Public Art Roster: Town of Halton Hills

About this call

The Town of Halton Hills Public Art Program in Ontario, Canada seeks artists and creative professionals, established and emerging, to join its Artist Roster, a pool of pre-qualified regional artists who can provide original artwork for art opportunities integrated into civic infrastructure and the public sphere. Roster artists may be contacted for invited commissions and limited competitions for recurring programs such as smaller murals or surface treatments (including the Bell Box Project), utility box wraps (including the Under Wraps Program), banners and signage, street installations such as crosswalks, picnic tables, traffic barriers and planter boxes, functional design elements such as shade canopies or seating, and other projects valued under $15,000. Fees follow CARFAC guidelines and may include artist fees, proposal fees where deemed appropriate, production or fabrication expenses (project dependent) and presentation fees. Acceptance lasts 5 years and does not guarantee a project offer.

Who can apply

• Limited by country or region
• Medium: Painting / Installation
• Entry fee: See official site
• Open to all artists residing or working within commuting distance of Halton Hills, individually or in collaboration, established or emerging; artists need not live in Halton Hills, but an understanding of, or relationship to, Halton Hills is an asset and local and regional artists are given preference. Artists must be professionals: objectively recognized as artists by their peers, with training, skill and/or experience, active in and committed to their practice, with a history of public presentation, following the Canada Council for the Arts definition of a professional artist, visual and fine craft artist, or practitioner of architecture/landscape architecture. Artists must be able to be onsite to physically install artworks, including painting murals where applicable. Submit one PDF with: a letter of interest (1 page maximum; a team sends one letter of up to 2 pages, CVs for all members, each member's role and the project lead) on why public art of this scope and scale in Halton Hills interests you, your qualifications and experience and how your practice relates to public art (artists new to public space may show other work and how they plan to expand into it; mural experience or the ability to make vector files is encouraged); a CV with contact information and links to website or social media; a third-person bio of no more than 200 words; and up to 10 images of past work, each with a brief description, installation site, materials and budget if applicable. Incomplete applications are not adjudicated; accommodations are available on request. Portfolios are scored by Town staff, Public Art Advisory Board members and in some cases an external artist panel: artistic excellence 40%, qualifications 30%, comprehension and connection to Halton Hills 20%, collaboration 10%. Artists using AI may apply if it is conceptually relevant to their practice and must disclose AI usage; AI generated images are discouraged at this stage. Artworks must not breach intellectual property or trademarks, promote a political party or candidate, or promote tobacco, alcohol or marijuana use. Projects with physical labour, onsite work, installation or fabrication require Commercial General Liability Insurance from an insurer licensed in Ontario, at least $2,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, naming the Corporation of The Town of Halton Hills and The Halton Hills Public Library Board as Additional Insured, shown at contracting with a certificate before work starts, plus relevant certifications such as working at heights. Artists keep copyright; the Town may use images of selected work for promotion, and makes all public announcements. Applicants bear their own costs. Acceptance does not guarantee a project offer, and roster artists may decline offered contracts. Questions: publicart@haltonhills.ca.