A Visual Storytelling Group Art Show & Publication
THE APPLICATION
You can apply in one of the following categories:
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An artist who will also write their story.
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An artist and writer duo (only one application needed.)
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An artist wishing to be paired with a writer.
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A writer wishing to be paired with an artist.
To apply to the project you must submit the following:
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For artists writing their own story, artist writer duos, and solo writers: A compelling story pitch, or sample from the story you intend to write. Spelling and grammar is paramount! Egregious spelling mistakes or grammatical errors will result in an immediate rejection of your application. You can tell a story in prose, or you can also submit poetry, a song, or any other format as long as it adheres to the theme of the show.
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For artists writing their own story, artist writer duos, and solo artists: A concept sketch that loosely shows what you intend to create for the show. If you have already finished a piece, feel free to upload an image of that instead.
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For artists writing their own story, artist writer duos, and solo artists: A portfolio of at least 5 images showing your best work. These must be at a resolution of at least 300DPI so that we are able to fully gauge the work. If applying as, or with, a writer, please include samples of the writers work.
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For artist writer duos, and solo writers: at least 2 previous example of your writing. This can be a short story, poem, or any form of creative writing.
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A 35$ application fee.
A jury consisting of both artists and writers will critique your application through a blind grading process - your names will be hidden from them during the jury session. Applications are weighted in 4 areas: Control of Medium, Composition, How Well The Work Lends Itself To Narrative (or the specific narrative you wish to tell), and your Story Pitch. Please keep these in mind when putting together your application.
F.A.Q.
What is Ghost Stories?
Ghost Stories YYC is a visual storytelling group art show and publication. Artists who are a part of the project will create work based on a folk tale, urban legend or ghost story of their choosing. It can be an original tale, or one inspired by the countless stories we all share around campfires. In addition, instead of an artist statement, each of the creators will instead write a short story based on their work OR collaborate with a writer to create a piece of art and story that are harmonious. The final works of art and accompanying stories will be included in an exhibit at Ruberto Ostberg Gallery in Calgary, Ab. and will be published in a storybook catalogue.
How do I Apply?
Just click HERE to go to the submission form!
What are the Submission Requirements?
There are four ways you can submit to Ghost stories:
As an artist (solo - we pair you with a writer)
As a writer (solo - we pair you with an artist)
As an artist who will write their own story.
As an artist and writer duo. One makes the art, the other writes the story.
Submissions require you to fill out the submission form with all required fields.
What is the Written Requirement?
This is a compelling story abstract or story excerpt that must be polished and well considered (With correct spelling and grammar). This is the only place for our judges to assess your, or your collaborators', writing! Picture this like the blurb on the back of a novel you love. Sell us your story, make us want to read it!
What is required for the concept sketch? If I'm a solo artist being paired with an author, will my concept be locked in or can I change it based on the author's story?
This year we require a concept sketch (or color study, rough image concept or equivalent) from artists that are applying to the show. We want to get a sense of the work you’d like to produce for the show, or perhaps what you'd like an author to write a story about.Your concept sketch can be very rough, or very refined. We won't be judging you based on the quality of the concept sketch, just the quality of the idea behind it.
You will have the opportunity to refine your concept after being accepted into the show, especially if you are a solo artist being paired with a writer.
When paired with a writer, you concept will most likely be influenced by their story, or vice versa, so you can be open to the concept changing or being heavily influenced by the author's work.
Concept Sketch Example
Concept Sketch
Final Image
This is just an example, we don't expect the concept sketch to so closely resemble the final image, nor for the concept sketch to be so well refined. Your submission can be much rougher than the example provided.
What if I'm super keen and have already finished my piece?
Amazing! Gold Star! Also, feel free to submit an image of the completed artwork instead of a concept sketch.
What is the Portfolio Requirement?
