Call for Proposals: Mississauga Festival of Trees Installations 2026

Tanya Besedina, Roots of Light. Photo: One17 Productions

Call to Artists
Mississauga Festival of Trees: Imagining Sustainable Futures

Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026, 11:59pm ET

CreativeHub 1352 invites artists and artist collectives/groups to submit proposals for Temporary Tree Art Sculptures and Installations to be presented at the Small Arms Inspection Building as part of the Mississauga Festival of Trees in December 2026.

Project Requirements

As part of a multi-faceted festival including artworks, live music, workshops and holiday markets, CreativeHub 1352 is seeking submissions for Tree Art Sculpture or Installation proposals for either the creation of new work or exhibition of previously created work. Proposals should respond to the theme Imagining Sustainable Futures drawing from the form of a tree as inspiration for the sculpture or installation.

We are in a pivotal moment of ecological crisis/concern, dependent on collective action and creative solutions in order to work toward a more sustainable future. We ask artists to consider what sustainability might look like, presenting trees conveying current concerns locally or globally, or imagining sustainable interactions with ecosystems. Possible areas of exploration could include but are not limited to, food security, food systems, climate change, collective action, highlighting an integral part of an ecosystem (mycelium, pollinators, etc), technology, speculative fiction, more-than-human worlds, environmental hope/grief and care. Tree installations can be creative literal representations or a more abstract interpretation of the tree form with the focus being any of the themes.

This exhibition is indoors and is mainly on view during the day, solely light-based sculptures requiring full darkness will not be considered.

We are accepting proposals for three categories of sculptures.

• Large Format
  Height: min. 8′ / max. 12′
  Installation Area: min. 8′ x 6′ x 8′ / max. 9′ x 9′ x 12′
  Must make use of at least 40% of the 10′ x 10′ x 10′ allotted space.
• Small Format
  Height: min. 4′ / max. 5′
  Installation Area: min. 6′ x 4′ x 5′ / max. 7′ x 5′ x 7′
  Must make use of at least 40% of the 7′ x 5′ x 7′ allotted space.
• Re-installation of existing works that fit within the theme.

All works must be freestanding 3D structures that do not need any additional supports or can be suspended structures that do not exceed 30 lbs.

Eligibility

Applications are open to individual artists at any point in their career, artist collectives and AD HOC groups operating in Ontario. The three smaller format trees will be given priority to early stage artists. CH 1352 recognizes that emerging practices can occur at all ages/stages and individuals starting their practices later in life or needing to take long breaks from their artistic practices, can still be emerging practices. We ask that you self-identify on the application.

Katie Strang & Christine Dewancker (D&S Projects), Through Lines. Photo: One17 Productions

Compensation

Compensation is scaled based on the category of your application.

• Large Format: Supported by a budget of $2,500.
• Small Format: Supported by a budget of $1,500.
• Re-installation of existing works that fit within the theme: Supported by a budget of $1,000.

The budget must cover all expenses including artist fees, materials, tools, travel, installation, and other associated costs. Support on logistical concerns around final assembly, transportation, or other areas can be provided, as needed.

Selection Process

The proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee composed of professionals in the field and community members.

The proposals will be evaluated based on 5 categories: Concept, Craftsmanship, Feasibility, Budget and Use of Allocated Space.

Timeline

• Application Deadline: August 31, 2026
• Artists Notified of Approval: October 1, 2026
• Access to Building/Grounds for Installation: December 1 – 3, 2026
• Final Installation Date: December 3, 2026
• Tear Down Date: December 14, 2026 from 10am – 8pm

Installation View. Photo: Sanborg Productions

Submission Requirements

Artist Statement (250 words max): Tell us about your artistic practice, as it relates to the project you are proposing to CreativeHub 1352.

Project Description (500 words max): Please provide a detailed description of your proposed sculpture/installation.

Technical Description: The technical description should include a preliminary list of all foreseeable technical requirements including equipment and materials necessary for installation on location. Include any specific lighting requirements or power needs.

Budget: The Budget should indicate roughly how much your project will cost to create, materials and install, itemized by category.

Visual Support Material (8–10): Please include 8–10 images to supplement your proposal. These can include technical sketches, images of your proposed materials, past work, etc. You may also include links to video and/or audio files. Files titled 01_lastname, 02_lastname, onward.

Visual Support Material List: Please include a list describing the Visual Support Materials. Following this form: 01, last name, dimensions, materials, date, two sentence description if necessary.

How to Submit

If you are interested in participating in the MFT Tree Installation Program, please apply online.

Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Jo Yetter at CreativeHub 1352
info@creativehub1352.ca | ATTN: MFT Tree Proposal

CreativeHub 1352
1352 Lakeshore Road East
Mississauga, ON L5E 1E9
www.creativehub1352.ca
info@creativehub1352.ca

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Accessibility:
The Small Arms Inspection Building is a fully accessible municipally operated building.

Image Descriptions:
1. Roots of Light exhibit by Tanya Besedina – A suspended tree-inspired sculpture with a textured cream canopy and long white strands flowing to the floor in looping root-like patterns as part of the Festival of Trees exhibition.

2. Through Lines exhibit by Katie Strang & Christine Dewancker (D&S Projects) – A tall, cone-shaped installation of cascading orange and white threads rises from a circular base of stacked clay pieces, evoking the form of a tree. Suspended in a sunlit gallery, the sculpture is surrounded by other nature-inspired artworks as part of the Festival of Trees exhibition.

3. A gallery view of the Festival of Trees exhibition featuring illuminated tree-inspired artworks. In the foreground, a leafless tree glows with blue and purple lighting, while visitors explore the installations in the warmly lit space.