Request for Proposals: Arrow Trail Public Art Call, Prince Edward County

The lighthouse on the grounds at Mariner’s Park

Request for Proposals: Arrow Trail Public Art Call

Deadline: May 29, 2026 at 5pm

Prince Edward County’s Public Art Program is looking for proposals from artists for a public art work that explores the human stories behind the Avro Arrow and the work done by the Raise the Arrow project particularly as they relate to Prince Edward County and the Bay of Quinte region. This commemorative public artwork will be sited at Mariner’s Park Museum grounds with the potential for relocation in two or more years to Monarch Point Conservation Area pending an approval from Ontario Parks after the development of their Park Management Plan.

Background

This public art project will feature as part of The Arrow Trail a driving route that celebrates and explores the incredible story of the Avro Arrow, honours the amazing efforts of the team behind the Raise the Arrow campaign, and shares the intertwining stories that weave Canadian folklore & national icons into local legend. The trail is a partnership project with the Royal Canadian Air Force, 8 Wing, the Raise the Arrow team, The National Air Force Museum of Canada, The County Museums, Base 31, The Regimental Museum, and the South Shore Joint Initiative.

The Avro CF-105 Arrow was a supersonic interceptor jet aircraft designed and built in the 1950s by A.V. Roe Canada. Praised for its elegant design and power, it was one of the most advanced aircraft of its era and helped to establish Canada as a world leader in scientific research and development. Despite this, the Avro Arrow Program ended in February, 1959. To this day, many believe that the Arrow’s cancellation was a betrayal of Canada’s aerospace industry. Employees, many of whom lived or had connections to our region, left for manufacturing and engineering jobs with British and American companies, including NASA.

Between 1955 and 1957, nine of eleven free-flight test models for the Arrow were launched into Lake Ontario from a test facility at Point Petre, which was operated by the Canadian Armament Research and Development Establishment (CARDE). From 2017 to 2020 OEX Recovery Group, a private group led by John Burzynski, decided to put together a team of partners from various backgrounds and areas of expertise under the Raise the Arrow project banner to attempt to locate and recover the models. On August 12, 2018, the OEX Recovery Group, with the support of the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Canadian Navy, as well as several contractors and a professional dive team, recovered a Delta Test Vehicle (DTV) which may have been used to test the capabilities of the CARDE firing range itself, for use in the Arrow’s free-flight test model program and/or used to evaluate firing a vehicle with a larger delta wing configuration. It is known that representatives from A.V. Roe were present at the firing of the third DTV in October of ‘54.

At Point Petre (now Monarch Point Conservation Area), testing was also believed to be conducted on the Arrow’s “Iroquois” jet engine, built by Orenda, another Canadian company. The asphalt ring and tether-pole that make up the Orenda Ring can still be found within the trees and brush today.

Thanks to the generosity of a Donor we have received funding to commission an artwork that commemorates this history and tells the story of the human connections the Arrow has to our community.

This commission will be located at the Mariners Park Museum grounds at 2065 County Road 13 with the possibility of being moved to Monarch Point Conservation Area (if possible) pending the development and approval of their Parks Management Plan which will not be for two or more years. It is preferred that installation of the work take place in the summer of 2026. Artists are encouraged to consider works that can be easily re-sited when applying.

The Site

Grounds of the Mariner’s Park Museum, 2065 County Rd 13, Milford, ON

Location and requirements for installation are subject to approval from the Municipality and should be detailed in the submission.

Selection Criteria

Artistic merit, safety considerations, feasibility, appropriateness to the site and connection to the themes.

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

Safety and durability: The work will be near Lake Ontario’s shores which are subject to high winds, heavy rain, snow, cycles of freezing and thawing and significant changes in temperature, the work will need to withstand all of this and prioritize public safety. We encourage artists to consider accessibility within their designs.

Commemoration: The work should find inventive ways to tell the human story of the Arvo Arrow’s connection to the County and recognize the dedicated work of the Raise the Arrow Campaign.

Eligibility

• Artists who have experience creating public artworks
• Canadian-based artists and artist collectives

Budget & Support

The artist fee for this commission is $20,000. Inclusive of all costs including HST, including artist fee, assistants, fabrication costs, materials, insurance, permits, equipment rentals, travel, and installation.

Timeline

• Call Opens: April 2026
• Proposals Due: May 29, 2026 at 5pm
• Artist Selection Notification: June 2026
• Contract & Design Development: July 2026
• Installation: Summer 2026

Application Requirements

Please fill out the application form. You will need to provide the following materials:

• Artist Statement (max 300 words)
• Artist CV (max 3 pages)
• Project Proposal (max 500 words): Concept description, materials, scale, and how the work addresses the history of the Arrow project in the County. Please include details about safety, placement, and footprint as well as any specialized equipment needed.
• Portfolio images (max 5 images): examples of work similar to the proposed work

Selection Process

Proposals will be reviewed by peer assessors. Applications will be assessed according to artistic merit, safety considerations, feasibility, appropriateness to the site and connection to the themes.

To Apply

Please fill out the application form by May 29, 2026 at 5pm.

Questions? Reach out to public art coordinator, Stacey Sproule, stacey@countyarts.ca with any questions.

Prince Edward County Arts Council
countyarts.ca