Quick Links

The Festival Weekly Artist Interviews Submissions
Exhibitions Canadian Shipping International Submissions & Shipping
Insurance Promotion Social Networking
     

 

The Festival

Where is Oakville?
Oakville is situated 40 km west of Toronto on Lake Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. Oakville has a population of 182,500 and is well served by public transit to and from Toronto. It has a small but solid arts community. The World of Threads Festival is one of the most important events in the town. We hire buses to bring art lovers from Toronto to Oakville during the festival.

Downtown Oakville on Google Street View
Oakville Harbour on Google Street View

How many people attend the festival?
Festival 2016 had more than 60,000 visitors. Some artists travelled from around the world to see the show.

Who runs the festival?
The festival is run by dedicated volunteers Festival Chair & Curator Dawne Rudman and Festival Curator Gareth Bate and Melissa Bieman (Vice Chair) with a group of  volunteers. who mainly help closer to and during the Festival, and for take-down, packing up and returning the work. Gareth is paid for design work. We are a not-for-profit organization with a passion for fibre art. In 2015 the Oakville Arts Council presented us with the Community Impact Arts Award.

Can I become a volunteer?
Yes. We always welcome new volunteers to do tasks. See volunteer section. This includes international volunteers to help us promote the festival and do research work.

How are you funded?
Our funding comes primarily from public grants, artist submission fees and donations.

Can I help support the festival?
Yes, you can donate any amount here…

If I’m accepted can I attend the Festival?
Absolutely. Many artists have attended previous Festivals, some coming from as far away as the UK, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, India, Japan and from all over the United States and across Canada. For Festival 2016, more than half the participating artists came to the Festival.

Do you give assistance to artists to attend the Festival?
No. There's no way we could afford to do that. Artists attending pay their own way. Some have applied for travel grants from their regions.

 

Fibre Artist Interviews

How do you select artists for interviews?
We select artists in a variety of ways for our Fibre Artist Interviews series. A number of artists have exhibited with us in the past. On an ongoing basis we research and look for artists who are working in fibre mediums in interesting and contemporary ways. We also review the websites of people who have subscribed to our interviews and indicated that they are willing to be interviewed. If you Join Our Contact List we will review your website. If we are interested in interviewing you we will contact you.

 

Submissions

How many submissions do you get?
On average we receive about 300 submissions for each Festival.

If I exhibited last time can I get in again?
Absolutely.

If I didn't get in last time, do I have a chance next time?
 Yes, you must submit new work.We will be looking with fresh eyes.

Are installations possible?
 Yes, our Call for Submissions is open to indoor gallery installations, as well as wall and sculptural work.

Are performances possible?

Do you accept submissions of video/film/sound/performance work related to fibre?
Unfortunetly no. We don't have the tech capacity to exhibit video/film/sound works. Performance doesn't work within this context.

Can I sell my artwork?
Yes. There is a 40% commission on all festival sales.

Do I need to send a detail photo?
Yes. It is highly advisable for fibre art to submit a detail image. Many of the submissions that did not get in previously did not submit a detail image.

What is an Artist Statement?
An Artist Statement is a description of your artwork and art practice. You're telling the story of your artwork. We highly encourage you not to fill your artist statement with artspeak. Just be yourself. Write in first person.

What is the difference between a Bio and a CV?
 A CV is a chronological listing of your career achievements. A bio is a narrative outlining your career path, purpose for making art etc. Some of the information is the same, but it is presented as a narrative. It should be written in third person.

How do I get updates?
Join Contact List or join our Facebook Page

Do you have pre-determined themes?
No. Curatorial decisions develop out of the submissions received.

How is the work chosen?
All exhibitions are curated and work is selected by the curators who then decide what each exhibition will be from the "pool" of submissions. There are no predetermined themes. We ask for submissions and create exhibitions in response to the trends and themes that emerge. This has resulted in the past in very vibrant exhibitions. If you are uncomfortable with this method of curating you should not submit.

Will you acknowledge my submission and payment?
 Yes, all submission will be acknowledged. Give us a about a week to sort through the submissions and we will let you know that we received everything.

Will we get feedback?
No, since there are so many applicants we can't offer feedback.

