The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is a non-profit artist-run centre operated by the Okanagan Artists Alternative Association. We are community-built and artist-run.

We work to enrich the lives of artists and our community through exhibitions and community-building that increase knowledge and empathy. We create meaningful work and development opportunities for artists to take risks, innovate and share new perspectives through their art, and value our role connecting artists and the public.

Exhibitions and programs are selected in line with our Vision, Mission, and Values, which are available here.

Call for Writers

The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is looking to expand our roster of writers to assist with our ongoing exhibition essay series. 

Alternator exhibition essays respond to the artworks presented through our Main Gallery exhibition series, and add another layer of interpretation to the exhibition on view. The essays can take a variety of forms: a formal essay, Q&A with the artist, an interpretive response, or other types of creative writing pieces.

We welcome writing submissions from both established and emerging writers.

Essays typically range from 1,500 - 2,000 words, and are compensated with a writers fee. Completed essays are displayed in the gallery throughout the relevant exhibition, and are archived on the Alternator website. For samples of previous Alternator exhibition essays, visit https://www.alternatorcentre.com/essays.

Under-represented writers of all backgrounds including, but not limited to, Indigenous, Black, and racialized persons; refugee, newcomer and immigrant persons; two-spirit, LGBTQ+ and gender non-binary persons, persons with diverse abilities, and those on low-income or living in poverty are encouraged to apply. 

Writers who submit to this call will be added to the Alternator’s writer database, and will be contacted with opportunities that align with their areas of interest.

Submissions are accepted on an ongoing basis.

To submit:

Please fill out our Submission Form and include the following: 

  • A brief biography (100 words)

  • A brief statement outlining the topics, themes, and/or areas of interest you are interested in writing about.

  • C.V. 

  • Up to 3 writing samples (or links to your works online).