Request for Qualifications: Public Art in Celebration of the Telephone, City of Brantford

Photo: City of Brantford

Call for Artists: Commissioned Sculpture(s) to Honour and Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Telephone

Submission Deadline: September 28, 2025, at 11:59pm ET

The City of Brantford is seeking a professional Canadian artist or artist team to create a new public artwork (or series of artworks) to be installed in Alexandra Park to honour and celebrate the 150th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone.

Project Requirements

STEPS Public Art and the City of Brantford invite professional Canadian artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for the first stage of a two-stage public art competition. This opportunity is for the creation of a new public artwork (or series of artworks) to be installed in Alexandra Park, located at 265 Dalhousie Street in downtown Brantford, to honour and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the invention of the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell’s groundbreaking invention is deeply tied to Brantford, Ontario, earning the City its nickname, The Telephone City. The selected artist or artist team will be responsible for engaging with key community stakeholders to explore themes related to Bell’s life and legacy.

The selection process will follow an open, two-stage format. Up to three (3) artists or artist teams will be shortlisted and awarded $1,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) each to develop detailed design proposals. One artist or artist team will be selected for the final commission.

This project will also include a mentorship component. A local emerging artist will be selected by the City of Brantford, with input from the selected artist or artist team, to serve as an assistant during the fabrication and installation phases of the project.

Eligibility

This Call for Artists is open to all professional artists. Artist teams are welcome to apply but must share the total project award.

Compensation

The total budget for this project is $135,000 CAD (inclusive of HST), which must cover all costs related to the project, including but not limited to: artist fees, materials, fabrication, equipment rentals, installation, site preparation, foundation, engineering and professional services, insurance, permits, travel, and other associated expenses.

Selection Process

Professional artists and artistic teams are invited to respond by submitting a single PDF document at stepspublicart.org. The PDF document must include:

1. Artistic Statement – 1-page maximum. Outline your artistic experience, ability, approach and interest in this project, highlighting relevant experience. Please note any connection to, or understanding of, the neighbourhood in which the artworks would be installed. Do not include proposals at this stage of the competition.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) – 3-page maximum. Detail professional experience as an artist, past public art experience, and other information relevant to this Artist Call. If applying as an artist team, please identify all team members and include a CV for each.
3. Artistic Support Material – Maximum of ten (10) images of work. For each image, provide a title and image number.
4. Support Material List – A written list that clearly outlines the Artistic Support Material (above) with corresponding titles and numbers. Include the following details in order of: Title, date, location, commissioning agent (if applicable), budget, dimensions, medium/materials and a brief description of the works (maximum 50 words).
5. References – Names and contact information (current email and phone number) for two (2) references (preferably from recent Public Art projects). Please identify their role and affiliation in the project. Reference letters are not required.

Additional artist/artist team information will also be required when filling out the online form.

How to Submit

Complete the Google Form at stepspublicart.org.

Submission Deadline: September 28, 2025, at 11:59pm ET

For additional information or questions, please contact Collin Zipp at collin@stepspublicart.org

City of Brantford
58 Dalhousie Street
Brantford, ON N3T 2J2
www.brantford.ca

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Accessibility: The City of Brantford is accessible. For more information, visit Brantford.ca/Accessibility.