Call for Expressions of Interest: Public Art – Alton Terrace Reimagined, City of Burlington

City of Burlington, Alton Community Centre façade.

Call for Expressions of Interest: Alton Terrace Reimagined, Alton Community Centre, Burlington, Ontario

Submission Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026, 11:59pm

To mark the renaming of the Alton Community Centre (3040 Tim Dobbie Dr., Burlington, ON), the City of Burlington invites professional artists and artist teams to envision an immersive public artwork that celebrates civic identity, collective memory, and community life. This commission seeks to reimagine the Centre not only as a physical destination, but as a living symbol of connection, creativity, and belonging within the Alton neighbourhood.

Alton Terrace Reimagined presents a unique opportunity for artists to shape an urban space in transition. The City is seeking bold and imaginative proposals that weave together artistic expression and functional design, transforming the terrace into a welcoming and dynamic gathering place. Proposals should invite participation, spark curiosity, and foster meaningful connections across generations and cultures, while thoughtfully responding to the site’s histories and character.

This Call to Artists is open to artists working across a wide range of styles and mediums who are inspired to create work that reflects the spirit of Alton and contributes to a shared vision of a vibrant, inclusive public realm.

Conceptual drawings are not required at this time. Applicants are asked to submit a high-level proposal outlining their approach to the project. The selected artist will develop a detailed design and community engagement plan in consultation with staff and the selection panel.

Community Engagement

The selected artist will be expected to incorporate an element of community engagement or participate in the reimagining of the Alton Terrace. This may include, but is not limited to, community workshops, input into the design, etc. The City of Burlington will support community engagement activities through access to City-owned space, promotion, and administrative support.

Technical Requirements

Artists are invited to reimagine the terrace through:

• Integrating functional artistic elements such as benches, shade structures, etc.
• Utilizing the open space, benches, garden, and glass rail for a variety of elements such as sculptural, vinyl wraps or painted murals, organic materials, etc.
• The benches can be incorporated into or removed from the design
• The ping pong table must remain as an element within the terrace but may be relocated. The table may be utilized as a design element ex. painted, vinyl wrapped, etc.
• Painted mural on concrete wall or paving tiles (ground mural).

City of Burlington, Alton Community Centre Terrace.

Eligibility

This competition is open to all Ontario-based professional* artists or artist teams. It is expected that this project will include a public engagement component. As such, the selected artist(s) must be able to travel to Burlington, Ontario to facilitate all components of the installation, all public engagement activities as well as the unveiling event (Summer – Fall 2026, TBD). All costs related to travel must be accounted for in the Project Budget.

We encourage submissions from artists from diverse backgrounds and origins, specifically Black, Indigenous, and racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ community members, and people with disabilities or disabled people. To support the City’s efforts to create inclusive spaces and improve representation in its public art collection, proposals from artists or teams that represent other equity-deserving groups can also self-identify.

* A professional artist is an individual who has specialized skills and/or training in his/her artistic discipline (not necessarily in academic institutions), has a history of public presentation, and is critically recognized as an artist.

Project Budget

The artist commission is $50,000 (plus HST, if applicable).

Selection Process

This is a one-stage process. A Selection Committee comprised of project stakeholders, artists/arts professionals and community members will review all applications based on the following criteria:

• Qualifications and professional experience of artist(s).
• Artistic merit of previous work (as expressed in artwork samples submitted).
• The artist(s)’ responsiveness to this project (as outlined in the Expression of Interest Statement submitted).
• An expressed desire to create artwork in and for the public realm.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, budgets, and success in executing projects of the scale outlined in this document.

City of Burlington, Alton Community Centre Terrace.

Submission Requirements

Applications must include the following:

1. Expression of Interest Statement: A high-level statement outlining your interest in this project.
2. Biography: A short biography outlining your relevant interests, experiences and qualifications of the artist(s).
3. Curriculum Vitae (Artist Resume): Outline recent qualifications and artistic activities. If applying as part of a team / artist collective, please submit one consolidated C.V.
4. Artwork Samples: Submit up to ten (10) images of your past artwork which best illustrates a related body of artwork to the proposal.
5. Image List: A numbered list that corresponds to the Artwork Samples. Please include the following: title, date, materials, dimensions, locations, commissioning agent or client and budget (if applicable).

Visit burlingtonpublicart.com/calls-for-artists for a complete list of requirements.

How to Submit

Applications must be submitted online. To use the online application, you will need to create a free account for the online application system Submittable.

Visit burlingtonpublicart.com/calls-for-artists to access the online application.

Submission Deadline: Friday, May 15, 2026, 11:59pm

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Olivia Hope, Advisor, Cultural Programs
publicart@burlington.ca | 289-208-4699

City of Burlington
426 Brant Street, Burlington, ON
burlington.ca
city@burlington.ca

Facebook @cityburlington
Instagram @cityburlington
X @cityburlington

Image Descriptions:
1. Alton Community Centre façade.
2. Alton Terrace location of all designated areas for reimagination: glass railing and concrete wall for painting and vinyl installations.
3. Alton Terrace location of all designated areas for reimagination: concrete wall, paving tiles, glass railing, ping pong table, benches, garden bed, and open space for painting, vinyl, and structural installations.