Old Town Toronto BIA – Request For Proposals: Painted Beaver Sculptures

Deadline: January 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST
Award: 48 Commissions at $750 CAD each (HST INCLUSIVE)

Opportunity Overview

The Old Town Toronto BIA, in partnership with STEPS Public Art, is seeking 48 artists to paint a series of beaver sculptures celebrating the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Each sculpture will represent one of the 48 participating FIFA countries through cultural themes, artistic interpretation, and creative use of each nation’s colour palette. 

With the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, Old Town Toronto is preparing to welcome an influx of international visitors seeking immersive, celebratory experiences. This public art initiative reflects the BIA’s commitment to showcasing Toronto’s multiculturalism, supporting local artists, and creating engaging public spaces that bring community members and visitors together.

Each selected artist will be paired with a FIFA participating nation and commissioned to design and paint one (1) beaver sculpture provided by the Client. Sculptures will be prominently installed throughout the Old Town Toronto BIA from May 1 – September 30, 2026.

Artists will be selected through a single-stage process led by STEPS Public Art, ensuring equitable representation and meaningful cultural connections across all 48 nations. If a participating country and artist can not be paired, artists will be selected on artistic merit and letter of intent.

Community Background

Old Town Toronto is one of the city’s most historic, architecturally rich, and culturally diverse neighbourhoods. Located in downtown Toronto, the area encompasses the original 10 blocks of the city—where Toronto was first established as the Town of York in 1793. Today, Old Town Toronto blends layers of history with a vibrant contemporary urban experience, reflecting both its heritage roots and its dynamic, fast-growing and multicultural community.

Anchored by iconic landmarks such as the St. Lawrence Market, St. James Cathedral, The Gooderham Flatiron Building, St. Lawrence Hall, and the city’s oldest streetscapes, the district is home to a concentrated mix of small businesses, arts and cultural institutions, restaurants, and community gathering places. Old Town Toronto’s urban character connects past and present: where preserved heritage buildings sit alongside modern developments, beautiful green spaces, and pedestrian-friendly corridors.

As a neighbourhood that draws thousands of daily visitors, locals, workers, and international tourists alike, Old Town Toronto has become a hub for food culture, nightlife, boutique retail, design, and civic activity. The area reflects Toronto’s multicultural identity, hosting community events, markets, and experiences that celebrate global cultures and local creativity.

Artwork Details

Sculpture Format

• Beaver sculptures provided by the Old Town Toronto BIA at no cost to artists and will be primed and ready to paint.
• The sculptures are 107 cm tall x 76 cm deep x 46 cm wide.
• Selected artists will need to pick up the sculptures in March 2026 and return them completed by May 01, 2026. 
• Please note sculpture may weigh up to 50 lbs each. Artists who may face accessibility concerns are encouraged to contact the BIA to make arrangements.
• Further preparation guidelines will be provided to the Selected Artists.

Design Direction

Each artist will:

• Represent one assigned FIFA country through culturally relevant themes, symbols, colours, patterns, flora, fauna, historical or contemporary references.
• Use the colours of the assigned country’s flag as the foundation of the palette; interpretations may be stylized or blended creatively.
• Ensure all artwork is unique, suitable for a family-friendly public setting, with no political messaging, offensive content, or copyrighted imagery.
• Use durable, exterior-grade paints and have a coat of clear protectant applied to them.

Request For Qualifications

This call is open to:

• GTA-based professional artists, designers, illustrators, and muralists.
• Applicants with meaningful cultural connections to any of the 48 participating FIFA countries will be prioritized.
• Artist teams may apply, but must share one commission and submit one point of contact.
• Experience with painting 3D surfaces is an asse,t but not required.

STEPS defines meaningful cultural connection broadly, including:

• Being from that country or having heritage connected to that country
• Having deep cultural ties or lived experience connected to that country
• Demonstrating an ability to thoughtfully interpret the country’s culture and history through artistic practice.

Per the Canada Council’s guidelines, a professional artist is defined as someone who meets one or all of the following criteria:

• Has specialized artistic training (not necessarily in academic institutions);
• Is recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition);
• Has a history of public exhibitions; and/or
• Has produced an independent body of work.

Compensation

Each selected artist will receive a commission fee of $750 CAD inclusive of HST and all project costs, including but not limited to: concept development, final approved design delivery, painting of the artwork, including a protective clear coating, pick up and delivery of completed artwork, etc. Artist fees will be paid by STEPS Public Art upon delivery of final artworks.

Selection Process

Artists will be selected by a Selection Panel and presented to the BIA for final approval. Evaluation Criteria include cultural connection and relevance and originality, and artistic quality of past work. Selected artists may be asked to revise designs before fabrication. Painting may only begin once designs are approved in writing.

42 of 48 teams have qualified for the tournament: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, USA and Uzbekistan. 

Qualifying matches are still under way and will include 6 of the following teams: Albania, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Congo DR, Czechia, Denmark, Iraq, Italy, Jamaica, Kosovo, New Caledonia, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Suriname, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine and Wales. Artists from or with connections to these countries are encouraged to apply. As teams qualify for the tournament, artist selections will be made.

Estimated Project Timeline

Please note: This project has a tight turnaround time to ensure timely installation and will require the selected artists to complete the project components within the below timeline.

December 2025 – January 2026

• Call for Artists published and circulated

January 25, 2026

• Submission Deadline

February 2026

• Review of submissions
• Pairing of artists with FIFA nations
• Final selections approved by Old Town Toronto BIA
• Artist agreements executed

March – April 2026

• Sculpture pick-up
• Design submission and approval
•  Painting and fabrication period
•  Ongoing check-ins

May 01, 2026

• Completed sculptures delivered
• Old Town Toronto BIA oversees installation

May 1 – September 30, 2026 (exact dates may change)

• • Public display of sculptures across Old Town Toronto. 

Submission Requirements

Professional artists are invited to respond to this RFP by submitting a single PDF document. This PDF document must include:

1. Letter of Intent (1 page max): Describe your interest in this project, your artistic practice, and your cultural connection or relationship to specific FIFA nations (you may identify more than one nation). 
2. Concept Approach (1 page max): Explain how you would approach interpreting a FIFA country through cultural themes, visual storytelling, and palette.
3. Curriculum Vitae (3 pages max): Include relevant artistic experience.
4. Examples of Past Work (up to 10 images): Include titles, materials, dimensions, and brief descriptions. Work demonstrating painting skill, cultural storytelling, or work on sculptural/3D surfaces is especially valuable.

Application Delivery and Deadline

Submissions must be received by January 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted via Google Forms. Emailed, faxed, or mailed applications will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to ensure the application package is complete and submitted by the posted deadline. Final submissions must not exceed 10 MB in total size.

Questions and requests for clarification will be received by email until January 9, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST. Applicants who need additional support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Collin Zipp, Public Art Manager at collin@stepspublicart.org by January 9, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

Contact

Collin Zipp
Public Art Manager
1-888-783-7780 (extension 704)
collin@stepspublicart.org

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