This spring, the SPAO Photographic Arts Centre, in partnership with Ottawa’s Preston Street BIA, will debut the SPAO Photo Walk, an ongoing and evolving outdoor installation featuring large-scale photographic artworks designed to enhance Ottawa’s Little Italy, draw attention to local businesses, and engage with residents and tourists. Participants can access information and the map for a self-guided tour via QR codes located next to each artwork, providing opportunities to learn more about the artists, the neighbourhood, and participating businesses.
The photographs will be selected from a nationwide open call and by an assessor jury made up of nationally recognized industry leaders. The SPAO Photo Walk will support, highlight and raise the voices of contemporary artists at all levels, producing nuanced discourse about the visual complexity and multitude of approaches to Canadian photography.
Digital rendering of the SPAO Photo Walk featuring artwork by Danielle Labonté.
Submissions are now open for inclusion in the SPAO Photo Walk! Photo-based artists from anywhere in Canada at any level are encouraged to apply. The submission deadline is April 6, 2023 by 11:59pm EST. Find out more or submit your work here.
SPAO is one of Canada’s foremost Photographic Arts Centre, housing the only two-year photographic arts college in Canada, numerous recreational part-time classes, a unique international artist residency and the only critical and independent gallery in the region dedicated to lens-based art.
