Call for Expressions of Interest: Public Artwork for Allandale Transit Mobility Hub, City of Barrie

View of Building Front and Transit Plaza from Essa Road

Public Artwork for the Allandale Transit Mobility Hub, City of Barrie
Request for Expressions of Interest

Deadline: Monday July 31, 2 pm (EDT)
Award: $150,000 CAD

The City of Barrie invites expressions of interest from professional artists or artists teams to design and create an exterior public artwork for the plaza at the New Construction of the Allandale Transit Mobility Hub.

An artwork proposal is not requested at this time. This is a two-stage process: in Stage One, applicants will be reviewed based on artistic merit of past work, professional qualifications, and experience. In Stage Two, short-listed artists will be required to submit a preliminary artwork concept proposal for jury review, which may include an interview. Each shortlisted artist/artist team will receive a fee of $1,500.00 to complete Stage Two. Specifications and requirements will be provided in the Stage Two process.

Site Information:

The proposed site for the Allandale Transit Mobility Hub is in the City’s Historic Allandale neighbourhood on the Allandale Station Lands. This neighbourhood is centrally located approximately 1.5 km south of the downtown near Kempenfelt Bay. Allandale has served as a transportation hub for settlers in the area for hundreds of years. It was developed as a rail yard, camp, and junction between railways. For over 50 years up until 2000 the site was used by the former Barrie Lawn Bowling Club. Prior to the establishment of Allandale, the area was largely uninhabited by Euro Canadians and served as a trail route for Indigenous Peoples.

Location of Transit Plaza

Artwork Goals:

The proposed artwork should reflect the qualities and characteristics of the Allandale neighbourhood. The City completed a public survey in February 2023 to understand our community’s preferences when considering public art at the project site. Feedback from this survey included that artwork might:

• Include a functional aspect for the transit plaza.
• Reflect the historical references of the Allandale neighbourhood which may include but is not limited to railway heritage and Indigenous history.
• Be visible from areas surrounding the transit plaza including Essa Road, the multi-use path, and the internal public waiting area.
• Be compatible with and complement the design of the new Allandale Transit Mobility Hub.
• Activate and create vibrancy in public space.
• Engage residents and visitors while at the site.
• Foster civic pride and placemaking.

Visit barrie.ca/publicart for more information about this opportunity and submission requirements.

Contact:
Carol-Ann Ryan
Public Art Coordinator
creative@barrie.ca