STandard Criteria for Exhibitions - Revised in 2023

  1. The registrant must have current membership in OMMA, a signed waiver and photography permission on file and email confirmation from the Exhibition Coordinator to enter the show.

  • After the stated cut-off date

  • If the painting is refused by the Exhibition Committee due to not meeting the Call for Artists Criteria

  • If the work is inappropriate in any way

2. Entrance fees are non-refundable:

3. Work must be original mixed media with more than one compatible material and/or technique on the surface.   

  • Materials can include paint, inks, pastels, coloured pencils, etc.

  • Mixed techniques can include stenciling, scratching, drawing, painting, scraping, collage, and the use of various tools to apply or remove paint, etc.

  • Diluting acrylic paint with mediums does not make a “mixed media” painting.

  • Using mediums to produce significant texture or other noticeable effects is considered to be mixed media.

  • Digital or photographic imagery and traditional mixed media techniques may be combined providing the traditional elements are more predominant.

  • If in doubt, please contact an OMMA Executive member.

4. All work must be original, created solely by the submitting artist (i.e. no re-prints, cards, kits, giclees).

5. Work must be ready to hang with a tight multi-filamented wire and D Rings that are placed on the back, 1/3 from the top unless otherwise specified. The Exhibitions Committee reserves the right to disqualify any work that is not ready for hanging.

6. Requirements for substrates:

  • Canvas pieces should have no staples showing.

  • ½” or 3/4” canvases may have frames

  • Delicate pieces (e.g. pastels and cloth) may also be framed and they must be done using Plexiglas.

  • Stone, metal or wood surfaces should not exceed twenty pounds and must be prepared for safe hanging. 

7. Three-dimensional sculptures or relief work must be secure and stable with no dangerous protrusions.  Artists may be responsible to provide plinths/stands, or install the work. 

8. To allow the maximum number of paintings to be hung in an exhibition, the total “footprint”, including the allowed frame, and all vertical and lateral extensions, must not exceed the maximum outside dimension noted for the exhibition criteria. Protrusions (bas relief) from the front of the piece are acceptable within reason in consultation with the Exhibition Manager.

9. A label must be securely attached to the lower back of the work, clearly noting the name and email address of the artist, the title, and list of materials used.

10. Wrapping materials must be removed from the venue after drop off.

11. All work must be for sale. OMMA discourages placing an arbitrarily inflated price (e.g. $25,000) on works the artist does not wish to sell.

12. The artist must not remove the work before the end of the show.

13. Insurance is the responsibility of the artist.

Juried Shows

In addition to all the Ottawa Mixed Media Artists Standard Criteria for Exhibition, art submitted to a juried show:

  • Must not have been submitted to any previous OMMA Exhibition (including D’OMMA Gallery).

  • Must have been completed without supervision of or critique by a professional artist, juror or art instructor whether or not you have incorporated the professional’s input.

  • Must not have been developed in a class, tutorial, or workshop whether or not you have incorporated the instructor’s input.

  • Must have been completed within the past two years.

D’OMMA Gallery

The artwork presented at D’OMMA Gallery is unjuried, allowing new artists the opportunity to show their work alongside those with more experience. All the Ottawa Mixed Media Artists Standard Criteria for Exhibitions apply with the exception that:

  • Paintings can have been completed in a workshop or class.

  • Paintings that have been shown in D’Omma Gallery cannot be shown in a juried OMMA show afterwards.

Peer Review and Selection

All work will be assessed by a panel of three (3) OMMA members who will view the photo submissions and make the selection for the show.  Selection will be based on the point system used by juries.

One or two artists who have registered for a show will be randomly selected to be either:  members of the selection peer review group OR observers of the process.  The inclusion of artists to be either participants OR observers will allow us to be open and transparent in the selection process.

Depending on the number of submissions, it is possible that only one work of two submitted will be selected in order to ensure diversity of members within the show.

Please note that any work not selected will be eligible for entry into future OMMA shows.