Request for Qualifications: Sculptural Public Art, Municipality of North Perth

Image courtesy of Municipality of North Perth.

National Call to Artists: Request for Qualifications
Municipality of North Perth

Application Deadline: August 3, 2026, at 11:59pm ET
Award: One (1) Commissioned Artist for Two (2) Sites of $25,000 CAD per Site

Opportunity Overview

STEPS Public Art and the Municipality of North Perth invite Canadian professional artists, including artist teams, to submit their interest and qualifications to the first stage of a competition for two (2) public artworks that will be installed in the communities of Monkton and Gowanstown in public outdoor spaces. These public artworks will celebrate the individuality of North Perth’s communities while creating a unified public art experience. The preference is for durable sculptural artworks that invite interaction and engagement. Canadian artists who are from Ontario or have a connection to Ontario and North Perth are strongly encouraged to apply.

The sculptures will be selected through an open, two-stage competition, with a total budget of $50,000 CAD (not including HST) for both works. 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. The Municipality of North Perth will provide for each artwork a 12-foot x 5-foot concrete foundation.

Following a competitive Selection Panel process, up to three (3) shortlisted artists will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) to develop a design concept for both sites. Further information on the above sites will be provided to shortlisted artists. The sites will be described in detail in the Terms of Reference for shortlisted artists.

At the end of Stage 2, following the proposal review, one (1) artist or artist team will be selected to create the two (2) public artworks.

Artwork installation should take place no later than Fall 2027. Applying artists should be aware and ready to commit to this tighter fabrication and installation schedule.

Visit the STEPS website for more information.

Site A location in the community of Monkton. Image courtesy of Municipality of North Perth.

Community Background

The Municipality of North Perth is located on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral Peoples.

The Municipality of North Perth is located in the northern portion of Perth County, in southwestern Ontario. It sits 30 km north of Highway 401, the main transportation artery in Ontario. Incorporated in 1998, North Perth is comprised of the Elma and Wallace Townships (which the village of Monkton is within) and the towns of Listowel, Atwood and Gowanstown. The community is home to 15,538 residents, who enjoy a blend of rural and small-town living while being a short drive from city amenities. North Perth is close to Lake Huron and Ontario’s cottage country. The major urban centre of Listowel is a regional hub for commerce and services.

Submissions

Professional artists and artistic teams are invited to respond to this RFQ by submitting a single PDF document. This PDF document must include:

A. Contact Information: Including full name, business name (if applicable), mailing address, telephone, and email. Teams must identify one artist to be the Municipality of North Perth’s primary contact for the team, as well as contact information for each artist on the team.

B. Letter of Intent: 1-page maximum. Outline your artistic experience, ability, approach and interest in this project, highlighting relevant experience. Please include any connections to Ontario or North Perth specifically, as well as how you would approach designing artworks that connect with rural communities and that reflect the unique characteristics of each of the two sites. Do not include proposals at this stage of the competition.

C. Curriculum Vitae (CV): 3-page maximum. Detail professional experience as an artist, past public art experience, and other information relevant to this RFQ. If applying as an artist team, please identify all team members and include a CV for each.

D. Artistic Support Material: Maximum of ten (10) images of work. For each image, provide a title and image number.

E. 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).

F. References: Names and contact information (current email and phone number) for three (3) references (preferably from recent public art projects). Please identify their role and affiliation in the project. Reference letters are not required.

Site B location in the community of Gowanstown. Image courtesy of Municipality of North Perth.

Application Delivery and Deadline

Submissions must be received by August 3, 2026, at 11:59pm 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. 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 and requests for clarification will be received by email until July 20, 2026 at 11:59pm ET. Applicants who need accommodations or support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Sam Mitjavile at sam@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.

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Partners

Image Descriptions:
1. The clock tower of Listowel overlooking a garden of flowers and a large bush on a sunny day.
2. Site A location in the community of Monkton. A large grassy area on the corner of two urban streets. A playground is in the background.
3. Site B location in the community of Gowanstown. A large grassy area next to an urban street. Trees and houses are in the background.