Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

2025 Call for Artists is Open!

Deadline: March 7th, 2025

Award Ceremony

Jayme Poisson
TOAF63 Award Ceremony Host

We were excited to have Jayme Poisson, Host of CBC’s daily news podcast Front Burner, return to host the Award Ceremony at TOAF63.

Jayme Poisson is the host of daily CBC News podcast FRONT BURNER. Prior to this, she spent eight years as a reporter for The Toronto Star, focusing largely on investigative reporting. Poisson has been nominated for three national newspaper awards: she was part of a team that won the Governor General’s Michener award for reporting on former Toronto mayor Rob Ford; and she has won the Sidney Hillman award for public service journalism twice, for investigations into sexual assault on university campuses and ongoing mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows First Nation. Poisson’s mercury poisoning investigation also won an award for achievement in human rights reporting from the organization Journalists for Human Rights.

Awards Program

Toronto Outdoor Art Fair’s Awards Program is unprecedented and unique in Canada. The vision behind our awards is to create opportunities for artists to advance their careers, provide them with public recognition, and make a significant financial contribution to their practices.

The generous contributions of our donors, totalling over $40,000+ in cash and in-kind awards, have provided us with the ability to celebrate the extraordinary artists of the Fair.

$1M+

Given to artists over 60+ years

$40,000

In awards annually


Top Awards

Catherine Bratty Award for Best of Art Fair

$6,000 by The Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation

Murray and Marvelle Koffler Founder’s Award

$6,000 by The Koffler Family Foundation

Mayor’s Purchase Award

Value of artwork by the City of Toronto. This award brings the artists’ artwork into the City of Toronto’s significant art collection.

Best of Student Award

$1,000 Marie Collins Memorial Award & ArtHubs Toronto Inc. Award

ArtHubs Toronto Inc. Award: A residency at Gibraltar Point Center for the Arts and solo exhibition at Youngplace (Value $2,500)

This award grants the recipient a self-directed artist residency at Gibraltar Point. Since opening in 1999, Gibraltar Point’s secluded retreat centre, artist lodge and long term artists work studios (surrounded by 46 acres of park land and its own beachfront) has provided thousands of local and international artists-in-residence an idyllic place to focus on their practice. The artist also will receive a two week-long solo exhibition at Youngplace in the midst of the Toronto West Queen West neighbourhood. Through this exhibition, the artist can showcase their work to a broader audience adding an incredible achievement to their curriculum vitae.


Online Award

Jini Stolk Best of Online Art Fair

$2,000 awarded to an outstanding artist in the Online Art Fair, in memory of TOAF’s beloved Board Chair, Jini Stolk.


Painting

Best of Painting Award 

$2,000 by Brett Ledger & Patricia Olasker

Petroff Gallery Award for the Best Use of Texture

$750 by Petroff Gallery

Honourable Mention Painting

$500 by Format


2D Works

Best of 2D Works Award

$2,000 by Extrudex Aluminum

Best of Paper Award

$500 Gift Card by The Japanese Paper Place


3D Works

Best of 3D Works Award

$2,000 by Al Green in Memoriam 


Photography & Digital Media

Best of Photography & Digital Media Award 

$2,000 by Friends of Toronto Outdoor Art Fair

Honourable Mention Photography & Digital Media

$500 Gift Card by Toronto Image Works


Craft & Design

Best of Craft & Design Award

$2,000 by Robert K. E. Mitchell & Brian H. Wade of Mitchell Studios

Ceramics Excellence Award

$500 Gift Card by Tucker’s Pottery Supplies

Best of Jewellery Award

$500 by Harry Enchin & Susan Friedrich

Aaron Milrad’s Best of Ceramics Award

$1,500 by Surreal Holdings Inc

Ceramics Excellence Award

$500 Gift Card by The Pottery Supply House


Emerging Artists by Emerging Curator Award

The recipients will be included in a Featured Exhibition at TOAF curated in partnership with ICCA. Supported by Barry & Laurie Green Family Charitable Trust.

Gladstone House Award

The recipient will have the opportunity to showcase their artworks at Gladstone House for one-year with a $1,000 artist fee.

Student Purchase Award

Value of Artwork by House of IDEA


Funders & Sponsors

Scroll to Top