Artist Calls

The City’s Public Art Master Plan identifies zones for public art installations, including trails and waterfront.

Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park is located at Simcoe St. and Harbour Rd. and is the City of Oshawa’s newest addition to the waterfront parks system, which opened on June 1, 2023. The waterfront trail runs through the park and expands upon Larry Ladd Harbour Trail, and a pedestrian bridge over the Oshawa Creek links the parkland on both sides of the watercourse.

The design of the park encourages gathering with an amphitheatre, stage and seating; a network of concrete and asphalt pathways; green spaces; and a Garden of Human Rights.

The Garden of Human Rights is a prominent feature at the park. It features 13 garden beds representing the 13 prohibited grounds of discrimination within the Canadian Human Rights Act. A variety of seating in the garden makes this a unique place for quiet reflection and contemplation.

The City of Oshawa recognizes that supporting arts and culture is essential in building a vibrant and creative city. Through the implementation of the Public Art Master Plan, the City of Oshawa provides active leadership and guidance in fostering a strong visual legacy through the creation and inclusion of art in its public buildings and spaces. The proposed public art project supports Culture Counts: Oshawa Arts, Culture, and Heritage Plan and the Public Art Master Plan.

The selected writer’s fee is: $12,000.

The City is currently exploring two (2) design installation options. The shortlisted writers will be asked to provide input on which installation approach they would like to use as part of the Stage 2 process. Additionally, the City is open to the writer proposing an alternate installation method during Stage 2. The current installation approaches being considered are:

• interlocking brick at grade level, featuring engraved stone elements (Figure 2); or
• engraved boulders positioned along the edges of the pathways (Figure 3).

This call is open to Indigenous creative writers, poets, artists, Knowledge Holders or storytellers connected to or from the Williams Treaty First Nations, which include the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Hiawatha, Curve Lake, and Alderville First Nations, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama and Beausoleil First Nations to develop text to be incorporated in the installation at Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park.

The lead applicant must be 18 years of age or older.

This is a two-stage competition:

• A Public Art Jury comprised of Indigenous community members from the seven First Nations who are signatories to the Williams Treaties will review and score Stage 1 applications received to identify a shortlist of writers for Stage 2;
• The shortlisted writers will meet with the Public Art Jury to discuss this project and their initial ideas, including design options for installation; and
• Following these meetings, the Public Art Jury will recommend one applicant to the City to create the text for this project.

Stage 1: Expressions of Interest

The Public Art Jury will review all submissions and identify a shortlist of three writers who will proceed to Stage 2.

All submissions to Stage 1 of this competition must include the following:

• Biography/Artist statement (maximum one page);
• CV or resume;
• Examples of previous work (maximum five examples) that demonstrate artistic excellence in their practice; and
• A letter (maximum one page) describing how they are connected to the traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg and the signatories of the Williams Treaties, which include the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Hiawatha, Curve Lake, and Alderville First Nations, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama and Beausoleil First Nations; as well as an example of past work that has taken place within the community.

Applications will be evaluated based on following criteria:

• Artistic excellence of previous work (35 points);
• Demonstrated commitment to sharing Indigenous culture and language through CV or resume/biography/past work (65 points); and
• Submission is complete (Yes/No).

Submissions to Stage 1 will be scored out of 100 possible points.

Stage 2: Meeting with the Public Art Jury

The three shortlisted writers will be invited to a meeting with the Public Art Jury to discuss their vision and intention for this project, including the design options for installation. In the event a shortlisted writer is proposing an alternative option, a visual design will need to be provided during Stage 2. Accommodations can be made if a shortlisted writer requires the inclusion of a pre-recorded audio/video component as part of their submission for this stage. A detailed Terms of Reference will be provided to each shortlisted writer to provide more details on the project scope. 

The Public Art Jury, comprised of Indigenous community members, will make a recommendation on which writer to select for this project based on the following criteria:

• Cultural Sensitivity/Appreciation (30 points):
  • Depth of connection to the lands, waters and Indigenous culture;
  • Promotes understanding and appreciation toward Indigenous Peoples; and
  • Ability to evoke emotions or provoke thought through their writing;
• Community Relevance and Impact (30 points):
  • Suitability for display in a public space;
  • Reflects the area’s heritage and/or histories’; and
  • Builds appreciation for public art;
• Overall Quality (25 points):
• • Originality of idea; and
  • Writer has demonstrated related experience; and
• Location (15 points):
  • Connection to Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park; and
  • Responds to or complements the location’s uses and users.

Stage 2 will be scored out of 100 possible points.

Each of the three writers shortlisted for Stage 2 will be paid a fee of $750 for their participation in the Stage 2 process.

The City of Oshawa will enter into a written agreement with the selected writer. The agreement will address the writer’s obligations, which will include, but will not be limited to, the following terms:

• Meeting with a Knowledge Holder, who will be hired by the City, and City staff at Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park to discuss the history of the area and the park;
• Providing a preliminary copy of the text created and design recommendations (such as font type and size), based on the installation method to City staff for review. City staff will share the text with the Public Art Jury members for feedback;
• Incorporating recommended revisions from the Public Art Jury members into the text;
• Finalizing the text to be incorporated into the installation;
• Warranty and indemnity;
• Intellectual property and moral Rights (including copyright); and
• Compliance with all City by-laws and applicable legislation.

