National Call To Artists: Request For Qualifications
Municipality of North Perth

Deadline: August 3rd, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET
Award: ONE (1) COMMISSIONED ARTIST for TWO (2) SITES OF $25,000 CND PER SITE

Opportunity Overview

STEPS Public Art and the Municipality of North Perth invite Canadian professional artists, including artist teams, to submit their interest and qualifications to the first stage of a competition for two (2) public artworks that will be installed in the communities of Monkton and Gowanstown in public outdoor spaces. These public artworks will celebrate the individuality of North Perth’s communities while creating a unified public art experience. The preference is for durable sculptural artworks that invite interaction and engagement. Canadian artists who are from Ontario or have a connection to Ontario and North Perth are strongly encouraged to apply.

The sculptures will be selected through an open, two-stage competition, with a total budget of $50,000 CAD (not including HST) for both works. The project budget includes all costs directly associated with the artwork: including fees for design, fabrication, shipping, installation, engineering and professional services, insurance, permits, travel, and other incidental and production expenses. The Municipality of North Perth will provide for each artwork a 12 foot x 5 foot concrete foundation.

Following a competitive Selection Panel process, up to three (3) shortlisted artists will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) to develop a design concept for both sites. Further information on the above sites will be provided to shortlisted artists. The sites will be described in detail in the Terms of Reference for shortlisted artists. 

At the end of Stage 2, following the proposal review, one (1) artist or artist team will be selected to create the two (2) public artworks. 

Artwork installation should take place no later than Fall 2027. Applying artists should be aware and ready to commit to this tighter fabrication and installation schedule. 

Community Background

The Municipality of North Perth is located on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral Peoples.

The Municipality of North Perth is located in the northern portion of Perth County, in southwestern Ontario. It sits 30 km north of Highway 401, the main transportation artery in Ontario. Incorporated in 1998, North Perth is comprised of the Elma and Wallace Townships (which the village of Monkton is within) and the towns of Listowel, Atwood and Gowanstown. The community is home to 15,538 residents, who enjoy a blend of rural and small-town living while being a short drive from city amenities. North Perth is close to Lake Huron and Ontario’s cottage country. The major urban centre of Listowel is a regional hub for commerce and services.

The Municipality of North Perth has identified several public art themes that inform its overall public art procurement:

• Community Identity: Representing North Perth’s sense of strength, resilience, and the balance between rural roots and modernization.
• Artistic Expression: Incorporating vibrant colours that celebrate both tradition and innovation.
• Agriculture and Rural Life: Highlighting farming, rural living, and the area’s strong agricultural heritage.
• Cultural Diversity and Inclusivity: Emphasizing a welcoming community through multiculturalism, Indigenous history, Mennonite heritage, and growing diversity.

Project Details

There are two (2) sites identified for artworks. Both sites will have the artwork installed on a 12 foot x 5 foot concrete pad provided by the municipality.

Site A: Monkton

Location: 200 Nelson St, Monkton, ON N0K 1P0

Site Description: Green space located beside the community centre and near the park entrance driveways. The installation area is positioned between an existing flagpole and nearby street/parking lot lights.

Community Background: Monkton is a small rural community in North Perth with strong agricultural roots and a close-knit population. The surrounding area is largely farmland, and that connection continues to shape the local identity. Community life is centred around shared spaces like the community centre, parks, sports fields, and recreational facilities, where residents regularly come together for local events and activities. Outdoor spaces and nearby trails support an active lifestyle, particularly for families and youth. Monkton has a practical, down-to-earth feel, with a focus on community involvement, recreation, and maintaining local traditions. It’s a place where people value relationships, volunteerism, and a strong sense of belonging.

Site B: Gowanstown

Location: Corner of Line 88 and Road 164, Gowanstown, ON N0G 1Y0

Site Description: Wide, open grassy area with surrounding trees. A separate monument is located nearby, but outside of the proposed installation area.

​​Community Background: Gowanstown is a small community just south of Listowel that combines rural character with proximity to a larger service centre. It has a mix of residential areas and a few local businesses, with many residents connected to agriculture, trades, or commuting. The community is modest in size, and day-to-day life is shaped by routine interactions and local connections. Access to nearby parks, trails, and recreational amenities supports outdoor activity and contributes to quality of life. Its location makes it a convenient and accessible place to live, while still maintaining a small-town atmosphere. Growth in the area has been steady, reflecting its appeal as a place that balances rural living with access to amenities.

