Call for Proposals: Temporary Public Art, City of Summerside

Aerial view of downtown Summerside and Baywalk Boardwalk, City of Summerside

Call to Artists:
Temporary Public Art Opportunity for Downtown Summerside

City of Summerside, Prince Edward Island

Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025

The City of Summerside in partnership with Downtown Summerside is excited to announce an open call for proposals for a temporary public art project. The work will be displayed in a prominent downtown location (either on Water Street or along the Baywalk Boardwalk) on city-owned property from June 2025 to October 2025. Proposals should reflect the theme of water. Project partners are looking for proposed public art projects that engage diverse audiences.

Art Theme

The public art project theme of “water” aims to celebrate the City of Summerside’s deep-rooted connection to water, specifically the sea.

The project can explore the theme of water through a variety of ways, including movement, transformation, its influence on industries and way of life for the people of Summerside. It can provoke conversations about sustainability, conservation, and the ongoing relationship between people and the natural world. Situated in the downtown district, this public art installation may invite viewers to reflect on the ebb and flow of both the natural environment and the city’s evolving relationship with water that has shaped its past, present and future.

Eligibility

This call is open to artists working in any medium that would be suitable for a temporary public art piece located outdoors [e.g., sculpture, murals, etc.]. Proposals are encouraged from a diverse range of artists and submissions are welcomed from local, national, or international applicants. Artists with connections to Summerside/Prince Edward Island will be given special consideration.

Project Requirements

• The artwork must be temporary, with a duration of five months (June- October).
• The piece must be suitable for an outdoor setting and resilient to weather conditions typical of Prince Edward Island.
• The project should engage with the theme of water (please refer to the theme section for further information).
• The artwork must be safe for public interaction.
• Artists are responsible for installation and deinstallation within the allotted timeframe.

View of Downtown Summerside with Water Street highlighted, City of Summerside.

Budget

$5,000 (includes HST) for the completion of the project, which will cover materials, artist fee, installation, and deinstallation costs.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:

• Artistic vision and creativity
• Relevance to the chosen theme
• Feasibility of installation and maintenance
• Engagement with the community
• Durability and safety of materials
• The potential impact on the public space

Selection Process

Applications are received by the City of Summerside, Culture Summerside Department for consideration by a public art selection panel. Once the proposal has been evaluated, applicants will be contacted and informed of the next steps. The selection panel may request additional information from any of the applicants to inform them of their decision. The panel also reserves the right to make no recommendation or selection from the submitted applications.

Important Dates:

• Proposal Deadline: January 31, 2025
• Notification of Selection: February 11, 2025
• Installation Date: June 10, 2025
• Exhibition Dates: June 16 – October 23, 2025
• Deinstallation Date: October 24, 2025

Submission Requirements

A completed submission requires the following materials:

• Completed Public Art Call for Artists application form.
• A written project proposal that includes a description of the artwork, its concept and its relevance to the project call theme.
• Visual documentation (sketches, renderings, or photos) that clearly illustrates the proposed artwork and its scale.
• A project timeline.
• Material list and budget outline.
• Artist resume/CV and any relevant work samples of previous art/public art projects.

How to Apply

Application forms can be accessed online here or in-person:

Lefurgey Cultural Centre
205 Prince Street
Summerside, PE C1N 1L3

Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025 by 4pm AT

For any questions, please reach out to:
Sara Barrett
publicart@summerside.ca | 905-432-1327

City of Summerside
275 Fitzroy Street
Summerside, PE C1N 1H9
www.culturesummerside.com
publicart@summerside.ca
905-432-1327

Facebook @CultureSummerside
Instagram @CultureSummerside

The City of Summerside is fully accessible. For more information, visit here.