Call for Proposals: Public Art Light Installation at The 519

Courtesy of The 519

50th Anniversary Art Installation

Submission Deadline: February 20, 2025, 11:59pm ET

In 2026, The 519 celebrates its 50th anniversary—a milestone to honour our legacy, celebrate our communities, and imagine a safer, just and inclusive future together, For five decades, The 519 has been a beacon for 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Toronto and beyond: a place of refuge, art, advocacy, and collective care. This anniversary invites us to ask: How can The 519 illuminate 2SLGBTQ life, art, and community in public space?

To explore these questions, The 519 is commissioning a contemporary public art project that will be a creative landmark in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood. Using light—both medium and metaphor—the piece will explore community, memory, and place.

From January 28 to February 20, 2026, we are seeking preliminary proposals from artists, designers, collectives, and cross-disciplinary creatives for an original public artwork.

Project Requirements

This project will be one of many initiatives that celebrate, honour, and commemorate our 50th anniversary. Using light—both medium and metaphor—this bespoke installation will be a highly visible, exterior, bold visual statement that signals The 519 as a space for refuge, art, advocacy, and collective care for Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

The piece will use the building as a canvas, perhaps installing on the roof, projecting on the facade, illuminating windows—we’re excited to hear your ideas. The building itself will power and be the support structure for the piece. The final work should speak to our broader 50th anniversary themes: Legacy + History, Belonging + Joy, Liberation + Advocacy, Future + Possibility.

We’re seeking proposals from artists, designers, collectives, and cross-disciplinary creatives for an original public artwork that meets the following criteria:

Original design specifically for The 519’s historical building in Toronto’s Church/Wellesley neighbourhood
The artwork must be suitable outdoor display, weather resistant
The artwork must not include advertising, offensive content, or direct political messaging.
Uses light as a medium
Engages community and inspires audiences
Speaks to the specific site at 519 Church Street, Toronto
Amplifies 2SLGBTQ+ voices
Artists are responsible for installation in coordination with staff and must adhere to all municipal bylaws and safety standards.

Eligibility

This call is open to emerging artists and artist teams who are interested in developing their skills and experience in public art.

Both individuals and artist teams are welcome to apply.
Designers, architects, technologists, and interdisciplinary teams are welcome to apply.
At least one team member must have pervious experience with at least one public art project.
Creatives working across light, sculpture, installation, immersive media, or community-engaged art.
City of Toronto employees and members of the selection committee are not eligible to apply.
Artists must be available for installation during the scheduled project period.

Equity Statement

The 519 is committed to equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all of our work. As Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQ+ multi-service organization, we recognize the importance of amplifying voices that have been historically underrepresented in public art and cultural spaces.

We strongly encourage proposals from local and emerging artists who identify as 2 Spirit, queer, trans, Black, Indigenous, racialized, disabled, deaf, neurodivergent, newcomers, refugees, and people with lived experience of systemic barriers.

We value community-informed and culturally responsive artistic practices, and welcome diverse ways of storytelling, creation, and collaboration. Accessibility is central to this project, and artists are encouraged to consider how their work engages a wide range of community members.

Through this commission, The 519 aims to support an equitable process that honours and helps imagine a more just and inclusive future.

Compensation

The selected artist or team will receive a fee in the range of $7,500 – $10,000 + HST.

Selection Process

Proposals will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary Advisory Committee made up of artists, curators, community members, and The 519 representatives.

Assessment Criteria:

Artistic merit, innovation, and conceptual clarity
Feasibility, durability, technical viability
Alignment with themes and values
Budget and timeline alignment

This is a two-stage process. In Stage One, artists submit a preliminary proposal outlining their qualifications and initial concept. A shortlist of up to three finalists will be selected to advance to Stage Two, where each will be invited to develop a more detailed proposal and present their concepts to the selection committee.

In Stage Two, finalists will receive a small honorarium for their detailed proposals. The final selection will be made based on artistic merit, feasibility, and alignment with project goals. The successful artist will then work with The 519 staff to finalize the design and oversee installation.

Stage One: Review of preliminary proposals and shortlisting by an Advisory Committee of multidisciplinary professionals and staff representatives from The 519.

Stage Two: Finalist presentations and interviews.

Submission Requirements

Artists must submit their preliminary proposals electronically as a single PDF document (maximum 10MB). Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. All materials should be clearly labeled and organized.

Preliminary Proposal (3 pages max):

Contact details for lead artist(s)
Concept statement describing your interest and approach to the project and including a clear description of artistic intent and thematic alignment
Preliminary technical notes
Anticipated materials and fabrication methods
Up to 5 images of previous relevant artwork (not included in page count)
Preliminary sketches, mock-ups, or renderings (not included in page count)

Artist/Team Information:

CV(s) or bios
Portfolio or links to past work
Contact information for all contributors

Budget and Timeline:

Preliminary budget breakdown
Preliminary development and creation timeline, with October 1, 2026 completion date.

Optional:

Letters of support
Documentation of relevant past installations

How to Submit

Email your complete proposal to:
Roxanne Duncan, Project Director, 50th Anniversary at RDuncan@The519.org

Submission Deadline: Friday, February 20, 2026 at 11:59pm ET

Information Session

Attend a virtual info session on Monday, February 9 at 5:30pm. Open to anyone interested in submitting a proposal. For details and registration email Emkay Adjei-Manu at EAdjeiManu@The519.org

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Emkay Adjei Manu
EAdjeiManu@The519.org

The 519
519 Church Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 2C9
www.the519.org
info@the519.org
416-355-6782

Instagram @the519
Facebook @The519
LinkedIn @the519

Accessibility:
For more information visit www.the519.org/50.

Image Description:
An illustration of the building façade of The 519 with colourful bursts of light behind it.