Students and alumni are invited to submit artwork that help create welcoming spaces

March 18, 2024

For the second year, The Student and Learning Services (SLS) team at Georgian is offering a unique opportunity for students and alumni to submit artwork that may be displayed at the Barrie and Midland campuses. Selected art pieces will also be on display in the Library at the Barrie Campus from May 28 to 30.

This initiative was launched to display art that reflects welcoming spaces for individuals accessing Student and Learning Services, which include mental health, well-being and accessibility. 

Georgian is proudly committed to helping support students’ academic journeys while creating supportive environments with SLS. 

We received an incredible number of entries from students and alumni last year. The quality of the art was amazing and the stories behind them were equally impactful. Students shared journeys of mental health, accessibility, perseverance, connections to family, community and resilience. It was truly inspirational and so moving and we feel so honoured to display Georgian student and alumni artwork and personal stories. 

Danielle Mink, Director, Accessibility and Well-being.

Last year, student Herbert Pryke from the Developmental Services Worker program at the Owen Sound Campus submitted a painting that is currently displayed on the Owen Sound Campus. Returning to school as a mature student Herbert’s experience with SLS helped him to organize and prioritize, but also to slow down and breathe.

Herbert’s painting is inspired by one of his favourite local landscapes, Indian Brook where a quick walk through the woods leads to a clear babbling brook, where trout leisurely pass by unamused and further opens up to beautiful Georgian Bay.

2023 artwork submissions from Taei Kim, Herbert Pryke and Wendy McBurnie.

How to participate 

Students and alumni interested in participating are asked to submit a piece of art that represents strength, resilience, tranquility, spirituality, compassion, connection to others, and connection to the Georgian community. Selected artwork will be displayed at the Barrie and Midland campuses and will also be displayed in the Library on the Barrie Campus from May 28 to 30.

 The Library will be hosting a reception on May 30 from 3 to 5 p.m. and is open to students, alumni, employees and the public to view art pieces created by the Georgian community. 

Inspiration for artwork can include connections to the college community, including familiar local landscapes, or images that represent accessibility, mental health, and well-being.

As selected artwork will be displayed publicly, images that contain violence, self-harm, nudity, profanity, triggering or offensive images related to political, cultural or religious symbols will not be accepted.

How to submit artwork

For existing artwork you’d like to submit, please send a photo to studentsuccess@georgiancollege.ca, subject line: 2024 SLS Art Submission.  

For a new artwork piece, send a sketch of your proposed artwork to studentsuccess@georgiancollege.ca, subject line: 2024 SLS Art Submission. 

Please include a brief biography of yourself, your student journey and your connection to the community and the dimensions of your artwork in your submission. 

All submissions are required by May 20 to be considered for the exhibition. Selected artwork will require transportation to the Barrie Campus Library by May 27. Selected pieces will be compensated for the cost of creation and transportation. 

Questions? Reach out to studentsuccess@georgiancollege.ca.