---
title: "Request for Qualifications: Public Art Opportunity for Canadian Artists with Connections to Toronto"
description: Public art RFQ in Toronto's Cabbagetown for Canadian artists. $200,000 CAD total budget; shortlisted artists receive $1,000 CAD to develop proposals.
url: https://www.artsume.com/programs/ceec2f4c-fcf4-4373-bbad-732b05b9b0d3
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: "2026-04-17"
updatedAt: "2026-09-30"
programType: Public art
organization: STEPS Public Art
organizationUrl: https://www.artsume.com/o/steps-public-art
deadline: "2026-05-24"
location: Cabbagetown BIA, Amelia Street and Parliament Street, Toronto, ON, Canada
isOnline: false
compensationRange: $200,000 CAD total project budget (plus HST), covering all costs. Shortlisted artists/teams each receive $1,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) to develop detailed proposals.
---

# Request for Qualifications: Public Art Opportunity for Canadian Artists with Connections to Toronto

**Hosted by:** STEPS Public Art

**Type:** Public art | **Location:** Cabbagetown BIA, Amelia Street and Parliament Street, Toronto, ON, Canada | **Deadline:** May 24, 2026

## About This Program

> "Character, history, environment, and culture of the Cabbagetown neighbourhood"

Public art commission for a new artwork (or series) to be installed in Toronto's Cabbagetown BIA at Amelia Street and Parliament Street on the public right of way. The work should incorporate the character, history, environment, and culture of Cabbagetown—a neighbourhood shaped by Irish immigrant history, Depression-era poverty, and a queer-led revival in the 1970s, renowned for the largest preserved area of Victorian homes in North America. Two-stage open competition: up to five shortlisted artists or artist teams receive $1,000 CAD each to develop detailed design proposals; one is selected for the full commission.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** National
- **Note:** Professional Canadian artists and artist teams with connections to Toronto. Applications from artist teams must include a CV for each team member.

### Additional Requirements

Single PDF (max 20 MB) submitted via Google Forms, containing: 1) Artistic Statement (1-page max) — artistic experience, approach, and connection to Cabbagetown; no proposals accepted at this stage. 2) CV (3-page max per person; all team members if applying as a team). 3) Artistic Support Material — up to 10 images. 4) Support Material List — title, date, location, commissioning agent, budget, dimensions, medium/materials, and brief description (max 50 words per work). 5) Two references with name, current email, phone number, role, and affiliation (preferably from recent public art projects); reference letters not accepted.

## Compensation & Benefits

$200,000 CAD total project budget (plus HST), covering all costs. Shortlisted artists/teams each receive $1,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) to develop detailed proposals.

**Includes:** Commission fee, Honorarium

## Timeline

- **Opens:** April 16, 2026
- **Deadline:** May 24, 2026

## Contact

**Contact:** Collin Zipp

**Email:** collin@stepspublicart.org

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://stepspublicart.org/project/cabbagetown-bia-public-art/