Call to Artists

This page provides information on current public art opportunities issued by the City. When available, calls to artists will be listed below. If no opportunities are currently posted, please check back soon for future callouts.

Call to Artists – Placemaking Opportunity - Request for Proposal (RFP) Winter Window Paintings

Deadline: July 31, 2026, at 4 pm

The City of Pickering invites local artists or artist teams to apply to paint the main windows at City Hall and Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex.

Under the theme of Many Ways to Winter, this temporary placemaking opportunity will aim to showcase the diverse experiences, traditions, and perspectives that shape the season. From outdoor activities to quiet indoor moments, submissions can reflect the many ways people connect with and move through winter in their everyday lives.

This activation will be displayed on the windows from November 9, 2026, to February 1, 2027. One artist/team will be commissioned by The City of Pickering to create the works.

As per the City of Pickering Public Art Policy (CUL 130) an artist is defined as the designer/creator of an artistic work and can include, but is not limited to, a professional artist, graphic designer, collaborative team, architect, or landscape designer.

A public art jury comprised of professional artists and community members of diverse backgrounds will be established for this single-stage competition.

Project Brief

The City of Pickering’s Cultural Strategic Plan (2014) outlines the City’s commitment to collaborate with the community to celebrate our cultural diversity, heritage and the arts; to sustain our natural environment; to foster a creative economy; and to strengthen our vibrant neighborhoods.

This placemaking art piece is intended to be created by a local Pickering artist for the 2026-2027 winter season. The City of Pickering will commission one artist/team for the creation of the work. The size and exact number of windows to be determined between the City and the selected artist/team. The created work will create a sense of joy and excitement for residents and visitors during the winter season in Pickering.

Technical Specifications

Design Considerations

This call is directed towards local artists.
The created work must be painted on the interior side of the windows and removed at the end.
The work is to reflect the theme of Many Ways to Winter. Possible ideas include everyday winter life, outdoor activities like skating or sledding, cozy indoor moments, cultural traditions and personal experiences, local environments and landscapes, or even abstract expressions of the season that show the many ways people live, move through, and connect with winter.
The work is to be inclusive, engaging and create a feeling of joy.
The work may incorporate components; however, this should not add further to maintenance and durability.
The Artist will work with City of Pickering staff to identify exact windows for the project at both buildings.

Budget

$5,000.00 including HST (maximum)*. This is the total amount available for the commission of these placemaking artworks in addition to all related expenses of this project including, but not limited to: artist fees, all applicable taxes, detailed renderings, materials, removal, and schedules or other expertise as required, insurance, equipment, travel to meetings and to the site, and an artist statement for completed work.

The selected artist will provide a Scope of Work based on the Placemaking opportunity to The City of Pickering. This Scope of Work will address the artist's obligations, which include, but are not limited to:

Materials
Timeline
Installation
Removal
Insurance
Copyright, Intellectual Property and Moral Rights

*Subject to change based on final confirmation of number of windows.

Selection Process

A jury comprised of professional artists and community members of diverse backgrounds will be established for the evaluation of the proposals. This is a single-stage competition. One (1) artist/team will be awarded the commission.

The Jury will recommend an artist/team for the award of the commission based on the following criteria:

Artistic merit, including quality of work, originality, and artistic excellence.
Adhesion to location, theme and expressed desire in this project; and,
Artist’s demonstrated ability and proposal feasibility to meet the artwork goals and technical requirements, within the set timeline and budget.
The City of Pickering reserves the right to select and retain the artist deemed most appropriate for the project at its sole discretion.

It is expected that the commissioned artist(s) will comply with the project’s general timeline dates, as stated below:

Date*	Project Phase
July 6, 2026	Call to Artists – Placemaking Opportunity
July 31, 2026	Submissions due
Week of September 21, 2026	Selected Artist notified Artist to Issue Scope of Work
Week of October 26, 2026	Final Design Review
Week of November 2, 2026	Artwork Production on site
November 9, 2026	Artwork Completion

*Schedule is subject to change

Submission Requirements

Artists are invited to respond to this RFP Call by submitting a single pdf document (max size 20 MB) including:

Artist statement: describe your interest in this project and share your experience in the field. You can submit a written document (1-page max).
Professional Resume (3 pages max.). If submitting as a team, an individual resume should be submitted for each team member.
Portfolio of past work. Examples of relevant work. You may include multiple images per project on 1 page of a maximum of 10 projects (10 pages). Add title, year, scope and a short description.
Artwork design. Concept sketch, photos, and other images/details as applicable as well as proposed dimensions, materials, and maintenance plan.
Proposed budget and delivery/installation/deinstallation plan. For artist fees, delivery, installation and deinstallation..
References. A list of at least two professional references familiar with your work and working methods. The list must include name, title, complete e-mail address and telephone number.

Submit your RFP form here

Deadline: July 31, 2026 at 4:00 pm EDT.

Reserved Rights & Accessibility

Accessibility

The City will provide accommodations throughout the selection process to applicants with disabilities. Please notify Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Curator, Public Art at 905.409.0567 or etayles@pickering.ca of the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.

Reserved Rights of the City of Pickering

The City of Pickering, at its sole discretion, may request clarification or request additional information, as deemed necessary to evaluate the submissions. The City retains the sole discretion to determine whether a submission is responsive and if the prospective Artist or Artist Team can perform the Work. The City reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to determine the number of pre-qualified Artists or Artist Teams. The City reserves the right to not proceed with awarding a contract. The City of Pickering shall have the exclusive rights to issue all public announcements regarding the competition.

Additional Information

For any additional information or questions please contact Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Curator, Public Art at 905.409.0567 or email etayles@pickering.ca.

Call to Artists-Window Paintings