SPAO: Photographic Arts Centre

Meet the 2026 Artists in Residence: Sarah Madgin ⁠
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Sarah Madgin is currently developing a practice around concepts related to identity and memory. Madgin's interests lie in the construction of images and their different states of transformation. By revisiting the material foundations of personal or found archives, she reflects on the authenticity of the traces of the past that these objects bear witness to. Working primarily with printmaking and alternative photographic techniques, the inherent mechanisms of these mediums allow Madgin to explore different modes of production in relation to the formation of memory.

The SPAO Artist Residency offers photo-based artists the opportunity to advance their career at one of Canada’s foremost photographic art centres. During this 6-month residency, individuals are afforded the time and environment needed to research, experiment, and produce a body of work as a professional artist. ⁠
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Residency applications are open, learn more to apply at spao.ca/residency 🔗 link in bio.

Alumni Achievement ⭐️

Shaelynn Tredenick was accepted to showcase at ADAC's 60th Anniversary and sold her piece. Congrats, Shaelynn!

📸 by Cheryl Rondeau

Join us for a wet plate collodion workshop with Paul Elter August 14+15+16!

Learn how to make direct positive tintypes from start to finish. This process uses collodion and silver nitrate to create an image with a surreal quality that will last for generations. Students will learn the chemical process and how to pour, expose, develop and varnish their own plates.

Through photography, writing and research, Paul Elter explores the intersections of art, science, and history. Elter is a multidisciplinary artist, independent researcher, and on some Tuesdays, a poet, whose primary photographic medium is wet plate collodion.

Learn more and register at spao.ca/wet-plate.

Meet the 2026 Artists in Residence: Krystle Silverfox ⁠
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Krystle Silverfox is a member of Selkirk First Nation (Wolf Clan), and interdisciplinary visual artist. Silverfox currently lives and works in Whitehorse, Yukon. Her artistic practice explores different materials, methodologies, and symbols to create conceptual works. Silverfox is inspired by Indigenous feminism, trans-nationalism, de-colonialism, activism, and lived experience.
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The SPAO Artist Residency offers photo-based artists the opportunity to advance their career at one of Canada’s foremost photographic art centres. During this 6-month residency, individuals are afforded the time and environment needed to research, experiment, and produce a body of work as a professional artist. ⁠
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Residency applications are open, learn more to apply at spao.ca/residency

Did you know there are many ways to fund your education at SPAO? ⁠
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SPAO offers a range of bursaries designed to support students through financial need, artistic merit, and career development.⁠
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Federal government employees affected by workforce adjustment (WFA) may also be eligible for education funding.⁠
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Additional support can be found through Veterans Affairs education benefits, Canada Student Grants for students with disabilities, and other federal and provincial funding programs.⁠
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Students may also be able to fund their studies through RESP or RRSP withdrawals, student lines of credit, or educational loan programs through their bank or financial institution.⁠
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Whether you’re beginning your journey in photography or considering a career transition, funding may be more accessible than you think!⁠
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Learn more at https://spao.ca/funding

📸 poster image detail by Tim Rahrer

Congratulations to Victoria Laube (), recipient of the 2026 Project XO Award for her body of work Process: Death and Discovery! 🎉⁠
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Degradation, metamorphosis, and change, as well as fragility, aging, death and memory are all concepts Laube is interested in. Her photographic practice is diverse; she's not constrained by genre. Laube photographs in the way that is most meaningful to the project at hand and doesn't shy away from other media and text. ⁠
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Process: Death and Discovery is Laube's response to the ordinary, yet mysterious processes of living and dying. Her mother’s passing, (facilitated by the MAID process), felt like a shock in which her guilt and shame prevailed.⁠
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Victoria will present this body of work at the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) and will receive a prize package worth over $3,000.⁠
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A big thank you to everyone who applied, and congratulations to the two finalists, Kaya Comeau and Ava Margueritte. ⁠
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The Project XO Award is supported by DAÏMÔN and Wall Space Gallery + Framing . ⁠
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Félicitations à Victoria Laube, lauréate du prix Project XO 2026 pour sa remarquable série d’œuvres Process: Death and Discovery ! 🎉⁠
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Dégradation, métamorphose, fragilité, vieillissement, mort et mémoire sont tous des concepts qui intéressent Victoria Laube. Sa pratique photographique est diversifiée; aucun type d’art n’est une contrainte pour elle. Laube photographie de la manière la plus pertinente pour le projet en cours et n’hésite pas à utiliser d’autres techniques ou même du texte. ⁠
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Son projet Process: Death and Discovery a été conçu en réponse aux processus ordinaires mais mystérieux de la vie et de la mort. Le décès de sa mère (par l’entremise de l’AMM [Aide médicale à mourir]) a provoqué en elle un choc mêlé de gêne et de culpabilité. ⁠
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Victoria aura l’occasion de présenter son travail à la Galerie d’art d’Ottawa (GAO) et recevra un prix d’une valeur de plus de 3 000 $.⁠ ⁠
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Un grand merci à toutes les personnes qui ont postulé, et toutes nos félicitations aux finalistes Kaya Comeau et Ava Margueritte. Le prix Projet XO bénéficie du soutien de DAÏMÔN et de Wall Space Gallery + Framing.

Meet the 2026 Artists in Residence: Elsa Frances Wiebe
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Elsa Frances Wiebe, aka Frances Free, is a visual artist, photographer and object collector based living and working in Ottawa/Adàwe. Often using a multi-layered method and intuitive approach, her work seeks to understand the tension between translucency and opacity. Utilizing craft, found objects, fibre arts and photography, Free’s materials led practice is experimental in nature.
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The SPAO Artist Residency offers photo-based artists the opportunity to advance their career at one of Canada’s foremost photographic art centres. During this 6-month residency, individuals are afforded the time and environment needed to research, experiment, and produce a body of work as a professional artist. ⁠
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Residency applications are open, learn more to apply at spao.ca/residency

Early bird registration for Critical Mass ends tomorrow! Regular registration will be open until July 1. Don’t miss your chance to submit your work and connect with photography professionals from around the world.⁠ 🌎️
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Following an initial review process, 200 finalists will be selected to have their work reviewed by an international panel of photography professionals (including SPAO’s own Katie Lydiatt). From this group, several awards are presented, including SPAO’s Artist Residency, which will be awarded to one artist from the Top 200 finalists.⁠
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Participants gain valuable visibility by connecting their work with museum curators, gallerists, publishers, editors, educators, artists, and media professionals. ⁠
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Learn more + submit at 🔗 photolucida.org/critical-mass.⁠
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📸 Image by 2025 Critical Mass Top 50 finalist Amanda Marchand

Strengthen your creative voice and expand your portfolio!

SPARK Photography Workshops are designed for serious young artists (ages 16–20) who want a focused, hands-on introduction to photographic practice.

Over the course of one intensive week, students will build technical skills and artistic confidence through shooting sessions, post-production workshops, and group critiques. Participants will explore landscape, architecture, still life, and portraiture while developing a cohesive portfolio of work.

📅 August 10–14, 2026
🕙 Monday–Friday | 10:00AM–3:00PM
📍 77 Pamilla St, Ottawa⁠

Learn more + register at spao.ca/spark-workshops.

📸 detail by Jude Peter

SPAO is once again participating in Doors Open Ottawa, a free city-wide event!

Visit us at 77 Pamilla Street on June 6 + 7 to see our facility, including one of the region's best-equipped darkrooms. We’ll be offering guided tours throughout the weekend and are happy to answer any questions about our programming.

We hope to see you!