Call for Proposals: Winter Stations 2026

Cavalcade by John Nguyen, Victor Perez-Amado, Anton Skorishchenko, Abubaker Bajaman, and Stephen Seunwon Baik. Winter Stations 2019. Image courtesy of Winter Stations.

Winter Stations 2026

Competition Deadline: November 3, 2025, 11:59pm ET
Winners Announcement: Early January 2026
Exhibition Dates: February 16 – March 30, 2026
Location: Kew and Woodbine Beach, Toronto Ontario, Canada

Winter Stations is calling local & international artists, architects, and designers to submit public art proposals for the exhibition ‘Mirage’, exploring the boundary of what is seen and what is real in the age of AI.

There is no fee to enter the competition which welcomes entries from all around the world. The winning teams will be rewarded $2,000 (CAD).

Exhibition Theme:

A mirage is a shimmer at the edge of reality, appearing real only to dissolve when approached. The present moment feels much the same, bent and distorted by the rise of digital silos and artificial intelligence, where the truth we seek is always shifting.

A promise and a trick, desire and deception, a mirage is a vision of what we long for most in a state of absence—water in a desert, fire in the cold. What longings define our time, and in what forms do they take?

For Winter Stations 2026, artists, designers, and architects are invited to tickle the boundary between what is seen and what is real. The Stations should transform the shoreline into a place where illusion becomes architecture, offering glimpses of uncanny possibilities. Participants might also consider what imaginative public infrastructures could prompt people to set aside their devices and gather in shared reality.

Proposals should adhere to the following budget for submissions:

• $5,000 CAD for materials
• $10,000 CAD for labour

North by studio PERCH. Winter Stations 2017. Image courtesy of Winter Stations.

Evaluation Criteria:

Our jury of experts in art, design, architecture, and public space will use this evaluation criteria to guide their selection of the winning Stations.

Creative Vision & Response (30%)

How effectively does the proposal interpret and embody this year’s theme? Does it create a meaningful connection with place and the public, while offering an artistic expression that is original, relevant, and thought-provoking?

Design Concept (30%)

How clearly and convincingly is the idea visually communicated? Does the proposal outline its key components, dimensions, and materials in a way that demonstrates both creativity and alignment with the stated design considerations?

Design Feasibility (40%)

How realistic is the proposal in terms of fabrication and delivery? Does it show an understanding of available methods, materials, and resources to ensure it can be built safely and within budgetary limits?

Design Factors:

• The lifeguard stands serve as visual anchors and may be incorporated into the design, but the Stations must also be able to be exhibited independently (i.e. no fastening to and/or modifying the lifeguard stands).
• Stations should be designed for both a sandy/snowy beach environment and a flat urban surface (such as asphalt).
• Conceptualize the installation to be experienced up close and from afar, in person and virtually.
• Stations should not exceed a footprint of 10 square meters if the proposal has a roof or is enclosed by walls.
• Assume minimal security and the possibility of vandalism and wear/tear from weather elements and public use.
• Installations should not propose the use of electricity or fire. Solar-powered devices are considered at the discretion of the Winter Stations team.
• Stations which encourage climbing (stairs, ramps, etc.) are subject to the Ontario Building Code.
• Transportation and storage considerations:
  ◦  Designs will need to consider a trailer bed size of 7′ x 18′ to transport the installation. The installation can be intact or disassembled into components to fit on the trailer bed.
  ◦  Designs will need to consider storage efficiency and accommodate a shipping container of 8′ x 8′ x 20′ post exhibition.
• The Winter Stations team may help refine final designs of selected concepts so they can be built successfully and within budget.

Submission Guidelines:

Entries must be submitted electronically as 1 PDF not exceeding 10MB. Each entry should contain, in order, the following documents (in English):

Page One: Project Summary

• 1 page maximum (11″ x 17″ / 279mm x 432mm)
• A maximum of 150-word text describing the project and presenting the experience offered by the visitors
• Layout of selected images and drawings describing the project

Page Two: Images and Drawings

• 1 page maximum (11″ x 17″ / 279mm x 432mm)
• 4 main views or elevations of the installation indicating size and specification of materials. Entrant is free to choose the scale
• A perspective showing the design in its entirety
• Rough-order-of-magnitude cost for artwork installation ($10,000 CAD for labour, $5,000 CAD for materials)

Page Three: Project Credits

• 1 page maximum (11″ x 17″ / 279mm x 432mm)
• Name of the installation, and the designer(s) who worked on it
• Contact info for every member of the team, including email and phone number
• Name of design studio, or practice (if applicable)

Notes:

• Page 1-3 must include the name of the art installation, so we can identify your proposal.
• NO personal identifying information (e.g. name, country, age, studio, etc.) should appear on Page 1-2 of the design proposal. This info should ONLY appear on Page 3.
• Final submission should be 1 PDF consisting of 3 pages.
• Proposals may be landscape or portrait format.
• Please do not attempt to attach hyperlinks, videos, or any other digital content to the pdf files.
• Please submit your application using the Dropbox link provided. Submissions by email will not be accepted.
• Please save your files with ONLY the name of the installation. For example: BellyOfTheBear.pdf

For more information on submissions guidelines and to submit your design, please visit winterstations.com/competition

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Katarina Prystay
katarina.prystay@kga-inc.com

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