---
title: 'Call for Submissions: Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail 2027'
description: >-
  Sixth edition of the Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail: 60 plinth-based
  and 10 large-scale outdoor sculptures at Spencer Smith Park, April–May 2027,
  with exhibition fees of $750–$15,000.
url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/cb3b75ad-5cd7-41ea-9129-a18e35f1fe48'
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: '2026-09-03'
updatedAt: '2026-09-30'
programType: Exhibition
organization: Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection
organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/dan-lawrie-international-sculpture-collection'
deadline: '2026-09-18'
location: 'Spencer Smith Park, Burlington, ON, Canada'
isOnline: false
compensationRange: >-
  Exhibition fee: $1,000 per open-air plinth work; $750 per work under
  plexiglass; $5,000 to $15,000 per large-scale work
disciplines:
  - sculpture
  - installation
  - public art
careerStages:
  - Emerging artist
  - Established
---

# Call for Submissions: Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail 2027

**Hosted by:** Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection

**Type:** Exhibition | **Location:** Spencer Smith Park, Burlington, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** September 18, 2026

## About This Program

> "Sculpture engaging with site, materiality, and context — encouraging audiences to think differently about place, time, and the spaces we share"

The 2027 Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail will create a 2.5km long experience linking Spencer Smith Park and the Downtown Burlington BIA through a series of 60 temporary sculptures and 10 large-scale and/or interactive installation works created by local, regional, and national artists. Sculptural works are selected for their ability to engage with site, materiality, and context, and to encourage audiences to think differently about place, time, and the spaces we share. BWST offers two different plinth installation options: open-air works installed on concrete plinths with no covering (30 selections, max 800 lbs, 8 feet tall, fitting a 24″ x 24″ concrete base) and works installed on plinths under plexiglass covers (30 selections, fitting a 21″ x 21″ x 30″ enclosure).

10 large scale installations will be exhibited within Spencer Smith Park; these works must be structurally sound for public engagement, and BWST can provide technical expertise, access to power, a forklift, and platform lift during installation. Artists selected for BWST exhibition will be invited to submit small sculpture for sale to be displayed as part of the Sculpture Inside show, in partnership with the Art Gallery of Burlington. The trail will be a fully accessible experience, free of barriers and admission, for all to engage in.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Career Stage:** Emerging artist, Established
- **Geographic Eligibility:** International
- **Disciplines:** sculpture, installation, public art
- **Note:** Applications encouraged from both emerging and established artists. Works are by local, regional, and national artists. Material exclusions: video/digital art/sound art. Maximum 3 works per artist submitted for consideration.

### Additional Requirements

- 75-word artist/collective bio
- 75-word statement or description of submitted work (option to add an expanded statement for the jurying process)
- maximum 4-page Artist Resume/CV
- 1-6 images of previous work
- 3-5 print quality images of work for consideration (maximum 3 works per artist)
- description of proposed work.

Material exclusions: video/digital art/sound art.

For large-scale works, artists must provide detailed fabrication specs, stamped engineered drawings on request, transportation to site, and installation with BWST oversight.

## Compensation & Benefits

Exhibition fee: $1,000 per open-air plinth work; $750 per work under plexiglass; $5,000 to $15,000 per large-scale work

**Includes:** Honorarium, Commission fee

Each exhibiting artist will be paid an exhibition fee based on the fee schedule: 30 works on open-air plinths – $1,000 per; 30 works under plexiglass – $750 per; 10 large-scale works – $5,000 to $15,000 per. The BWST Team will also work with our networks to sell works on behalf of the artists at their stated price. Artists will receive 100% of the sale price, less 50% of their exhibition fee—this does not apply to works for sale as part of Sculpture Inside.

Artists are responsible for covering all transportation and material costs associated with the work within the fee. Fees for engineering drawings are to be covered by the exhibition fee.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** September 3, 2026
- **Deadline:** September 18, 2026
- **Program Start:** April 10, 2027
- **Program End:** May 31, 2027

## Contact

**Contact:** Heather Kanabe, Executive Director

**Email:** heather@dlisc.ca

**Phone:** 416-432-8016

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://www.bwst.ca/call-for-artists