Two-Stage Public Art Competition

This is a two-stage, open competition for Canadian artists. Per the Canada Council for the Arts’ 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.

A specially convened Selection Panel, composed of two (2) North Perth staff, two (2) community members and one 1 North Perth Economic Development Advisory Committee member, will be established for this two-stage competition.

Stage One: Expression of Interest

The Selection Panel will review all submissions and meet in August/September 2026 to identify a shortlist of up to three (3) artists, based on artistic excellence, relevant experience and demonstrated or perceived ability to create and execute an innovative, engaging public artwork that is complementary to the overall design scheme and community context.

Stage Two: Shortlisted Artist Proposal Development

The shortlisted artists will be notified shortly after the Selection Panel’s first meeting and invited to participate in a proposal development period, which will result in a final design proposal and budget. A detailed Terms of Reference document will be provided to shortlisted artists, with all of the detailed information required to prepare and submit their full proposals. Shortlisted artists will be paid an honorarium of $1,000 (inclusive of HST) for this stage.

Elements of each artist’s proposal will be shared online with the North Perth community for feedback. STEPS Public Art will host this engagement online, and community feedback will be collected via Google Forms. This feedback will be provided to the Selection Panel.

Shortlisted artists will submit final proposals for Selection Panel review in December 2026 (December 1, 2026). 

The panel will choose one (1) artist or artist team whose vision best suits the overall scope and intent of the project, and has the ability or perceived ability to conceive and realize public artworks on these two sites. The selected artist will be notified in February 2027. The two (2) public artworks will be fabricated and installed by Fall 2027. 

The selected proposal will be reviewed by a technical team composed of Municipality of North Perth staff from relevant departments who will comment on the technical feasibility, safety, and maintenance requirements of each proposal. Artists will not be present at this review. The selected artist will receive their technical comments after submission of the final proposal. The selected artist will address any changes into their final proposals if necessary. 

Project Timeline

• July – August 2026: Call-to-Artists is issued

• September 2026: Shortlisted Artists identified

• October – December 2026: Shortlisted Artists develop detailed proposals

• January – February 2027: Shortlisted artist deliberations & Selected Artists/ Artist Team chosen

• March 2027: Selected Artist/ Artist Team begins artwork fabrication

• Fall 2027: Artworks are installed and open to the public

  *Note: this timeline is subject to change 

Submissions

Professional artists and artistic teams are invited to respond to this RFQ by submitting a single PDF document. This PDF document must include:

A. Contact Information: Including full name, business name (if applicable), mailing address, telephone, and email. Teams must identify one artist to be the Municipality of North Perth’s primary contact for the team, as well as contact information for each artist on the team.

B. Letter of Intent: 1-page maximum. Outline your artistic experience, ability, approach and interest in this project, highlighting relevant experience. Please include any connections to Ontario or North Perth specifically, as well as how you would approach designing artworks that connect with rural communities and that reflect the unique characteristics of each of the two sites. Do not include proposals at this stage of the competition.

C. Curriculum Vitae (CV):  3-page maximum. Detail professional experience as an artist, past public art experience, and other information relevant to this RFQ. If applying as an artist team, please identify all team members and include a CV for each.

D. Artistic Support Material: Maximum of ten (10) images of work. For each image, provide a title and image number.

E. Support Material List: A written list that clearly outlines the Artistic Support Material (above) with corresponding titles and numbers. Include the following details in order of: Title, date, location, commissioning agent (if applicable), budget, dimensions, medium/materials and a brief description of the works (maximum 50 words).

F. References: Names and contact information (current email and phone number) for three (3) references (preferably from recent public art projects). Please identify their role and affiliation in the project. Reference letters are not required.

Application Delivery and Deadline

Submissions must be received by August 3rd, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET. 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 20 MB in total size.

Questions and requests for clarification will be received by email until July 20th, 2026, at 11:59 PM EST. Applicants who need accommodations or support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Sam Mitjavile at sam@stepspublicart.org at least 10 business days before the application deadline to allow STEPS to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

Contact

Sam Mitjavile
Cultural Planning Manager
P: 1-888-783-7780 (ext. 704)
E: sam@stepspublicart.org 

Partners