Has a mural ever stopped you in your tracks?

Did it make you do a double-take, smile, or feel connected to your surroundings? 

Maybe the vibrant colours caught your attention. As you take a moment to look around, you notice folks laugh and eat lunch in this space. You realize this new mural gave you a moment of presence in your busy day. 

Art does this.

Artists: RAZA, Mike Hooves, Mary Annan
Photo Credit: Lavounie Doan

How did we get started?

We’re inspired by art, people, and community. We began as a passion project collecting personal stories across North America about how art affects where people live, work, and play. Our Founder and Executive Director, Alexis Kane Speer saw through 100+ conversations the direct impacts of art on social well-being.

That’s why our team of artists, urban, and cultural planners are here to animate spaces with vibrant, community-engaged public art. We bring art to unexpected corners with artists who are as deeply passionate about art as we are.

At the end of the day, our work is about art and community.

Will you join us in this work?

Whether you’re an emerging artist seeking public art opportunities, a municipality or company seeking public art support, a developer in need of hoarding artwork, or a city developing a cultural plan, STEPS is here to push your creative boundaries and build inclusive communities through art and creative placemaking.

What we care about

As a Canadian charity and social enterprise, we see a world where artists and communities co-create meaningful, welcoming and safe public spaces. If that resonates with you, you’re in the right place.

Crossroads Mural
Artists: Kseniya Tsoy, Yasaman Mehrsa, Stephanie Babij, Jasmine Vanstone
Photo Credit: Jae Yang

We deeply care about:

• Building inclusive communities by connecting people to public space through shared cultural experiences
• Amplifying the voices of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), Black, newcomer, LGBTQQIP2SAA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, allies, along with additional sexual orientations and gender identities), racialized, disabled, and equity-deserving artists and communities
• Fostering relationships to initiate, support, and produce meaningful cultural projects across Canada 
• Providing training, resources, and supports to meet the evolving needs of our stakeholders

Building community with community

We’re proud members of the following organizations and programs:

Creative City Network

Creative Mornings

CultureBrew.Art

Indigenous Curatorial Collective

Neighbourhood Arts Network

Pride at Work Canada

WSIB Health and Safety Excellence Program

Your support makes it possible

Our social enterprise allows us to run free charitable arts programs for the community and provide equitably paid public art opportunities to artists and designers across Canada. 

STEPS is also a charitable organization and we are grateful for the generous support by our funders and donors. Make a donation to bring more public art to your communities.