Are you, or do you know, an artist, interested in developing artwork in the public realm?
Interested in supporting and celebrating local businesses and communities through public art?

Presented as part of the City of Toronto’s ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021, the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) and STEPS Public Art invite Toronto-based artists with a connection to the Lakeshore to apply to design a banner that will animate the BIA’s main street while “Bringing the Lake to Lakeshore”.

PROJECT DETAILS

This is an open, Toronto-wide competition for artists from all visual arts disciplines.

Through a community-focused Selection Panel, the BIA will select three (3) artists who will each be asked to develop a design concept for one (1) banner. The selected artists will each receive $1000 (including HST). Each of the banner designs will be digitally reproduced and installed on three (3) out of nine (9) light poles within the BIA to create an art wave down its main street. This project aims to celebrate the vibrant and unique landscape that residents and businesses of the Lakeshore Village BIA are so fortunate to enjoy.

The commissioned pieces are expected to incorporate the themes of the lake, water, environment, movement, and shared spaces. These themes can be expressed through a variety of artistic disciplines such as photography, paint, mixed media and/or textile design, and will be digitally printed on the banner canvas. We encourage artists of all visual disciplines to apply, although we emphasize that the final designs must be presented as a digital file.

Please note that following the exhibition, artworks will be donated to a local community partner so that they have a permanent home within the BIA.

Additionally, selected artists will participate in an unveiling ceremony (virtual or in-person, depending on current Public Health Recommendations) that connects the broader community to the artists involved.

PROJECT TIMELINE

February 8, 2021: Call released
February 21, 2021: Call submissions due
Early March 2021: Selected artists notified
March 8 – 28, 2021: Artwork development period
Mid-April: Banners installed; Unveiling ceremony

SUBMISSIONS

Artists are invited to respond to this call by filling out this application form.

Submissions must be received by 11:59 pm EST, February 21, 2021. Late submissions will not be accepted.

QUESTIONS?
Please feel free to reach out to Placemaking Assistant Alexandra Lambropoulos at alexandra@stepspublicart.org by February 19th, 2021 at 4pm EST and we’ll be happy to respond. We look forward to hearing from you! Be safe and stay healthy.