Applying to the CIBC C² Art Program

CIBC's C² Art Program (C² Art) is a Canadian national art competition which supports emerging artists in launching their careers. Two artists will be selected to create and curate their art to be presented in a solo exhibition inside our new headquarters, CIBC Square South Tower, Toronto, Ontario.

Learn more about C² Art

Applicants must be a legal resident of Canada who will have reached the age of majority at time of application. Applicants must also be physically present in Canada for the duration of the program and have 2 to 10 years of experience as a professional artist, with recent and consistent past exhibition history or a body of work. Applicants must be able to dedicate time and resources to the program for the 6-month creation and curation period; and be able and willing to connect virtually and in-person as needed for the duration of the program (which runs until the exhibition is concluded).

Artists from all regions in Canada are eligible to apply. 

Individuals who are enrolled in any post-secondary program, or who may still be enrolled in post-secondary studies during the program period, are not eligible.

Officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of CIBC, any program judges, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies and members of the immediate families (defined as parents, siblings, children and spouses, regardless of where they live) or households (whether or not the household members are related) are not eligible.

Review the full program eligibility requirements

Based on the nature of the exhibition galleries at CIBC Square, only certain types of artwork can be displayed in the space. Since the exhibition galleries also act as hallways, size limitations affect which artwork can be displayed. Artwork must meet the requirements for 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional work.

Unfortunately, we're unable to accept digital artwork (screen-based work), projected artwork or non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Please note there is no access to electrical power in the exhibition space.

Review the eligible art for submission

The judging committee, which includes members of the art community and CIBC, will choose 2 winners. There are 2 rounds in the judging process:

Round 1

The judging committee will review the submissions received during the competition period. The committee will assess submissions using the following criteria:

• Eligibility: Whether the applicant has met all technical submission and eligibility requirements and their submitted art samples fall under the qualifying types of art for the program.
• Technique: The technical aspects of the work, including the method of execution and handling of material to achieve the desired result.
• Aesthetics: The visual appearance of the work, the stylistic choices and how the physical form relates to and engages with the concepts driving the work.
• Concept: The ideas, thoughts and/or concerns behind the work, how these ideas are interpreted through the technique and aesthetic and how they engage with broader society, culture, issues, etc.
• Innovation: How the work presents an interesting and/or varied perspective or technique.

The top 10 proposals who received the highest scores based on the above criteria will move on to Round 2.

Round 2

The judging committee will compose a series of questions.  Each of the top 10 finalists selected during round 1 will respond to them in video format. The committee will assess the submissions using the set criteria. The 2 artists that receive the most points will be selected as the winners.

Winners will be contacted shortly after the judging process, but no later than May 1, 2026.

The "competition period" refers to when the call for submissions opens and closes, the judging process and the selection of the 2 winners.

Submissions open: December 15, 2025, 12:00 am ET
Submissions close: January 18, 2026, 11:59 pm ET

The selection process will take place over January and February, and the 2 finalists will be contacted by May 1, 2026. 

The "program period" refers to the period during which the artists create the body of work and curate their exhibition, the exhibition opening reception during the all-expenses paid trip to Toronto, and the duration of the exhibition. 

Artwork creation period: May 11, 2026, to September 24, 2026.

• During this time, the two artists will create a series of works that will be displayed in the gallery spaces.

Deadline for art to be completed: September 24, 2026.

• During the month of August, CIBC will fund and arrange for the work to be shipped to Toronto and prepared for exhibition — including frames, hardware, plinths and any other display materials. Artists will collaborate with CIBC to curate their exhibition.
• The exhibition opening receptions will be held at CIBC Square South Tower in the month of September. Details will be finalized closer to the date.

CIBC will have regular touchpoints with the artists throughout the creation and curation period, and the $25,000 award will be released in segments on a bi-weekly basis.

The winners' art will be on exhibition from October 2026 until January 2027, after which time CIBC will make arrangements with the artists to ship their work back to them. 

Prepare the required materials and complete the program submission form (PDF, 125 KB) Opens a new window..

Send your submission as an email, with all materials attached in 1 PDF, before 11:59 pm ET on January 18, 2026. Use the subject line “[Artist full name] — C2 Art Submission” and send to Mailbox.C2art@cibc.com Opens your email app..

Limit of one submission per person and per email address. There is no purchase or payment necessary to enter the competition. 

Review the application requirements for the program Opens a new window.