The work you submit as a portfolio MUST be indicative of the work you intend to make for the exhibition. (I.E. If you are primarily a sculptor with limited or no experience in watercolor painting, we expect to see a sculpture as the final product for the exhibition.) As much as we are enthusiastic about pushing our artistic comfort zones, Ghost Stories is a project designed to push artist's comfort with subject not material!
When does the show take place?
The show is opening October Friday the 17th, 2025.
How is my application graded?
We have a scoring system that each jury member adheres to. Your work is graded on 4 criteria, each worth 5 points. The categories you're graded on are: Composition, Control of Medium, Narrative Value, and Story Pitch. With 5 jury members, that means your application is awarded a score out of 100 points.
What if I'm a solo artist?
Instead you'll only be graded on Concept Sketch, and Control of Medium. Each category is worth 10 points.
What if I'm a solo writer?
Instead you'll only be graded on Story Pitch, and Control of Medium. By control of medium here we mean grammar, spelling and overall word craft. Each category is worth 10 points.
That's a long way off. Why is there so much lead time?
You're right! We give you that much time because this show is about creating new work. We want to give the artists as much time as possible to create.
Ok great! I like to leave things to the last minute anyways. When is the work due?
Well, sadly the work is due well before the opening of the show. That's because we need to photograph your beautiful creations, and then create a book that is available at the show. We need as much time as possible to make the book, and get a proof made before going into mass printing. That means your work is actually due at the end of August, 2025 which gives us plenty of time to put the book together.
Does my work need to be for sale?
It sure does. If you decide at the last minute that your work is NFS, then it will be removed from the show - there are no exceptions for this. We are partnered with a commercial gallery, and patrons coming to the show expect to be able to buy the work that is on the walls.
What is your stance on the use of AI?
AI is controversial and we have guidelines on acceptable use that you can find in our stance on AI statement, but we will briefly mention it here: We believe it can be used as a tool in some respects to help with your work. It should never be used in respect to direct creation of work, but where it can be of use is in an advanced grammar and spell checker, or in certain instances where access to images for reference only could be useful., ie. if you don't own a camera or have access to a human figure and AI is used to generate a reference image of a certain pose or object.
ALL OTHER USES OF AI ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED AND WILL RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE EJECTION FROM THE PROJECT. LET HUMAN'S MAKE THE WORK.
THE SHOW
Ghost Stories YYC is a visual storytelling group art show and publication. Artists who are a part of the project will create work based on a folk tale, urban legend or ghost story of their choosing. It can be an original tale, or one inspired by the countless stories we all share around campfires. If you're a returning artist from previous volumes, maybe you'll even continue a story you started last year.
Instead of an artist statement, each of the creators will instead write a short story based on their work. You may collaborate with a professional writer. There is no minimum length for the story, but it shouldn't be longer than 1500 words - shorter is sweeter, after all. Also, don't limit yourself to prose - we accept poetry or songs - but you must tell a story.
All mediums are acceptable - painting, sculpture, photography, performance or installation, even toy makers and jewellers, both of which have shown in the past.
You do not have to be a YYC resident in order to apply for this show. We accept artists from all over the globe.
Contributing artists will have until August 23rd 2025 to write their stories and create the work! Afterwards your work will be collected for the creation of a book that is available at the show.
Your work will be professionally photographed, and along with your story, will be included in a gallery exhibition. The show happens mid September at the Ruberto Ostberg Gallery in Calgary Alberta, Canada, where all the original artwork is for sale with a standard gallery commission. In addition it will be a part of a publication, Ghost Stories YYC Volume 4, a storybook which can be taken home to be read to friends and loved ones.
Interested in the final product? You can download the first 20 pages here.
THE COMMUNITY
With Ghost Stories YYC, we are building a community of artists and creators. In addition to a private Facebook & Discord group where we can all meet and correspond with each other, you can take part in optional group meet ups, special figure drawing and art making sessions, as well as story sharing groups and writing workshops around a fire pit. We're striving to bring together a welcoming and warm community of artists in order to create long lasting connections outside of the Ghost Stories YYC project.
