#MCOYA27 – ARTWORK SUBMISSION FORM

Call for Submissions: The Mayor's Celebration of Youth Arts 2027

The Aurora Cultural Centre is thrilled to welcome back our annual Grade 12 student art exhibition, the Mayor's Celebration of Youth Arts (#MCOYA)!

#MCOYA27 applications are open to students in Grade 12 in the 2026-2027 school year, who live in Aurora or attend a school in Aurora. The deadline to apply is 11:59PM January 15, 2027.

Please ensure to meet the Submission Guidelines before submitting:

Each applicant may submit up to a maximum of 4 artworks.
Applicant is responsible for dropping off their artwork on February 2, 2027, by 12:30PM the latest, and picking up their artwork on April 6, 2027 by 6:00PM the latest.
2D (e.g. on paper) and canvas artworks must be hang-ready, with d-rings and wire on the backing.
3D artworks are permitted (e.g. sculptures) but must have detailed description of installation requirements in 'Notes' section of the submission form.
All mediums are welcome, however, due to limits in our present gallery space, artwork requiring a continuous power source (ie: monitor or projector) or with installation requirements outside of our technical limits may not be attainable at this time.

Deadline: January 15 at 11:59PM

"*" indicates required fields

The submission deadline for #MCOYA27 is Friday, January 15th, 2027. Upon completion of this form, you will receive an email confirming the details you have entered below. If you do not receive this email within 48 hours, please email Adora at adora@auroraculturalcentre.ca

Student Name:*

Legal name

First Last

Preferred Name:*

Name you would like to have displayed with your artwork

First Last

Preferred Pronouns

School:*

Personal Email:*

Grade:*

Art Teacher's Name:*

Primary Phone:*

Secondary Phone:

Home Address*

Street Address City Province Postal Code

Public Social Media (optional):

By providing your social media handle, the Aurora Cultural Centre can properly tag you on posts about the exhibition and promote your work as an artist.

Additional Public Social Media (optional):

By providing your social media handle, the Aurora Cultural Centre can properly tag you on posts about the exhibition and promote your work as an artist.

Artist Bio:*

This can be a few sentences about your identity, how you like to express yourself, and your personal interests or hobbies. What would you like someone looking at your art to know about you? (Max 250 words)

Submission Information:

Artists may submit up to four (4) artworks.

We encourage students to submit works that they are most proud of, that embody who they are and shows off their achievements as an artist. Please note that submissions are not limited to artwork made in school nor in your grade 12 year; artwork created outside of school is acceptable.

Requirements for artwork submissions:

- Up to four (4) artworks submissions are permitted per student.
- Your name and title of the artwork is written on the back of your artwork at drop off to the gallery.
- All wall-hanging artworks have d-hooks and wire installed at the time of drop off.
- Accurately measure the outside edges of your artwork in inches. The measurement order should go as the following: (width)” x (height)” x (depth, if applicable)”. If your work is framed, include the frame size.
- Please photograph your submitted artwork to the best of your ability: ie. take photo in a well-lit environment, avoid flash.

If your work is digital or a video, please submit a link in your description of the artwork and upload a screen capture that best represents your submission.

Artworks that are incomplete or not ready for installation by the time of art drop off will not be accepted.

Aurora Cultural Centre staff reserve the right to refuse the display of any item deemed inappropriate or unsafe for any reason.

Examples:

1. If the artwork is on stretched canvas or is framed (needs to be hung on the gallery walls):

Title: Sunset
Medium: Digital Photography printed on canvas
Size (in inches, w x h x d): 10" x 8"
Notes: This is a framed photo

2. If the artwork is a sculpture (non-hanging) or floor piece:

Title: Square Practice
Medium: Carved oak wood
Size (in inches, w x h x d): 3.5" x 3.5" x 3.5"
Notes: This sculpture will need to be displayed on a plinth (a tall platform for it to sit on).

3. If the artwork is video, digital, or new media:

Title: Breaking
Medium: Video
Size (in inches, w x h x d): 2 minutes 53 seconds
Notes: *Insert video link from YouTube/Vimeo/Instagram etc.*

Artwork Submission #1

Title:*

Title to be displayed

Medium:*

Example: Acrylic on canvas

Size (in inches, W x H x D):*

Year (of when the work was completed):*

Notes:*

Artist Statement:*

Maximum 100 Words

Photo of Artwork #1:*

For identification purposes, please submit a photograph or screenshot of your artwork, if possible, or if it is not yet complete an ‘in progress’ photo is fine. Please submit a JPEG or PNG no larger than 2MB.

Max. file size: 2 MB.

Artwork Submission #2

Title:

Title to be displayed

Medium:

Example: Oil on wood panel

Size:

Year (of when the work was completed):

Notes:

Artist Statement:

Maximum 100 Words

Photo of Artwork #2:

Max. file size: 2 MB.

Artwork Submission #3

Title:

Title to be displayed

Medium:

Example: Hair, candy wrapper, sand on wood panel

Size:

Year (of when the work was completed):

Notes:

Artist Statement:

Maximum 100 Words

Photo of Completed Artwork #3:

For identification purposes, please submit a photograph or screenshot of your artwork. Please submit a JPEG or PNG no larger than 2MB.

Max. file size: 2 MB.

Artwork Submission #4

Title:

Title to be displayed

Medium:

Example: Hair, candy wrapper, sand on wood panel

Size:

Year (of when the work was completed):

Notes:

Artist Statement:

Maximum 100 Words

Photo of Completed Artwork #4:

For identification purposes, please submit a photograph or screenshot of your artwork. Please submit a JPEG or PNG no larger than 2MB.

Max. file size: 2 MB.

Please Click the Most Applicable Response:

Artwork Drop-Off*

YES: I can drop off my artwork on Tuesday, February 2, 2027.

NO: I am not able to drop off the artwork to the Aurora Cultural Centre on this day.

If NO, I will contact adora@auroraculturalcentre.ca to schedule an alternative option.

Artwork Pick Up*

Wed. April 7, 2027 - 11:00AM – 6:00PM
AND/OR
Sat. April 10, 2027 - 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Aurora Town Square (50 Victoria Street)

YES: I will be picking up my artwork during the allotted pick-up time.

NO: I am not able to pick up my artwork during the allotted pick-up time.

If NO, I will contact adora@auroraculturalcentre.ca to schedule an alternative option.

Art Bytes: MCOYA Student Spotlight:

Art Bytes is a series where we interview artists about their processes, thoughts behind their artwork, and their overall practice. For an example of a MCOYA Student Spotlight, click the link here.

Are you interested in participating and being recorded in a short, virtual chat about your artwork?

The recording of this chat would be shared publicly.

Yes, I am interested

No, I am not interested

Thank you for your interest! You will be contacted by Gallery staff at a later date to discuss further.

Final Installation Party:

We will be hosting an installation party on Tuesday, February 2 (12:00-5:00 pm) falling on a PA Day to bring your exhibition together! Help us install the show and choose where your art will go in the gallery. Volunteer hours AND pizza/snacks will be provided for participants!

Please indicate if you would be interested in attending:*

You will be contacted about this at a later date.

Yes

#MCOYA27 – ARTWORK SUBMISSION FORM

Submission Information:

Examples:

Artwork Submission #1

Artwork Submission #2

Artwork Submission #3

Artwork Submission #4

Please Click the Most Applicable Response:

Art Bytes: MCOYA Student Spotlight:

Final Installation Party:

Submission Agreement: