Request for Expressions of Interest: Indigenous Public Art – Five Corners Parkette, St. Catharines

Five Corners parkette located at the intersection of St. Paul Street, Geneva Street, Queenston Street, and Niagara Street.

Request for Expressions of Interest: Indigenous Public Art – Five Corners Parkette (St. Catharines)

Deadline: July 12, 2026, 11:59pm ET
Budget: $140,000 CAD + HST
Eligibility: Indigenous artists and Indigenous-led teams (Canada)
Location: Five Corners Parkette, St. Catharines, Ontario

Overview

The City of St. Catharines is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Indigenous artists and Indigenous-led artist teams to create a site-specific, permanent public artwork for the Five Corners parkette, located at the intersection of St. Paul Street, Geneva Street, Queenston Street, and Niagara Street.

This is a two-stage competition. Up to three artists/teams will be shortlisted and invited to develop concept proposals in Stage 2 (honorarium provided). One finalist will be selected to realize the commissioned artwork.

Project Context & Vision

The Five Corners site sits at a historically significant convergence of Indigenous trail systems that have connected the Niagara region for millennia. These routes—many of which continue to shape the downtown today—reflect deep histories of movement, exchange, and relationship.

The City invites artists to respond to this place through themes such as:

Indigenous trails and pathways
Movement and travel
Meeting place and convergence
Storied land and layered histories
Relationships and coexistence

Artists are encouraged to meaningfully engage with the histories of the land, including the presence and knowledge systems of the Neutral Nation Confederacy, the Anishinaabek, and the Haudenosaunee, and the continuing significance of agreements such as the Dish With One Spoon and the Great Peace of Montréal.

Artwork Opportunity

The selected artist/team will:

Develop a site-responsive, permanent public artwork
Engage with community, including Indigenous community members, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers, as appropriate
Fabricate and install the final artwork within the project budget

The artwork will become part of the City of St. Catharines Civic Art Collection.

Project Site

The artwork will be located within the Five Corners parkette at a prominent downtown intersection. The site is an active pedestrian corridor and historically significant location shaped by longstanding Indigenous pathways.

Longstanding Indigenous pathways in St. Catharines. Learn more & view interactive map >

The “corner” at the intersection of St. Paul Street, Geneva Street, Queenston Street, and Niagara Street. Learn more & view interactive map >

Project Team & Support

The project is developed in collaboration with the Niagara Academy for Indigenous Relations (NAIR), which will provide curatorial guidance and cultural advisory support throughout the process.

Funding support is provided by the City of St. Catharines, and in part through the Niagara Region Public Realm Investment Program (PRIP).

Budget

Total commission: $140,000 + HST
Inclusive of artist fees, design, fabrication, materials, engineering (if required), transportation, and installation
Stage 2 honorarium: $2,000 + HST (per shortlisted artist/team)

Eligibility

Open to:

Professional Indigenous artists (First Nations, Inuit, Métis) residing in Canada.
Indigenous-led teams (must identify an Indigenous lead artist)
The City may request confirmation of Indigenous identity/affiliation and/or the Indigenous lead role in a respectful manner as part of due diligence during the selection process.

Artists should demonstrate:

Experience in original artistic practice
A track record of presenting work publicly
Capacity to complete a project of this scale

Competition Process

Stage 1 – Expression of Interest (Open Call)
Applicants submit qualifications only (no concept proposal required).
A Selection Committee will shortlist up to three artists/teams.

Stage 2 – Concept Proposals (By Invitation Only)
Shortlisted artists will:

Develop a detailed concept proposal
Present their proposal to the Selection Committee
Receive a $2,000 honorarium

One artist/team will be selected for commission.

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated on:

Artistic excellence and strength of past work
Alignment with project vision and site context
Demonstrated ability to execute a public artwork
Approach to community engagement
Technical experience and collaboration capacity

Key Dates

Stage 1 – EOI

Launch: May 27, 2026
Deadline: July 12, 2026, 11:59pm ET
Shortlist notification: Week of July 20, 2026

Stage 2 – Concept Stage (Invited)

RFP issued: July 27, 2026
Submission deadline: August 30, 2026
Presentations: Week of September 7, 2026
Final selection: Week of September 14, 2026

Production & Installation

Fall 2026 – Spring 2027
Installation target: June 2027

How to Submit (Stage 1)

To submit for the first stage of the competition, please complete the online submission form, including the following information:

Statement of Interest (max. 2 pages)
Artist Statement & Bio (max. 1 page)
CV / Resume (max. 3 pages)
Portfolio (max. 10 images with image list)
Two references

Format: PDF preferred (or accessible cloud link)

Submission Deadline: July 12, 2026, 11:59pm ET

Accessibility

Accommodation and alternative submission formats are available upon request.
Contact: culture@stcatharines.ca

Questions

Submit inquiries to: culture@stcatharines.ca
Subject line: EOI Question – 5 Corners Indigenous Public Art
Responses and addenda will be posted on the City’s website.

Additional Information

The City reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition
The selected artist will enter into a formal agreement and provide required insurance and documentation
Submissions may be subject to MFIPPA

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