three additional works to private collectors. Artist and alum Lucy Gill, BFA 25, also participated this year, presenting their Harrows II installation series and completing two sales.
“Art Volt was created to bridge the gap between graduation and professional practice, and opportunities like Art Toronto, Plural, and major acquisitions are exactly the kind of platforms our emerging artists need and deserve,” says Annie Gérin, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.
“These achievements and success stories are proof that Art Volt is not just about showcasing work — it’s about jumpstarting artists’ careers.”
The Art Volt Collection’s debut at Art Toronto 2026.
Beyond the Collection
Art Volt goes beyond a Collection; the platform offers mentorship, workshops, residencies, and paid opportunities, helping recent graduates navigate the early stages of their transition to the professional world. Since its launch in 2020, 65 established alumni have mentored nearly 200 recent graduates, while more than 20 residency programs — in collaboration with partners like the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul, Esse, Tangente, La Centrale, and Céline Bureau — have provided further professional development.
The 14 newcomers to the Collection, who will represent the 2026–27 cohort, will be officially announced in May, and their works will be presented during the launch exhibition at the FOFA Gallery, from June 2nd to 30th 2026.
Join us on June 2nd at 5pm for the vernissage, to celebrate the start of another great year for Art Volt.
Discover the Art Volt Collection and programming.