Call to Indigenous Artists: Century Gardens Youth Hub Public Art Competition, Brampton

Image: MJMA Architecture & Design

A new public art commission by the City of Brampton and STEPS Public Art

Extended Submission Deadline: April 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET

The City of Brampton and STEPS Public Art are seeking to commission a public artwork from a professional, Ontario-based, Canadian Indigenous artist or artist team to be placed within Brampton’s forthcoming Century Gardens Youth Hub.

Visit the website for full details.

Community Background

The City of Brampton is situated on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, Haudenosaunee, and Wendat Nations who have called this land home since time immemorial. Brampton is also home to many First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and other global Indigenous people. Located within the lands of Treaty 19, the Ajetance Purchase, Brampton is also situated along Etobicoke Creek in the Peel Region of Ontario and part of the Greater Toronto Area.

Site Location

The Century Gardens Youth Hub (2026) will serve as a youth-centric space and one-stop shop for services and activities for youth. The artwork will be located in the Outdoor Seating Garden and should contribute to making the garden a space for gathering, connection, teachings, and community programming.

Artwork Themes

Through a consultation process with Indigenous partners, the City of Brampton identified the theme of “Looking Forward”. Possible subthemes include future generations, youth, sustainability, and revitalization. Shortlisted artists are encouraged to conduct their own research and explore connections to the site and local Indigenous culture, ensuring the final artwork is meaningful and relevant. Materials used in the artwork should also prioritize sustainability, durability, and ethical sourcing.

Compensation

We’re seeking expressions of interest and qualifications which will see an Indigenous artist/artist team selected through an open, two-stage process with a total budget of approximately $150,000 CAD (inclusive of HST). Community engagement involving local youth is a requirement.

The project budget includes all costs directly associated with the artwork, including: fees for design, fabrication, shipping, installation, engineering and professional services, insurance, permits, travel and other incidental and production expenses. Up to three (3) artists or artist teams will be shortlisted and paid $3,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) each to create detailed proposals.

Image: MJMA Architecture & Design

Selection Process

This call is open to all professional Indigenous artists and artist teams residing in Ontario. Artist teams are welcome to apply but must share the total commission. We strongly encourage applications from artists with ties to local Indigenous nations or urban Indigenous communities, and applications from Indigenous artists under 29 years of age.

All applying artists are required to draft a letter stating their relationships to the local communities of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and/or urban Indigenous communities. If applying as a team, each member must provide a letter.

Per the Canada Council’s guidelines, a professional artist is defined as someone who:

• has specialized artistic training (not necessarily in academic institutions);
• is critically recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition);
• has a history of public exhibitions; and/or
• has produced an independent body of work.

The Selection Panel will be composed of City officials, Indigenous community members and practicing Indigenous arts professionals. This call is a two-stage process:

• Stage 1: Request for Qualifications
• Stage 2: Shortlisted Proposal Development and Presentation

Submission Requirements

Professional Indigenous artists/artist teams are invited to submit a single PDF document that includes:

1. Contact Information: Name, current mailing address, phone number, and email address. If applying as a team, please include team members and designate a main contact.

2. Letter of Intent: 2-page maximum (11-point font). Outline artistic experience, ability, approach, and interest in this project, site and community, and relevant experience. Include your interest in working with the local Brampton communities (Indigenous, non-Indigenous, and youth). Note: Proposals are not accepted at this stage.

3. Connection to Local Communities: 1-page maximum (11-point font). Outline connections to the local communities of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation and/or urban Indigenous communities. One letter per member if applying as a team.

4. Proof of Relationship to the Indigenous Community: Examples include (but are not limited to) a copy of a status card, Métis Nation card, a letter from your Band or a letter from an Elder, etc. If applying as a team, each member should provide this information.

5. Curriculum Vitae (CV): 3-page maximum. Professional experience as an artist, past public art experience, and other relevant information. If applying as a team, provide one CV per team member.

6. Artistic Support Material: Maximum ten (10) images of work. If applying as a team, please only submit a total of 10 images.

7. Support Material List: A written list that clearly outlines the Artistic Support Material (above) with corresponding titles and image numbers. Include the following details in order of title, date, location, commissioning agent (if applicable), budget, dimensions, medium/materials, and a brief description (maximum 50 words each).

8. References: Names, role, affiliation, and contact information (email and phone number) for two (2) references (preferably from recent public art projects and community-engaged projects). Note: Reference letters will be accepted.

How to Submit

Review the full details and apply by April 30, 2025 at 11:59 pm ET. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted via Google Forms (emailed, faxed or mailed applications will not be accepted). Final submissions must not exceed 10 MB in total size.

Questions and requests for clarification will be received by email until March 13, 2025 at 4:00 pm ET. Applicants who have a disability or need support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Collin Zipp (collin@stepspublicart.org) at least 10 business days before the application deadline to appropriately accommodate your needs and discuss alternative submission formats.

For additional information:
Collin Zipp, Public Art Manager
1-888-783-7780 ext. 704
collin@stepspublicart.org

STEPS Public Art
stepspublicart.org