How should I photograph my work?
You should photograph your work against a white background. Do not crop the edges. For fibre work it is very important for us to see the full form. Good lighting is very important. Poorly photographed work could result in work not being considered.

IMPORTANT: Read the submission procedure carefully and follow all the instructions. Ensure that your submission is complete. Submit photographs in the required format and size. Follow all instructions and submit complete documentation as requested

 

Exhibitions

Why was my work placed in gallery A as opposed to gallery B?
Curatorial decisions are made by the curator based on where it is most appropriate to show.

Does my work have to be ready to be installed?
Yes, you should prepare your work for installation. For example quilts should come with a sleeve and a rod. If you are local, we may ask you to assist with installation if your piece is very complex.

Do you have opening receptions?
Yes! We have had hundreds of guests attend our openings including many from across Canada and around the world. Many of our participating artists (Including internationals) have attended. We also have buses that we rent to drive people from Toronto to Oakville for the opening.

Do you post pictures of the shows online?
Yes, check out the Artwork here...We are working on a new website which will be updated with images from later festivals.

 

 

Canadian Shipping

Do you pay for shipping? 
 No. We are a not-for-profit organization. There is no way we could afford to do that. Shipping to and from is the responsibility of the artist.

How is work returned?
 All return shipping must be prepaid by the artist.

Any advice on shipping?
Rolling up 2-D work in tubes is good idea and safer.

Containers 3 x 3 feet or tubes 3 feet long or less are preferable. Anything larger will receive additional charges. It is also more expensive to return it. The smaller the better!

NOTE: Postal services often put a limit on the size and weight of parcels. Courier companies will generally accept large items.

Do not wait until the last minute to ship your work!

NOTE: All additional charges we receive will be billed to the artist and artwork will not be returned until the fees are paid, e.g. sales taxes.

 

International Submissions and Shipping

Do you pay for shipping?
No. We are a not-for-profit organization. There is no way we could afford to do that. Shipping to and from is the responsibility of the artist.

How should I declare my international submission?
If you are accepted, we will give you instructions to follow.

NOTE: All additional charges we receive will be billed to the artist and artwork will not be returned until the fees are paid, e.g. brokerage fees.

How is work returned?
 All return shipping must be arranged for and prepaid from your country.

What value do I put on my work when shipping?
Submissions with a high value attract attention and it is likely that additional fees will be levied on entry into Canada. In addition, sometimes brokerage fees are charged. Any additional charges are the responsibility of the artist.

NOTE: Any additional fees charged will be billed to the artist and the work will not be returned until they are paid.

Any advice on shipping?
Rolling up 2-D work in tubes is a good idea and safer.

Containers 3 x 3 feet or tubes 3 feet long or less are preferable. Anything larger will receive additional charges on arrival in Canada. It is also more expensive to return it. The smaller the better!

NOTE: Postal services often put a limit on the size and weight of parcels. Courier companies generally will accept large items.

Do not wait until the last minute to ship your work!

NOTE: All additional charges we receive will be billed to the artist and artwork will not be returned until the fees are paid.

I'm from China, why aren't you getting my emails?
 It is our experience that emails from China that mention monetary amounts are censored. Please don't mention money in the emails.

 

Insurance

Is the artwork insured while on display?
All work displayed at Queen Elisabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre is insured, while on the premises. Insurance during transportation to and from all venues is the artist's responsibility.

 

Promotion

What kind of promotion do you do?
We do Akimbo online email ads which go out to tens of thousands of people in Canada and around the world. We do some print advertising. We also do Facebook and Instagram ads. We appear in various online events listings. We print promotional brochures, posters, banners etc. We also promote extensively on social media like our facebook page and twitter. Our Fibre Artist Interviews usually feature artist in the upcoming festival in the months before.

Some artists will be selected for our Fibre Artists Interviews series.

Do you make email "postcards"?
Yes, we will send you an email announcement to send around to your contacts.

Can I print my own promotional cards?
Yes, but all personal promotions MUST include reference to the World of Threads Festival and festival logo and be approved by the Festival Chair.

 

Social Networking

Do you have a facebook group?
Facebook Page

Can I follow you on Twitter?
Twitter