The gallery that hosted interdisciplinary artist Gabriel George’s first-ever solo exhibition—before he went on to win ‘First in Show’ at Toronto’s Artist Project—has launched its next open call. WKP Kennedy Gallery is now seeking applicants for its 2026 Curatorial Mentorship Program.
For up-and-coming artists, the chance to showcase your work and receive mentorship is invaluable for your career. North Bay’s WKP Kennedy Gallery, located in the Capitol Centre, provides this type of opportunity through their Curatorial Mentorship Program— which is now accepting applications for 2026.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for an emerging artist who has never had a solo exhibition,” says Jennifer Allison, Director/Curator at WKP Kennedy Gallery.
WKP Kennedy Gallery is a welcoming contemporary art space that champions both emerging and established artists. Their Curatorial Mentorship Program is designed specifically to support emerging artists through mentorship, exhibition development, and professional presentation.
The gallery works with the chosen artist to develop a cohesive body of work, design the layout of their exhibition, and come up with an overarching concept. The artist is also offered the opportunity to conduct an artist talk or interactive workshop. “It’s a wonderful way for artists to make connections, get feedback on their work, and connect with a larger creative community,” explains Jennifer.
Over the past five years of running this program, WKP Kennedy Gallery has selected artists whose art forms and perspectives are wide-ranging. The 2025 recipient of the Curatorial Mentorship Program was Gabriel George, an interdisciplinary artist from India who is now based in Sault Ste. Marie. His first-ever solo exhibition was presented at the WKP Kennedy Gallery.
“In my role, I am really fortunate to attend art fairs that allow me to meet new artists, witness contemporary trends and connect the gallery with more of a global marketplace,” says Jennifer, who saw Gabriel’s work for the first time at Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD)’s annual Graduate Exhibition, GradEx. “I walked up to the second floor and Gabriel’s sculpture stood out to me right away,” she adds.
Jennifer encouraged Gabriel to apply for their Curatorial Mentorship Program, as she thought he’d be a great fit and offer a different perspective. The judges for the program, a rotating roster of 3-5 local creative professionals, selected Gabriel. Since going through the program, Gabriel has gone on to win “First in Show” at the Artist Project art fair in Toronto. “We’re really proud to have spotted his talent,” says Jennifer.
Past recipients of the mentorship have achieved all kinds of other successes in their artistic careers— from gaining employment at WKP Kennedy Gallery to being commissioned to create artwork for famed Canadian musician Kim Mitchell.
Applications are currently open for the 2026 Curatorial Mentorship Program. The deadline is June 29th and the chosen recipient will be notified on July 7th. All the details on the open call can be found on the WKP Kennedy Gallery website.
“We’re honoured to be a part of this exciting stage of an artist’s career,” says Jennifer. “We strongly believe in pushing our artists to their full potential and feel this program provides the hands-on experience that helps set them up for success.”
And even if you’re not selected, she adds, “it’s a wonderful opportunity to get feedback on your proposal and your art practice.”
All exhibitions at the WKP Kennedy Gallery are free to attend. More information about the gallery’s upcoming events and exhibitions can be found here
To check out Gabriel George’s work, visit his website.
This article was sponsored by The Capitol Centre, a 2025 BayToday Reader Favourite.
