CIBC C2 Art Program – National Art Competition

Deadline: January 18, 2026;

CIBC is proud to present the C² Art Program (C² Art), a Canadian national art competition. Each year, we’ll award 2 early-career artists with the opportunity and funding to create a body of work. The 2 artists’ work will be displayed in a solo exhibition inside our global headquarters, CIBC Square South Tower at 81 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario.

C² Art assists emerging Canadian artists seeking financial support and exhibition opportunities to help launch their practice. By empowering artists, we enrich the cultural landscape, support the diversity of Canada and encourage new ideas and ways of thinking.

A selection committee including members of CIBC and the art community will select 2 artists based on the quality of their submissions.

We’ll award each of the 2 artists $25,000, paid out over Phase 1 and Phase 2 — a period of 6 months. Each artist will create a body of work and curate it in a solo exhibition in one of the gallery spaces at CIBC Square. The CIBC art team will collaborate with each artist throughout this process, funding all exhibition materials including framing, plinths, shipping and installation.

The selected artists will also be invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Toronto to attend an exhibition opening reception at CIBC Square.

The exhibitions will be on display at CIBC Square for 4 months, in a space open to clients, visitors and employees. All works will be returned to artists at the end of the exhibition period.

Eligible Art:

2-dimensional work includes

• Drawings
• Prints
• Photography
• Paintings
• Mixed media

3-dimensional work includes

• Stone
• Metals
• Glass
• Plastics
• Textiles
• Wood
• Ceramic
• Natural materials

Artworks must be wall-mountable or able to be displayed on pedestals and plinths.

NOTE: Digital artwork (screen-based work), projected artwork, or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are NOT eligible.

Eligibility:

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the program:

• Be a legal resident of Canada who has reached the age of majority in your province or territory of residence at time of application
• Be physically present in Canada during the artwork creation phase of the award
• Have 2 to 10 years of experience as a professional artist, with recent and consistent past exhibition history or a body of work
• Be able to dedicate your time and resources to the program for the 6-month exhibition creation and curation period
• Be able and willing to connect virtually and in-person for the duration of the program

Artists from across Canada are eligible to apply.