---
title: 'Call for Indigenous Artists: Bench Wrap Public Art, City of Pickering'
description: >-
  Public art commission for Indigenous artists to create a vinyl bench wrap for
  Pickering Museum Village. $2,500 budget.
url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/cd39e0af-bd9c-4b73-bd54-b2dd4005b024'
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: '2026-03-16'
updatedAt: '2026-09-30'
programType: Public art
organization: City of Pickering
organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/city-of-pickering'
deadline: '2026-03-27'
location: 'Pickering Museum Village, Pickering, ON, Canada'
isOnline: false
compensationRange: >-
  $2,500 including HST (maximum) — total budget covering artist fees, taxes,
  materials, travel, insurance, and all related expenses.
disciplines:
  - digital art
---

# Call for Indigenous Artists: Bench Wrap Public Art, City of Pickering

**Hosted by:** City of Pickering

**Type:** Public art | **Location:** Pickering Museum Village, Pickering, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** March 27, 2026

## About This Program

> "First Nations clan system, clan medicines, and the importance of waterways to First Nations"

The City of Pickering invites local artists/teams to apply to submit digital based artwork for the Pickering Museum Village Indigenous Bench Wrap project. Selected works will be digitally reproduced, printed on vinyl and installed onto one (1) bench. As part of the new permanent First Nations exhibit down the path to the Museum from the Dorsay Community & Heritage Centre; the bench will provide a place for visitors to rest and reflect. The First Nations exhibit will consist of 5-10 interactive signs down the pathway. The topics that have been identified are the clan system, medicines that relate to the clans, and the relationship to the waterway.

This opportunity is open to Indigenous artists, with eligibility limited to artists who are members of Williams Treaties First Nations to reflect the specific cultural teachings and territorial relationships represented in this site specific project.

The bench will be displayed on the path for three to five years. One artist/team will be commissioned by The City of Pickering to create the works.

Project Requirements:
- Overall dimensions: 72″L x 26-3/4″W x 30-7/8″H
- Seat dimensions: 68″L x 17″H
- The back and seat are made from 4″ x 1/5″ welded steel slats.

Artwork specifications:
- Artwork will be professionally reproduced on vinyl, exact sizes to be shared with the selected artists.
- Designs should not include text, current political figures, and/or logos.
- Vinyl production and installation will be undertaken by the City of Pickering.
- The City of Pickering will have reproduction rights to submitted artwork for a period of five years.
- The artist(s) retains sole copyright to their original artwork.
- High resolution PDF, Adobe Illustrator .ai files, or .eps files are required for production.
- Digital artwork should be created at a minimum of 300 ppi.
- The format for digital illustrations is vector or raster-based images for digital collage and digitally painted designs.
- The work is to reflect the exhibit themes of the clan system, clan medicine, and the importance of waterways to First Nations.
- The work is to be inclusive, engaging, allowing the visitor to slow down and reflect.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** Local
- **Disciplines:** digital art
- **Note:** Open to Indigenous artists only, with eligibility limited to artists who are members of Williams Treaties First Nations to reflect the specific cultural teachings and territorial relationships represented in this site specific project.

### Additional Requirements

Submit a single PDF document (max size 20 MB) including: artist statement, project statement, concept design, portfolio of past work and references.

## Compensation & Benefits

$2,500 including HST (maximum) — total budget covering artist fees, taxes, materials, travel, insurance, and all related expenses.

**Includes:** Commission fee

The budget of $2,500.00 including HST (maximum) is the total amount available for the commission including all related expenses: artist fees, all applicable taxes, detailed renderings, materials, schedules, insurance, equipment, travel to meetings and to the site, and an artist statement for completed work.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** March 16, 2026
- **Deadline:** March 27, 2026

## Contact

**Contact:** Ellen Tayles-Armstrong

**Email:** etayles@pickering.ca

**Phone:** 905.409.0567

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://forms.pickering.ca/Forms/CSD2403-Request-for-Proposals