Call for Artists: StreetARToronto Outside the Box Program 2025

Artwork by Kreecha. Photo by Alexei Malakhov.

The Outside the Box Program

Submission Deadline: April 7, 2025 (11:59 pm EDT)
Learn more about ‘Outside The Box’ 2025 Art Call and apply here.

The Outside the Box program provides an opportunity for local artists to create works of art on traffic signal boxes across Toronto. Since 2013, over 500 boxes have been hand-painted by local artists, or wrapped featuring designs by local graphic artists, and transformed into extraordinary works of art.

Artists and graphic designers applying to this program are encouraged to consider the context of the local area and the city as a whole.

Art calls for hand-painted boxes, and graphic designs for wrapped boxes, are issued separately.

Project Requirements

• Applicants must reside in the City of Toronto. Your complete mailing address must be included in your application.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• City of Toronto employees are not eligible to apply.

New Outside The Box Application Qualifications

StreetARToronto (StART) follows a career ladder model, encouraging artists to work on a variety of ‘canvases’ of ever-increasing size as they progress in their careers. To support this growth, StART offers multiple programs focused on artistic and professional development. Often, the StART Outside the Box (OTB) and Cycle Track Barriers programs—StART’s ‘small canvas’ initiatives—serve as entry points for emerging artists.

To ensure opportunities are available to a broad range of Toronto-based artists, starting in 2025, artists will be eligible to be awarded a maximum of three boxes within the life span of the OTB program. If you would like to talk about other opportunities for career advancement or have any questions, please contact the StART team at streetart@toronto.ca.

The boxes will be painted the last week of June and the first week of July. To be eligible artists must be available to paint during that period.

Finished works will be on functioning City of Toronto equipment that will need repair or replacing at some point in time. The City of Toronto therefore cannot guarantee the duration of use of each traffic signal box. Artists and graphic designers should also be aware that traffic signal boxes are often targets for vandalism. Although the City will protect the artwork with a vandal-resistant clear coat or wrap, it cannot guarantee that vandalized traffic signal boxes will be repaired and the artwork restored to its original state. Artists must accept the risk that their artwork may be damaged, altered, or removed at any time after completion.

Artwork by TheCastleRose. Photo by Alexei Malakhov.

Submission Requirements

Artists will be required to submit examples of their past work, a design proposal, and list one professional reference.

How to Submit

1. Please create an Artist Profile in our StART Portal.

2. Download and submit the Declaration of Compliance with Anti-Harassment / Discrimination Legislation & City Policy.

3. Make sure you have completed the Ontario Worker Health & Safety Awareness Training. Once completed upload the awarded certificate to your Artist Profile.

Artist Fee

Selected artists will receive a fee of $1000 for each completed traffic signal box and licensing rights that will enable the City to reproduce the final design for promotional purposes.

Painting Weeks

Artists must specify in their application which of the 2 designated weeks they will be available to paint:

• Week 1 (June 23 – July 29)
• Week 2 (June 30 – July 6)

Your Design

This is an integral part of a successful application. Please ensure that your design follows the box template. Download the box template.

Please make sure your design is in full colour, and of good quality. Black and white sketches and designs that are not provided on the box template will not be considered. Please contact us if you have any issues downloading the template prior to applying.

Successful designs will have these principles in mind:

• StART’s core values (Indigeneity, Diversity, Mobility and Accessibility, Ecology, and the Environment)
• Animate streetscape to make walking, cycling, driving appealing and enjoyable
• Reflect the character of the city of Toronto
• Reflect diversity of Toronto
• Resonate with public
• Deter vandalism
• Design proposals must include all visible sides of the cabinet

Designs must not contain:

• Any representations of traffic lights, signs, or signals;
• Advertisement or promotion for any business, product or viewpoint;
• Vulgar, profane, offensive or insensitive images or writing;
• Any breach of intellectual property, trademarks, brands or images of illegal activity.

Submission Deadline: April 7, 2025 (11:59 pm EDT)
Learn more about ‘Outside The Box’ 2025 Art Call and apply here.

Artwork by Ren Lonechild. Photo by Alexei Malakhov.

Join Us for an Information Session

Learn how to apply for the StreetARToronto Outside the Box Program at our in-person Information Session.

Monday, March 24, 2025, 1:30 – 4:00 pm
The Native Canadian Centre, Room 101 (16 Spadina Rd, Toronto)
RSVP requested. Sign up on Eventbrite.

Join us for a presentation followed by a Q & A. Visit our program tables to learn more about the StART projects and programs and how to apply. Light snacks will be available.

About StreetARToronto

StreetARToronto (StART), an initiative of the City of Toronto’s Transportation Services Division, is a suite of innovative programs intentionally designed to demonstrate the positive and powerful impacts of reconciliation, diversity, equity and inclusion, foster community engagement and civic pride, add colour and vitality to neighbourhoods, encourage active transportation, showcase Toronto artists and contribute to their skills development, mentor emerging talent, and create opportunities for positive engagement among residents, business owners and operators, artists and arts organizations.

For additional information or questions, please contact:
StreetARToronto
streetart@toronto.ca

StreetARToronto
www.streetartoronto.ca
streetart@toronto.ca

Facebook @StreetARToronto
Instagram @start_streetartoronto
Twitter @StART_Toronto

Accessibility:
StreetARToronto strives to create accessible opportunities for all. For more information or to request accommodation for your application contact us at streetart@toronto.ca.

Image descriptions:
1. Photo of a painted traffic signal box designed as part of the Outside the Box program by artist Kreecha. The design features Kreecha’s signature calligraphy style lettering, painted with aerosol in yellows and blues in a diagonal against a dark background.
2. Photo of a painted traffic signal box designed as part of the Outside the Box program by artist TheCastleRose. The design features a bright illustrative style depicting several cottage style houses against a backdrop of rolling green hills.
3. Photo of a painted traffic signal box designed as part of the Outside the Box program by artist Ren Lonechild. The design features a collage style against a mint green background. The images painted feature a thunderbird, a small red handprint, an Indigenous man in portrait with the medicine wheel and geometric shapes in light purple.