---
title: "Call for Expressions of Interest: Art in Real Life (Art IRL) 2026, Guelph"
description: Annual public art commission in Guelph for artists with local ties. $10,000 CAD award for community-engaged project during Ontario Culture Days, Sep 18–Oct 4, 2026.
url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/59a27dcb-ccb7-476e-a17b-1a33db27079c
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: "2026-05-25"
updatedAt: "2026-09-30"
programType: Public art
organization: Guelph Arts Council
organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/guelph-arts-council
deadline: "2026-06-08"
location: Guelph, ON, Canada
isOnline: false
compensationRange: $10,000 CAD project award
disciplines:
  - community-engaged art
  - site-specific art
  - drawing
  - painting
  - printmaking
  - sculpture
  - photography
  - mixed media
  - sound art
  - video art
  - animation
  - digital art
  - performance art
  - dance
  - music
  - theatre
---

# Call for Expressions of Interest: Art in Real Life (Art IRL) 2026, Guelph

**Hosted by:** Guelph Arts Council

**Type:** Public art | **Location:** Guelph, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** June 8, 2026

## About This Program

> "Community-engaged and site-responsive art in downtown Guelph; public participation in real time and space"

Art in Real Life (Art IRL) is an annual program developed by the City of Guelph and delivered by Guelph Arts Council that supports artists in creating shared arts experiences with communities—in real time and space—across a range of mediums. One artist, collective, or artist-led team with a lived connection to Guelph will be selected to create a project in downtown Guelph during Ontario Culture Days (September 18–October 4, 2026). The project must offer a free, accessible public engagement opportunity. Artists may work in community-engaged art, site-specific art, studio practice (drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, mixed media), media arts (sound, video, animation, digital art, projection), or performance (dance, music, theatre, performance art). Artists are encouraged to respond to the physical, social, and/or historical conditions of their chosen site and to consider accessibility in broad and creative ways.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** Local
- **Disciplines:** community-engaged art, site-specific art, drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, mixed media, sound art, video art, animation, digital art, performance art, dance, music, theatre
- **Age Requirements:** 18+ years old
- **Note:** Must be a professional artist with a lived connection to Guelph. Projects must be led by at least one professional artist aged 18+. Guelph Arts Council staff are not eligible. City of Guelph employees and current Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) members must contact Guelph Arts Council in advance to discuss potential conflicts of interest. Artists from equity-deserving communities (Black, Indigenous, racialized, people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+, low-income, unhoused) are encouraged to apply.

### Additional Requirements

Expression of Interest – a brief description of the project concept and vision for community engagement (500 words or less, pdf/doc/docx format, up to 2 MB per file); Artist CV (up to three pages, pdf/doc/docx format, up to 2 MB per file); Support Materials – three to six examples of past/current artistic work such as images, short writing samples, or links to video/sound files (pdf, doc, docx, jpg, jpeg or png format, up to 5 MB per file).

## Compensation & Benefits

$10,000 CAD project award

**Includes:** Commission fee

## Timeline

- **Opens:** May 25, 2026
- **Deadline:** June 8, 2026
- **Program Start:** September 18, 2026
- **Program End:** October 4, 2026

## Contact

**Contact:** Preetam Sengupta

**Email:** administration@guelpharts.ca

**Phone:** 519-836-3280

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://guelpharts.ca/programs/art-irl