BMO 1st Art! celebrates the creativity of art school students from over 100 post-secondary institutions across Canada. Every year BMO Financial Group invites the deans and instructors of undergraduate-level certificate, diploma, or degree programmes in studio art to select from their graduating classes three students whose ability and imagination place them 1st among their peers.

Each promising student is asked to submit digital images of a recent work to BMO Financial Group’s Art Collection Unit . The distinguished selection committee reviews the submissions and chooses one winner from every province and territory to be 1st in their region. A national winner is also chosen.