2026 RBC Award for Glass
Call for Applications
Deadline: Received electronically by Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
The RBC Award for Glass is a national award for emerging glass artists with $18,000 in prizes available. Eligible artists include those working in blown, flame-worked, fused, or stained glass. Thanks to the ongoing partnership between RBC and the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, this award is presented annually to a practising emerging glass artist who works professionally and is in the early stages of their career. The Award is intended to allow the artist to undertake a period of independent research or other activities with the goal of advancing their artistic and professional practice.
The winner of the RBC Award for Glass will receive $10,000. One runner-up will receive a prize of $5,000. Up to 3 finalists will also be selected who will each receive a prize of $1,000. The winner, runner-up, and finalists will have their work featured in a group exhibition at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in 2026. Prizes are inclusive of CARFAC exhibition fees. The Gallery also purchases an artwork by the winner and runner-up for the Permanent Collection each year.
The Award will be presented at the opening reception, held at the Gallery in Waterloo. The tentative date for this reception is Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 2:00pm. Transportation and accommodation will be provided to the winner, as required. To be eligible for the Award, applicants must be available to attend the reception, tentatively scheduled for May 31, and be prepared to make a brief artist talk should they win the award. The winner and finalists will be notified in early March.
About the RBC Award for Glass
The RBC Award for Glass is presented annually by the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery and is supported by the RBC Foundation. With $18,000 in prizes available, this prestigious award allows practising early-career glass artists to undertake a period of independent research, or other activities that advance their artistic and professional practice. The winner of the Winifred Shantz Award for Ceramics receives $10,000 and one of their artworks is acquired for the Gallery’s Permanent Collection. One runner-up will receive a prize of $5,000. Up to 3 finalists will also be selected who will each receive a prize of $1,000. Each year, the winner and finalists of the RBC Award for Glass will have their work presented in an exhibition held at the Gallery.
Recipients of the award represent some of the best emerging glass artists in Canada. To learn more about the previous winners, click here.
About RBC Emerging Artists
RBC Emerging Artists supports organizations that provide the best opportunity to advance an artist’s career trajectory in genres such as visual arts, music, theatre, performance, literature and film. Every year the RBC Foundation donates millions of dollars to hundreds of arts organizations globally to help emerging artists become established.
Past RBC Award for Glass Brochures
Contact:
For additional information, contact Peter Flannery, Senior Curator & Collections Manager, at 519.746.1882 x235 or peter@theclayandglass.ca.