Call for Expressions of Interest: 150th Legacy Mural Commission, City of St. Catharines

Celebrating 150 Years of Community, Creativity, and Connection

Ontario Street Parking Garage Facade, August 2026. Photo: Chelsea Ryan

Call for Expressions of Interest
A Love Letter to a City: A St. Catharines 150th Legacy Mural Commission

Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 22, 2026, 11:59pm ET

The City of St. Catharines invites professional mural artists and artist-led teams to submit Expressions of Interest for A Love Letter to a City: A St. Catharines 150th Legacy Mural Commission. Inspired by A Love Letter to a City, an original poem by St. Catharines Poet Laureate Shannon Kitchings, this landmark public art project is a key component of the City’s sesquicentennial celebrations.

The City seeks a bold and impactful public artwork that reflects the stories, people, places, and shared experiences that have shaped St. Catharines over the past 150 years while looking toward the future. The selected mural will transform the north-west facing exterior wall of the Ontario Street Parking Garage into a significant public art destination and downtown landmark. The mural site is a highly visible concrete façade approximately 170 feet wide by 44 feet high and includes circular ventilation openings that must be thoughtfully integrated into the design.

Artists are encouraged to create contemporary, visually compelling works that celebrate community, connection, transformation, and pride of place.

Project Requirements

Artists are encouraged to explore themes related to the evolution and identity of St. Catharines, including:

• Indigenous histories and enduring relationships to the land and waterways
• The Welland Canal and its significance to city development
• Shipbuilding, manufacturing, and industrial heritage
• William Hamilton Merritt and the city’s early growth
• Harriet Tubman and St. Catharines’ role in the Underground Railroad
• The Garden City identity
• Agriculture, orchards, and Niagara’s fruit-growing traditions
• Historic architecture and neighbourhoods
• Arts, culture, music, and community celebrations
• Diversity, newcomer experiences, and belonging
• Innovation, sustainability, and future aspirations

Shortlisted artists will be provided with Love Letter to a City and asked to creatively integrate a phrase, excerpt, or thematic element from the poem into their final mural concept.

Ontario Street Parking Garage Facade, August 2026. Photo: Chelsea Ryan

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to:

• Professional visual artists
• Professional mural artists
• Artist-led teams and collectives

Applicants must:

• Reside in Ontario
• Demonstrate experience delivering public art, murals, or large-scale artistic projects

Applications from Indigenous artists, Black artists, racialized artists, artists with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ artists, and artists from other equity-deserving communities are strongly encouraged.

Compensation

Project Budget: $50,000 CAD (inclusive of artist fees, assistant fees, materials, equipment, permits, insurance, travel, accommodation, surface preparation, protective coatings, and all associated project costs).

Shortlisted artists advancing to Stage Two will receive an honorarium of $1,500 CAD plus HST to support concept development.

Selection Process

Stage One: Expression of Interest – Artists submit qualifications and portfolio materials. No mural design is required at this stage. A Selection Committee will review submissions and shortlist up to five artists or artist teams.

Stage Two: Concept Development – Shortlisted artists will develop and submit a detailed concept proposal. Selected concepts may be shared publicly for community feedback before a final artist is chosen.

Evaluation Criteria (Stage One)

• Artistic Excellence
• Quality and Relevance of Portfolio
• Demonstrated Experience with Large-Scale Projects
• Project Understanding and Suitability

Submission Requirements

Submit PDF documents containing:

1. Artist Statement

• Maximum 500 words describing artistic practice, interest in the project, and relevant experience

2. Curriculum Vitae

• Current CV outlining public art, mural, exhibition, and professional experience (maximum three pages)

3. Portfolio

• Maximum of 10 completed projects
• Demonstrating experience with murals, public art, large-scale commissions, and community-engaged projects where applicable

4. Image List

• Title
• Year
• Location
• Dimensions
• Materials
• Project budget (if available)
• Commissioning organization
• Brief project description

5. References

• Two professional references including name, organization, email, and telephone number

How to Submit

Applications must be submitted through the City of St. Catharines Calls to Artists webpage.

Applicants should review the full Expression of Interest requirements and upload all required materials through the online submission portal.

Submission Deadline: Sunday, November 22, 2026, 11:59pm ET

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Chelsea Ryan, Culture Coordinator, Public Art
culture@stcatharines.ca | 905-323-7643

City of St. Catharines
50 Church Street
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2
www.stcatharines.ca
culture@stcatharines.ca | 905-323-7643

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Accessibility: City of St. Catharines is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive community. For more information about accessibility services, policies, and accommodations, visit the website.

Image Descriptions:
1. Landscape view of the Ontario Street Parking Garage in downtown St. Catharines, viewed from William Street. The large concrete façade features multiple circular ventilation openings integrated into the building’s exterior wall. An open parking area is visible in the foreground, illustrating the scale, prominence, and visibility of the proposed mural site.
2. Landscape view of the Ontario Street Parking Garage in downtown St. Catharines, viewed from King Street. The large concrete façade features multiple circular ventilation openings integrated into the building’s exterior wall. An open parking area is visible in the foreground, illustrating the scale, prominence, and visibility of the proposed mural site.