Request for Qualifications: Explore Waterloo Region Creative Mistletoes

Image credit: Explore Waterloo Region

STEPS Public Art and Explore Waterloo Region invite Canadian artists, with preference for those with connections to Waterloo Region, to submit their Request for Qualifications to create innovative mistletoe installations, approximately 1×1 – 2×2 ft.

Submission Deadline: September 25, 2025, at 11:59pm ET

The mistletoe creations will be selected through a panel composed of art and design professionals and project stakeholders. Up to seven (7) designs will be approved by Explore Waterloo Region and/or the local area municipality where they will be located, with a budget of $5000 inclusive of HST per artwork.

The artwork should reinterpret the idea and function of a mistletoe, moving beyond traditional imagery to present a fresh and creative perspective.

The selected designs must be suitable for display in a family-oriented public setting during both daytime and nighttime. Consideration will be given to:

• Colour palette – visually appealing and appropriate for a broad audience.
• Structural design – how the piece is built and its stability.
• Contextual design – how it integrates with its surroundings.
• Functional design – suitability for its intended purpose as a hanging mistletoe visible in a public space.

All pieces must be constructed from durable, low-maintenance materials suitable for outdoor display over the winter season (planned installation from November 2025 to February 2026).

Visit the website for full opportunity and application details.

Image credit: Explore Waterloo Region

Community Background

Waterloo Region is located on the Haldimand Tract, on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral People. We are thankful that we are able to create, collaborate, play and work on this shared land. As beneficiaries of this land, we have a responsibility to acknowledge and understand its history and the current experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We support community efforts to sustain a relationship with Indigenous peoples based on respect, dignity, trust and cooperation, in the process of advancing truth and reconciliation.

Waterloo Region is made up of three vibrant cities, Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, and four scenic townships North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot, and Woolwich. Each city and township boasts its own unique attributes, which are brought together and woven into the tapestry of who we are in Waterloo Region.

Eligibility and Selection Process

This artist call is for Canadian artists, with preference for those with connections to Waterloo Region. Per the Canada Council’s guidelines, a professional artist is defined as someone who meets one or all of the following criteria:

• has specialized artistic training (not necessarily in academic institutions);
• is 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.

Submissions

Professional artists and artistic teams are invited to respond to this RFQ by submitting via a portal found on the STEPS website. This single PDF document must include:

1. Letter of Intent: One (1) page maximum. Outline of artistic experience, ability, approach and interest in this project, site and community, highlighting relevant experience and your connection to Waterloo Region if applicable.

2. Artist Statement: One (1) page maximum. Provide a description of the proposed concept addressing the public art vision and how it meets the design considerations and specifications listed below. This statement may be used in public presentation materials.

3. Curriculum Vitae (CV): 3-page maximum. Detail professional experience as an artist, past public art experience, and other information relevant to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). If applying as a team, provide one CV per team member.

4. Concept Images: A maximum of ten (10) images of the proposed mistletoe. For each image, a title and image number should be provided in the file name.

5. Fabrication and Maintenance: Provide a detailed description, including dimensions and estimated weight; materials (include copies of any manufacturer’s technical data), fabrication methods, durability of the proposed materials, and a list of post-installation maintenance requirements and estimated costs associated with the maintenance of the artwork after installation.

6. Budget: Applicants should develop their proposals based on the overall commissioning budget of $5,000 CAD identified for the design, supply, and fabrication. This includes, but is not limited to: artist fees, production, materials, other professional services, insurance, travel, delivery of artwork, other incidental expenses, and taxes.

7. If applying as a team, please list team members and submit the required credentials for each. Please also only provide the contact information for the designated contact person.

How to Apply

View the full opportunity and apply by September 25, 2025, at 11:59pm ET. Applications must be submitted via the online portal found on the opportunity page. Emailed, faxed, or mailed applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to ensure the application package is complete and submitted by the posted deadline. Final submissions must not exceed 20 MB in total size.

Opportunity Contact

Questions will be received by email until September 18, 2025 at 11:59pm ET. Applicants who need accommodations or support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Ima Esin at ima@stepspublicart.org at least 10 business days before the application deadline to allow STEPS to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

About STEPS Public Art

STEPS is a Canadian charity and social enterprise. We provide services in public art management, cultural planning, and artist capacity building. Through our charitable programs, we support artists and foster vibrant, inclusive communities. To stay connected with public art opportunities like this and community programming, subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media (@STEPSPublicArt) or reach out! Explore our Fieldnotes Blog Series below to learn more about our work.

• Takeaways from the Global Placemaking Summit
• How to Prepare for Public Art (An Artist’s Guide)
• Sustainable Practices in Public Art

STEPS Public Art
stepspublicart.org

Image Descriptions:
1. Red and green mistletoe hanging in a doorway near a lamp.
2. White and green mistletoe hanging off a beam.