Call for Proposals: Sculpture Garden at Industrial Arts 2026

In 2023, Nico Fleming’s Les petites tours (Steelcase) elevated everyday construction materials—plywood, drywall, stucco—onto columns, transforming utilitarian objects into forms meant purely for contemplation. Photo: Darren Rigo

Call for Proposals: Sculpture Garden at Industrial Arts 2026

Location: Industrial Arts, 248 Steelcase Rd E, Markham, ON
Exhibition Period: May – November 2026 (with possible extension for winter-tolerant works)
Proposal Deadline: January 15, 2026, 11:59pm ET
Budget: $15,000 CAD (+HST/GST)

About the Project

Steelcase Art Projects invites proposals for a temporary publicly-accessible sculpture installation at Industrial Arts in Markham. This annual program activates the front lawn as a space for creative experimentation, community engagement, and dialogue between art and the industries on site.

For 2026, we are seeking a work that similarly engages the public in a strong, highly visible way while responding to the unique context of our industrial site.

Site Details

The sculpture will be installed on one of the lawns at Industrial Arts. The site features an 18 x 18 ft raised platform base which must be used, though artists are also welcome to utilize the rest of the lawn area if it serves their concept.

The location sits within an active industrial area along Steelcase Road East, visible to passing vehicles and pedestrian traffic.

Site plan

Key Selection Criteria

Visibility: The work should have sufficient scale, height, and visual impact to capture public attention from the roadway and surrounding area.

Durability: The piece must withstand Markham weather conditions from May through November, including very strong winds, heavy rain, and temperature fluctuations. If proposing a winter extension, the work must also endure snow, ice, and freeze-thaw cycles.

Interactivity & Playfulness: We strongly value works that invite public participation, spark curiosity, and create memorable experiences. This might take many forms, such as tactile engagement, evolving or growing elements, social interaction, performative aspects, or other creative approaches to involving viewers as active participants rather than passive observers.

Safety: All proposals must be clearly shown to prioritize public safety in design, materials, installation, and maintenance throughout the exhibition period.

Site Responsiveness: We especially welcome work that engages with the industrial context of the location, the history of making and manufacturing, or themes of labour, craft, and community.

In 2024, Ron Benner and Jeff Thomas created Corn = Life: The Power of Naming, a living indigenous garden planted from seed. Throughout the summer and fall, visitors watched the garden grow, harvested produce, and participated in a communal experience. Photo: Camille Qinru Xie

Eligibility

Open to artists and artist collectives based in Canada.

Budget & Support

The budget of $15,000 CAD must cover all costs including artist fee, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, de-installation, insurance, and any maintenance visits during the exhibition period.

We recognize this is a modest budget for creating new large-scale work. Artists are welcome to propose:

• Adaptation or re-presentation of existing works
• Works that incorporate found, recycled, or industrial materials
• Concepts that can be realized within the budget constraints

Steelcase Art Projects will provide site access, coordination support, and basic utilities if needed. Applicants are welcome to raise funds from other sources.

Timeline

• Call Opens: November 24, 2025
• Proposals Due: January 15, 2026, 11:59pm ET
• Artist Selection Notification: first week of February, 2026
• Contract & Design Development: February – April 2026
• Installation: Early May 2026
• Exhibition Period: May – November 2026
• De-installation: November 2026 (or later for winter-tolerant works)

In 2025, Coryn Kempster and Julia Jamrozik presented Assembly, a circular gathering space constructed entirely from industrial materials. Drawing inspiration from parliamentary seating models, the work invited democratic participation and inclusive dialogue while responding to its industrial context through a zero-waste, ecological approach. Photo: Darren Rigo

Submission Contents

Please submit the following materials as a single PDF to steelcaseartprojects@gmail.com with the subject line: Sculpture Garden Proposal – Full Name

1. Artist Statement (max 300 words): Brief overview of your practice and approach
2. Project Proposal (max 500 words): Concept description, materials, scale, and how the work addresses the key criteria
3. Visual Materials: Sketches, renderings, or reference images (max 5 images)
4. Site Plan: Indicating proposed placement and footprint
5. Budget Breakdown: Itemized list showing how the $15,000 will be allocated
6. Timeline: Installation and any ongoing maintenance requirements
7. Safety Considerations: Brief description of how the work addresses public safety
8. CV or Biography (max 2 pages)
9. Documentation of Previous Work: Images of 3-5 past projects with titles, dates, and materials

Selection Process

Proposals will be reviewed by curator Yuluo Wei, director Andrea Carson Barker, and the board of Steelcase Art Projects. Selection criteria will emphasize artistic merit, feasibility, public engagement potential, and alignment with program goals.

Questions?

For technical questions or additional information, please contact steelcaseartprojects@gmail.com, attn Yuluo Wei

Steelcase Art Projects
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Accessibility: The public art space is accessible.

Industrial Arts is a 5-acre property comprising three industrial buildings in Markham’s manufacturing core. It is owned by a property management company & social enterprise that supports artists by providing affordable studios, commissions, acquisitions, collaborations, mentorship, business advice and other opportunities alongside industrial businesses. Industrial Arts is Markham’s Creative Heart.

Steelcase Art Projects is a not-for-profit organization and the programming arm of Industrial Arts. Our mission is to transform Industrial Arts into a site for artistic experimentation through collaborations, commissions and projects. Working with our tenants and with the surrounding community, we are connecting business to the arts through unconventional collaborations in the industrial realm.