Open Call Festival of Animated Objects Exhibition 2026

Festival of Animated Objects

Exhibition Dates: March 9 to 20th, 2026.

Submission Deadline: November 2, 2025, at midnight.

Open Call for Exhibition: Puppetry, Masks & Living Objects

We are seeking submissions from puppeteers, mask makers, and artists of all disciplines who animate the inanimate. Whether your practice is rooted in tradition or experiments with new forms, we invite you to apply.

This year’s exhibition explores themes of transformation and magic. The energy and artistry that blur the line between sculpture and story, between stillness and motion. It’s the moment when ordinary materials shift into extraordinary beings: when a mask becomes a spirit, scraps of fabric turn into a storyteller, or a simple object takes on a life of its own. Transformation is at the heart of puppetry and mask work: the alchemy of imagination, craft, and performance that turns the inanimate into the unforgettable.

Each artist will receive an honorarium for their participation in this exhibition.

Submission Guidelines: -Eligibility: Open to artists, makers, puppeteers, and interdisciplinary creators of all levels.

- Mediums Accepted: Puppets, mask, and any form of animated work.

- Exhibition Dates: March 9 to 20th, 2026.

- Location: cSPACE Marda Loop, 1st Floor Hallway Gallery.

- Submission Deadline: November 2, 2025, at midnight.

-Equity seeking artists are encouraged to apply.

-Artists new to the Festival of Animated Objects are strongly encouraged to apply.

-Festival site: https://www.puppetfestival.ca/

Apply here: https://forms.gle/BZRM4x246A9vPVqTA

For any questions or accessibility accommodations, please email: exhibitions@puppetfestival.ca

Applicants are also welcome to send a video (under 5 minutes) that addresses all the required information to exhibitions@puppetfestival.ca instead of filling out this form.