Call for Indigenous Artists: Bench Wrap Public Art, City of Pickering

Path to Pickering Museum Village/City of Pickering

Call to Artists: Indigenous Bench Wrap
Temporary Art Opportunity

Submission Deadline: March 27, 2026, 4pm ET

The City of Pickering invites local artists/teams to apply to submit digital based artwork for the Pickering Museum Village Indigenous Bench Wrap project. Selected works will be digitally reproduced, printed on vinyl and installed onto one (1) bench. As part of the new permanent First Nations exhibit down the path to the Museum from the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre; the bench will provide a place for visitors to rest and reflect. The First Nations exhibit will consist of 5-10 interactive signs down the pathway. The topics that have been identified are the clan system, medicines that relate to the clans, and the relationship to the waterway.

This opportunity is open to Indigenous artists, with eligibility limited to artists who are members of Williams Treaties First Nations to reflect the specific cultural teachings and territorial relationships represented in this site specific project.

The bench will be displayed on the path for three to five years. One artist/team will be commissioned by The City of Pickering to create the works.

Project Requirements

• Overall dimensions: 72″L x 26-3/4″W x 30-7/8″H
• Seat dimensions: 68″L x 17″H
• The back and seat are made from 4″ x 1/5″ welded steel slats.

Artists are advised that artwork must adhere to the following specifications:

• Artwork will be professionally reproduced on vinyl, exact sizes to be shared with the selected artists.
• Designs should not include text, current political figures, and/or logos.
• Vinyl production and installation will be undertaken by the City of Pickering.
• The City of Pickering will have reproduction rights to submitted artwork for a period of five years.
• The artist(s) retains sole copyright to their original artwork.
• The City may choose to display images of the artwork for marketing purposes.
• High resolution PDF, Adobe Illustrator .ai files, or .eps files are required for production;

Project Terms:

All artwork must be original, made by the artist submitting:

• For the submission, artist are expect to submit a rough idea that will provide an insight as to what the final work will look like.
• Absolutely no mechanical reproductions of original works are permitted.
• Digital artwork should be created at a minimum of 300 ppi.
• The format for digital illustrations is vector or raster-based images for digital collage and digitally painted designs.
• The artwork must not include profane language and derogatory imagery.
• Each file submitted must be clearly identified with your full name and an image number. Artwork must be accompanied with an artwork information sheet that details each image’s title, material/format, date, etc.
• The artist will submit a statement describing their project and process. This text may be used for educational and promotional purposes.
• Photographs containing clearly identifiable persons must submit a completed model release form with their entry.
• The City of Pickering reserves the right to replace and/or remove any artwork, at any time during the determined installation time.
• The work is to reflect the exhibit themes of the clan system, clan medicine, and the importance of waterways to First Nations.
• The work is to be inclusive, engaging, allowing the visitor to slow down and reflect.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to Indigenous artists, with eligibility limited to artists who are members of Williams Treaties First Nations to reflect the specific cultural teachings and territorial relationships represented in this site specific project.

Compensation

The budget for this project is $2,500.00 including HST (maximum)*. This is the total amount available for the commission of these placemaking artworks in addition to all related expenses of this project including, but not limited to: artist fees, all applicable taxes, detailed renderings, materials, and schedules or other expertise as required, insurance, equipment, travel to meetings and to the site, and an artist statement for completed work.

The selected artist will provide a Scope of Work based on the Placemaking opportunity to The City of Pickering. This Scope of Work will address the artist’s obligations, which include, but are not limited to:

• Proposed Designs
• Timeline
• Insurance
• Copyright, Intellectual Property and Moral Rights

The City of Pickering will work with a supplier to print, install and remove the vinyl murals.

Selection Process

A selection committee comprised of professional artists and community members will be established for the evaluation of the proposals. This is a single-stage competition. One (1) artist/team will be awarded the commission. The selection committee will recommend an artist/team for the award of the commission based on the following criteria:

• Artistic merit, including quality of work, originality, and artistic excellence.
• Adhesion to location and expressed desire in this project; and,
• Artist’s demonstrated ability and proposal feasibility to meet the artwork goals and technical requirements, within the set timeline and budget.

The City of Pickering reserves the right to select and retain the artist deemed most appropriate for the project at its sole discretion.

For more information about the selection process, visit our website at pickering.ca/calltoartists.

Submission Requirements

Artists are invited to respond to this RFP Call by submitting a single pdf document (max size 20 MB) including: artist statement, project statement, concept design, portfolio of past work and references.

For more information check our website at pickering.ca/calltoartists.

How to Submit

Complete your RFP submission by filling out the form.

Submission Deadline: March 27, 2026, 4pm ET

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Ellen Tayles-Armstrong
etayles@pickering.ca | 905.409.0567

City of Pickering
One the Esplanade
pickering.ca
905.420.4660

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Accessibility:
The City will provide accommodation throughout the selection process for applicants with disabilities. Please notify Ellen Tayles-Armstrong, Curator, Public Art, Community Services at 905.420.2660, ext. 3717 or etayles@pickering.ca as to the nature of any accommodation(s) that you may require in respect of any materials or processes used to ensure your equal participation.