Call for Artistic Creations: 2026 Concordia Student Volt-Age Exhibition
On this page, you will find all of the information regarding the Call for Artistic Creations for the inaugural 2026 Concordia Student Volt-Age Exhibition.
Students are now invited to submit an existing creation or a proposal for new work.
2026 Exhibition details & theme
The inaugural 2026 Concordia Student Volt-Age Exhibition will take place over two days in May 2026. The creations and works will be displayed and performed at the 2026 Volt-Age Summit at venue in downtown Montreal (location TBD).
The theme for the first Volt-Age Exhibition is: Advancing electrification for shared prosperity. The Volt-Age Research Program is a response to the impact of climate change and the need for a just transition towards clean energy in Canada. The research program is focused on electrification as one way of fighting climate change and working towards decarbonization, so we are looking for artistic creations that connection with electrification. Find out more about our ongoing research projects.
We are open to artistic creations in all mediums (see Eligibility for more information). Here are some ideas to spark your imagination as to what a creation around this theme could be:
- Digital collage or mixed media artwork portraying the interconnectedness of the built environment (power grids, people, cities) and the effect(s) of electrification
- Interactive sculpture exploring the ways in which electrification empowers individuals and communities
- Photography series documenting the shift towards electrification and renewable energy
- Augmented reality or immersive experience showing ways in which a community or city could transform through the use of sustainable electric power sources
- Devised theatre piece demonstrating the need for a just transition towards electrification through representation of diverse perspectives and cultures and the varying levels of access and accessibility to renewable energy technologies
Eligibility
The call for artistic creations is open to all current Concordia University students, including undergraduates, masters, and PhD students. Students can submit either an existing creation or a proposal for new work to be completed prior to the exhibition date.
We are accepting proposals from both individual artists and collectives.
Note: The honorarium will be awarded per project/artistic creation, not per person. However, there will some financial support available for installation and/or production of works.
Volt-Age is looking for artworks of all types that reflect this year’s theme, connect to electrification, and the Volt-Age mission. Artistic creations can be:
- Visual art (painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, etc.)
- Textile arts and fashion
- Written works
- Film and video art
- Digital art
- Soundscapes and sound art
- Theatrical performances and/or performance art
- Puppetry
- Dance
- Spoken word
- Mixed media works
- Or many others!
Submission and evaluation
Submission guidelines
Application deadline: Monday, November 24, 2025 at 5 p.m.
- Each student or collective may submit only one application.
- Applicants are encouraged to consider a variety of types physical spaces and indicate which would be most suitable for their needs.
- Applications can be completed in either French or English.
Information session
Details: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at 1 p.m. on Zoom
Evaluation procedure
The applications will be reviewed by a curation team, which will be comprised of Volt-Age administration and outside arts staff. The applications will be assessed for their artistic merit, as well as their connection to the theme, to electrification, and to the Volt-Age mission.
Awards
- The curatorial decisions will be communicated by December 15, 2025.
- Each artistic creation will receive an honorarium of $500 (perhaps differing amount for new vs existing creations).
- A maximum of 15 creations will be selected for the 2026 exhibition.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The Volt-Age Research Program is committed to advancing innovative and inclusive research by embedding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles into all aspects of academic research, from design to dissemination. This includes all Volt-Age funded events and activities.
We encourage individuals with diverse and multiple identities, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, people of colour, disabled people, people identifying as LGBTQIA2+, women, and immigrants, to submit applications to our call for artistic creations. Volt-Age recognizes that BICOP artists have traditionally been disproportionately excluded from opportunities to present their works, and we aim to do our part to elevate those voices. We are committed to creating a network and community that celebrates diversity as it is a strength.
