public art commission: dave ryan park
Know before you apply
- Artists creating permanent outdoor public artwork
- Artist teams with architects or landscape designers
- Artists comfortable with functional, site-integrated design
- Two-stage selection with shortlist of three
- Shortlisted artists receive $1,500 CAD concept fee
- $60,000 budget covers all project costs
The City of Pickering invites artists or artist teams to respond to this Call for Artists to create permanent outdoor public artwork for Dave Ryan Park.
As per the City of Pickering’s Public Art Policy (CUL 130) an artist is defined as the designer/creator of an artistic work and can include, but is not limited to, a professional artist, graphic designer, collaborative team, architect or landscape designer.
The successful artist/artist team will be selected through a two-stage process. One (1) artist/artist team will be awarded the opportunity
Project Brief
The City of Pickering’s Cultural Strategic Plan (2026) outlines the City’s commitment to fostering placemaking and a distinct community identity, celebrating interculturalism through the arts, sustaining and maintaining a creative economy, being future ready and prioritizing youth and young families. For this project, the City is seeking artists or artist teams interested in creating an integrated functional public art experience in the area adjacent to the fieldhouse building. The Art in Public Spaces Plan recommends integrated functional public artwork that combines artistic expression with a practical purpose, such as seating, lighting, wayfinding elements, gathering spaces, or landscape features, and reflects the themes of community building, expansion, and growth in our City.
The concrete area that the artwork could be placed in is approximately 8m x 9m in area. 2m of space is required around the piece as a walkway, which would leave a maximum of 4m x 5m space available.
The top three (3) artists/teams will be required to present their concept to the jury at the March 31,2027 Public Art Jury Meeting. The City will facilitate consultation between the artists/teams and the community as well as other project stakeholders.
The Jury will select a short-list of three (3) artists/artist teams for Stage 2 – Request for Proposal (RFP). Each of the three (3) artists/artist teams will be compensated $1,500 CAD including HST for their time and the creation of concept for Stage 2.