Request for Proposals: Painted Beaver Sculptures in Toronto

Old Town Toronto BIA + STEPS Public Art

Photo: Old Town Toronto BIA

Request for Proposals: Painted Beaver Sculptures in Celebration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Submission Deadline: January 25, 2026, at 11:59pm ET
48 Commissions at $750 CAD each (HST Inclusive)

The Old Town Toronto BIA, in partnership with STEPS Public Art, is seeking 48 artists to paint a series of beaver sculptures celebrating the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Each sculpture will represent one of the 48 participating FIFA countries through cultural themes, artistic interpretation, and creative use of each nation’s colour palette.

With the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, Old Town Toronto will welcome an influx of international visitors seeking immersive, celebratory experiences. This public art initiative reflects the BIA’s commitment to showcasing Toronto’s multiculturalism, supporting local artists, and creating engaging public spaces that bring community members and visitors together.

Each selected artist will be paired with a FIFA participating nation and commissioned to design and paint one (1) beaver sculpture provided by the Client. Sculptures will be prominently installed throughout the Old Town Toronto BIA from May 1 – September 30, 2026.

Artists will be selected through a single-stage process led by STEPS Public Art, ensuring equitable representation and meaningful cultural connections across all 48 nations. If a participating country and artist cannot be paired, artists will be selected on artistic merit and letter of intent.

Each selected artist will receive a commission fee of $750 CAD, inclusive of HST and all project costs, including but not limited to: concept development, final approved design delivery, painting of the artwork, including a protective clear coating, pick-up and delivery of completed artwork, etc. Artist fees will be paid by STEPS Public Art upon delivery of the final artworks.

Proposed Beaver Sculpture, Old Town Toronto BIA

Community Background

Old Town Toronto is one of the city’s most historic, architecturally rich, and culturally diverse neighbourhoods. Located in downtown Toronto, the area encompasses the original 10 blocks where Toronto was first established as the Town of York in 1793. Today, Old Town Toronto blends layers of history with a vibrant contemporary urban experience, reflecting both its heritage roots and its dynamic, fast-growing and multicultural community. The area reflects Toronto’s multicultural identity, hosting community events, markets, and experiences that celebrate global cultures and local creativity.

Eligibility and Selection Process

This call is open to:

• GTA-based professional artists, designers, illustrators, and muralists.
• Applicants with meaningful cultural connections to any of the 48 participating FIFA countries will be prioritized.
• Artist teams may apply but must share one commission and submit one point of contact.
• Experience with painting 3D surfaces is an asset but not required.

Artists will be selected by a Selection Panel and presented to the BIA for final approval. Evaluation Criteria include cultural connection, relevance, originality and artistic quality of past work. Selected artists may be asked to revise designs before fabrication. Painting may only begin once designs are approved in writing.

42 of 48 teams have qualified for the tournament: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, USA and Uzbekistan.

Qualifying matches are still underway and will include 6 of the following teams: Albania, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Congo DR, Czechia, Denmark, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Kosovo, New Caledonia, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Suriname, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine and Wales. Artists from or with connections to these countries are encouraged to apply. As teams qualify for the tournament, artist selections will be made.

Submissions

Professional artists are invited to respond to this RFP by submitting a single PDF document. This PDF document must include:

1. Letter of Intent (1 page max): Describe your interest in this project, your artistic practice, and your cultural connection or relationship to specific FIFA nations (you may identify more than one nation).

2. Concept Approach (1 page max): Explain how you would approach interpreting a FIFA country through cultural themes, visual storytelling, and palette.

3. Curriculum Vitae (3 pages max): Include relevant artistic experience.

4. Examples of Past Work (up to 10 images): Include titles, materials, dimensions, and brief descriptions. Work demonstrating painting skill, cultural storytelling, or work on sculptural/3D surfaces is valuable.

How to Apply

View the full opportunity and apply by January 25, 2026, at 11:59pm 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. It is your responsibility to ensure the application package is complete and submitted by the posted deadline. Final submissions must not exceed 10 MB in total size.

Opportunity Contact

Questions and requests for clarification will be received by email until January 9, 2026 at 4:00pm ET. Applicants who need additional support applying are encouraged to contact Collin Zipp, Public Art Manager at collin@stepspublicart.org by January 9, 2026 at 4:00pm ET to appropriately accommodate your needs and discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

About STEPS Public Art

STEPS is a Canadian charity and social enterprise. We provide services in public art management, cultural planning, and artist capacity building. Through our charitable programs, we support artists and foster vibrant, inclusive communities. To stay connected with public art opportunities like this and community programming, subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media (@STEPSPublicArt) or reach out! Explore our Fieldnotes Blog Series below to learn more about our work.

• Takeaways from the Global Placemaking Summit
• How to Prepare for a Public Art (An Artist’s Guide)
• Sustainable Practices in Public Art

STEPS Public Art
stepspublicart.org

Image Descriptions
1. Image of Old Town Toronto, featuring St. James Park and Pavilion
2. Front view of the Beaver Sculpture to demonstrate width (46 centimetres) + Side view of the Beaver Sculpture to demonstrate height (107 centimetres) and depth (76 centimetres)