Call to Canadian Artists: Public Art Benches, Region of Durham

Image: Region of Durham

The Region of Durham and STEPS Public Art are commissioning up to six (6) innovative artist-made public benches in a single-stage competition

Submission Deadline: April 16, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET

Inspired by public art benches commissioned by The Woodlands Arts Council in Texas, the Region of Durham is seeking to commission up to six (6) innovative artist-made benches that enhance the aesthetic appeal and cultural significance of transit stops and public spaces. Selected artists will fabricate a bench for the Region of Durham to be delivered for installation in June 2025.

The commissioned artists will be selected through a single-stage process. Each project budget of $7,000 CAD includes all costs directly associated with the artwork: including all taxes (e.g. HST), artist fees, production, materials, other professional services, insurance, travel, delivery, and other incidental expenses.

Visit the website for full details.

Eligibility

Artwork proposals will be reviewed on the basis of safety and durability, artistic excellence, expressed written interest in the project and other professional qualification criteria listed below.

This Call to Artists is open to all Canada-based professional artists, however, artists should note that they are responsible for delivering the benches to Durham Region. Artist teams are welcome to apply but must share the total project award.

Per the Canada Council for the Arts guidelines, a professional artist is defined as someone who:

• has specialized artistic training (not necessarily in academic institutions);
• is critically recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition);
• is active in and committed to their art practice;
• has a history of public exhibitions; and/or
• has produced an independent body of work.

Submission Requirements

Each artist/artist team should create a detailed artist proposal including:

1. Letter of Intent: 300 words maximum. Outline of artistic experience, ability, approach and interest in this project, site and community, highlighting relevant experience and your connection to Durham Region if applicable.

2. Artist Statement: 600 words maximum. Provide a description of the proposed concept addressing the public art vision and how it meets the design considerations and specifications listed below. This statement may be used in public presentation materials.

3. Curriculum Vitae (CV): 3-page maximum. Detail professional experience as an artist, past public art experience, and other information relevant to this Expression of Interest (EOI). If applying as a team, provide one CV per team member.

4. Concept Images: Maximum of ten (10) images of the proposed bench. For each image, a title and image number should be provided.

5. Fabrication and Maintenance: Provide a detailed description, including dimensions and estimated weight, materials (include copies of any manufacturer’s technical data), fabrication methods, durability of the proposed materials, and a list of post-installation maintenance requirements and estimated costs associated with the maintenance of the artwork after installation.

6. Budget: Applicants should develop their proposals based on the overall commissioning budget of $7,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) identified for the design, supply, and fabrication. This includes, but is not limited to: artist fees, materials, studio/fabrication costs, personal liability insurance, etc.

If applying as a team, please list team members and submit the required credentials for each. Please also only provide the contact information for the designated contact person.

Design Considerations and Specifications

The selected designs shall be reasonably acceptable to be displayed in a family-oriented public setting, giving consideration to the colours, structural design (how it is built), contextual design (how it will fit into its surroundings), and functional design for intended use as an outdoor bench adjacent to a roadway.

Benches are typically about 72″ long, 29″ wide and 33″ tall. While the proposed designs do not need to be exactly this size, artists should consider that the bench may be struck by vehicles leaving the roadway. The design should consider risks associated with a motor vehicle accident and should be collapsible on impact.

The bench must be constructed of durable materials that will be easy to maintain in an outdoor environment for at least ten (10) years.

Bench designs should be comfortable and safe for a minimum of two (2) people to sit on and be able to support a minimum of 600 lbs.

Benches must be designed in a way that allows them to be installed on a concrete pad with 10mm lag bolts and matching concrete anchored inserts.

The Regional Municipality of Durham is committed to ensuring that people of all ages and abilities enjoy the same opportunities as they live, work, play, visit and invest in our region. The Region is committed to meeting the requirements outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) to support the vision of a fully accessible Ontario by 2025. By implementing AODA requirements, the Region aims to build a healthy, inclusive, age-friendly community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. The public art benches must be designed with accessibility in mind (i.e. they must have a backrest, must be easy to sit and get up from, etc.). For more information on designing for accessibility, see the City of Oshawa Accessibility Design Standards, 2.10.1 Benches and Seats.

How to Submit

Review the full details and apply by April 16, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted via Google Forms – emailed, faxed or mailed applications will not be accepted. Final submissions must not exceed 10 MB in total size.

Questions and requests for clarification will be received by email until March 28, 2025 at 4:00 pm ET. Applicants who need additional support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Collin Zipp (collin@stepspublicart.org) to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

For additional information:
Collin Zipp, Public Art Manager
1-888-783-7780 ext. 704
collin@stepspublicart.org

STEPS Public Art
stepspublicart.org