In lieu of the City requiring the selected writer to obtain insurance related to any site visit(s) required to create the text and design, the City will require the selected writer to execute a waiver assuming all risk associated with such site visit(s).

The agreement will also address the City’s obligations, which will include, but will not be limited to, the following terms:

• Installation and fabrication;
• Maintenance and/or conservation; and
• Promotion of the public art installation.

Complete the online application form.

Writers are invited to apply to Stage 1 of this call by completing the online application form and submit the following documents including:

• Biography/Artist statement (maximum one page);
• CV or resume;
• Examples of previous work (maximum five examples) that demonstrate artistic excellence in their practice; and
• One page letter describing how they are connected to the traditional and treaty territory of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg and the signatories of the Williams Treaties, which include the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Hiawatha, Curve Lake, and Alderville First Nations, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama and Beausoleil First Nations; as well as an example of past work that has taken place within the community.

Submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. on November 5, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. 

All applicants will be sent an email following their submission to notify them that their submission was received. If you have not received an email within 72 business hours of your submission, please contact culturecounts@oshawa.ca.

If the files exceed 20 MB, applicants are asked to use an external file share program and email culturecounts@oshawa.ca.  

Personal information on this form is collected pursuant to Section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25 and will be used to administer the Call for Expressions of Interests. Questions about this collection should be directed to the City’s Information, Access and Privacy Officer at 50 Centre Street South, Oshawa, Ontario, L1H 3Z7, or by phone at 905-436-3311.

Contract No: A2026-01

By this Expression of Interest, the City reserves to itself absolute and unfettered discretion to invite submissions, consider and analyze submissions, select short-listed writers and potentially enter into an agreement with the preferred writer as the City considers desirable. 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the City reserves the right to:

• Reject or short-list any writer whether or not its submission is complete or whether or not its submission contains all required information;
• Require clarification where the submission is unclear;
• Reject any or all submissions without any obligation, or any compensation or reimbursement to the writers, and the City is under no obligation to proceed to the next stage;
• Disqualify any submission without discussion with the writer, and to reject any submission that the City considers is not in the best interests of the City; and
• In the event that only one or two Expressions of Interest are received that satisfy the City’s requirements and are deemed qualified to carry out the work, the City reserves the right to enter into an agreement with the preferred writer.

The selected writer will be required to enter into a contract with the City of Oshawa for this project. If the City and a selected writer cannot agree on the terms of the contract, the selection committee may, at the City of Oshawa’s sole and absolute discretion, choose another writer to complete this project.

No writer shall have any rights against the City arising from participation in this Expressions of Interest or submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration.

By submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration, writers hereby release and hold harmless the City of Oshawa from any and all actions, charges, claims, costs, damages, demands, liabilities, losses, suits, proceedings, costs and expenses pertaining to the writer’s participation in the Expressions of Interest.

By submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration, writers agree that all decisions of the City and its employees in relation to the Indigenous Language and Culture Public Art Project are final and binding. Writers also agree that the selection of the writer by the City is final and not subject to any right of appeal or review.

By submitting an application for the City of Oshawa’s consideration, writers represent and warrant that they have read and understood and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

If you have questions about applying, or require accommodations to participate in this process, please contact culturecounts@oshawa.ca.

We are happy to provide support and advice related to the application to make this call as accessible as possible to applicants.

The City of Oshawa is situated on lands and waters within the Williams Treaties Territory, home to seven First Nation communities of the Michi Saagiig and Chippewa Anishinaabeg, who have cared for and maintained these lands from time immemorial and continue to do so to present day. Learn more.

Each year the City of Oshawa is proud to offer arts, culture and heritage programming in alignment with Oshawa's Cultural Strategic Plan, Culture Counts: Oshawa’s Arts, Culture & Heritage Plan.

This call provides increased support for local artists by providing an opportunity to exhibit artwork in a City operated facility.

The exhibition space consists of four locked display cases in the Council Wing hallway at City Hall.

The measurements for the locked vitrines are listed below:

Vitrine 1: Length – 70 inches, Depth - 22 inches, Height - 95 inches

Vitrine 2: Length – 103 inches, Depth – 22 inches, Height – 95 inches

Vitrine 3: Length – 103 inches, Depth – 22 inches, Height – 95 inches

Vitrine 4:

Vitrines 1 to 3 are on the north wall of the hall and vitrine 4 is on the south wall of the hallway.

The vitrines are equipped with an exhibition hanging system installed at 72 inches in height.

Applicants will be asked to submit the following:

If you experience difficulties with the submission form, please email your submission to culturecounts@oshawa.ca.

A selection committee will review the submissions. The selection committee may consist of representatives from the City’s Cultural Leadership Council, Public Art Task Force, and/or City staff. 

The City of Oshawa is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive community that celebrates the diverse lived-experiences of our residents. We encourage submissions from artists from equity-deserving groups that have been historically underrepresented in the arts, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying individuals, people who are Deaf, and persons with disabilities, and strive to eliminate barriers to the meaningful inclusion of members of these communities.

If you have questions about applying, or require accommodations to participate in this process, please contact culturecounts@oshawa.ca.

We are happy to provide support and advice related to the application to make this call as accessible as possible to applicants.