Mercer Union is a non-profit, artist-run centre dedicated to commissioning and producing new works of contemporary art, and providing an engaging program that encourages critical inquiry and conversation. We champion ambitious exhibitions that empower diverse Canadian and international artists in formative and established stages of their practice.
Mission
Info
Contact
General Inquiries: [email protected]
Press Inquiries: [email protected]
Shop Inquiries: [email protected]
Board of Directors
Femi Adeyinka • Matt Brown • Miles Gertler • Sarah Heim • Christie Kirchner • David Neligan • Philip Leonard Ocampo • Erica Russell • Marina Shepaksov • Emma Steen • Erica Stocking • Farnoosh Talaee
Staff
Theresa Wang, Director & Curator
Aamna Muzaffar, Curator & Head of Exhibitions
Sonya Filman, Operations & Development Manager
Abby Kettner, TD Programming and Engagement Assistant
Leo Cocar, YCW Curatorial & Archives Assistant
Vanessa Rieger, Lead Exhibition Preparator
Vision
As a leading artist-run centre, Mercer Union is recognized as an international space for contemporary art, where artists at pivotal stages in their practice are supported, and vital conversations at the intersection of contemporary art and civic life are fostered.
Values
- Artistic Expression: We provide a unique platform for artistic expression and believe that contemporary art can inspire curiosity, discovery, and transformation.
- Risk-Taking: We are committed to supporting experimentation in contemporary art practices and are a test site for artists working through new ideas.
- Equity: We purposefully invite, uphold and embody a culture that challenges imbalances of power and structural inequities. We foster an environment that inspires a more equitable future.
- Collaboration: We actively develop meaningful, reciprocal relationships with artists, audiences, supporters, peer organizations and other community members, recognizing that diverse lived experiences enrich cultural dialogue.
- Support: We empower artists at every stage─from research and technical expertise to sustained curatorial dialogue before, during and after their exhibitions.
Opportunities
Submissions
Please note that we are not accepting artwork submissions at this time. Thank you for your understanding. We encourage you to stay up-to-date with gallery news through our website, social media, or mailing list, where we post opportunities as they come.
Jobs and Internships
Calls for Applicants are posted here when available.
We also accept applications for academic internships, for more information, please email: [email protected].
OAC Exhibition Assistance
Mercer Union is a recommender for the Ontario Arts Council's Exhibition Assistance program. Deadlines for submissions: 25 October 2024 and 10 January 2025 at 1pm EST. Applications are submitted online through Nova for exhibitions that start on or after January 16, 2023. Applicants can submit up to three Exhibition Assistance applications at a time and no longer need to apply before their exhibition start date.
Mercer Union evaluates Exhibition Assistance requests in consideration of the following priorities:
- Contemporary art across all disciplines
- Significance of the project to the development of the artist's practice
- Potential impact of the exhibition on the critical reception of the artist's work
For questions about eligibility and to review current guidelines and requirements, visit Exhibition Assistance Program Guidelines.
For general inquiries about Mercer Union's role as a recommender in Zone 3 please contact [email protected] (subject line: Exhibition Assistance).
We do not review application materials sent by email; please make all submissions through Nova.
