Call to Indigenous Artists: Expressions of Interest for Two Permanent Public Artworks in Cabbagetown

About this call

The Cabbagetown Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the City of Toronto invite Indigenous artists based in Canada, preferably with connections to Toronto, to submit their qualifications for the first stage of a two-stage public art competition. Two new permanent artworks will be commissioned for the corner of Spruce Street and Parliament Street in Toronto's Cabbagetown neighbourhood, along the south-facing wall of No Frills: a single large sculpture or a series of sculptural pieces (Opportunity 1, budget about $108,000 CAD plus HST) and a mural integrated with the existing signage (Opportunity 2, budget about $20,000 CAD plus HST). The works will connect the neighbourhood and the city to its Indigenous roots in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, and the two selected artists will work together on a shared theme or cohesive design. A panel shortlists up to six artists (four for the sculpture, two for the mural), and each who completes a full proposal in Stage Two is paid $1,000 CAD (plus HST if applicable); the artworks are to be installed by August 27, 2027.

Who can apply

• Canada only
• Medium: Sculpture / Painting
• Entry fee: See official site
• Open to Indigenous artists based in Canada (status or non-status First Nations, Métis or Inuit), preferably with connections to Toronto; non-Indigenous applicants will not be considered. Applicants need a history of public exhibition, artistic training and/or recognition by arts professionals and peers, some form of recognition as an Indigenous person within their Indigenous community, and the ability to demonstrate learnings from their own lived experiences. Preference goes to artists with public art experience and ties to Toronto and the Cabbagetown area, but prior public art commissions are not required. Artworks must be new, original concepts (existing works or versions of them are not considered) in durable materials; the mural must work with the existing No Frills signage and include an anti-graffiti coating. The two selected artists must collaborate on a shared theme or design. Stage One asks for qualifications only, no design proposals: one PDF (max. 20 MB) with a one-page artistic statement (noting, if applicable, your personal connections to Toronto and Cabbagetown), a two-page CV, up to 10 images of past work, each listed with title, year, location, mediums, commissioning agents and/or collaborators, project budget, dimensions and a description of up to 50 words, and a statement on your connection to Indigenous community, emailed to curator Tessa Shank; name the opportunity in the email subject and PDF title, and send separate packages to apply for both. Teams include the requirements for each member. Late or incomplete applications are not accepted. The budgets are approximate, and the selected artists must keep design, fabrication, footings, foundations and installation within the budget limits; the artworks will be owned and maintained by the BIA. In Stage Two, shortlisted artists submit a detailed design concept and a budget covering fabrication quotes, professional fees and installation costs, plus a brief statement shared online with the Cabbagetown community for feedback. Timeline (subject to change): shortlist notified mid-January 2027, Stage Two proposals due late March 2027, final selection late April 2027, fabrication from late May 2027, artworks installed by August 27, 2027.