Call for Artists: City of Brantford Public Art in Jubilee Terrace Park
Deadline: February 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET
Award: $100,000 CAD (HST inclusive)
Opportunity Overview
STEPS Public Art and the City of Brantford invite professional Canadian artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for the first stage of a two-stage public art competition. This opportunity is for the creation of a new public artwork for installation in Jubilee Terrace Park. Located in downtown Brantford the park sits directly beside the Brant Avenue Armoury, and is home to the Boer War Memorial, with the Brant War Memorial located across the street.
The commissioned sculpture will honour and celebrate the service and sacrifice of local men and women in the military service. The impedance behind this project was the relocation of a German Field Howitzer, captured by the Brantford military during WW1. The cannon will be rehomed in the local Canadian Military Heritage Museum to ensure its longevity and lasting connection to the community. In lieu of this, a new public art piece is being commissioned to pay tribute to the courage and sacrifice of residents who served and continue to serve our country during times of war, military conflict, and peace. This new public art will honour this history, while also looking to the future of service and peace in Brantford and Canada. The selected artist or artist team will be responsible for engaging with key community stakeholders to explore themes related to local military groups and the armoury.
The selection process will follow an open, two-stage format. Up to three (3) artists or artist teams will be shortlisted and awarded $1,000 CAD (inclusive of HST) each to develop detailed design proposals. One artist or artist team will be selected for the final commission.
The total budget for this project is $100,000 CAD (inclusive of HST), which must cover all costs related to the project, including (but not limited to): artist fees, materials, fabrication, equipment rentals, installation, site preparation, foundation, engineering and professional services, insurance, permits, travel, and other associated expenses.
This project will also include a mentorship component. A local emerging artist will be selected in conjunction with the selected artist or artist team and paid by the City of Brantford to serve as a paid assistant during the fabrication and installation phases of the project.
Community Background
Nestled along the picturesque Grand River in the heart of southwestern Ontario, Brantford offers all the major amenities of a big city with the charming feel of a small town. The picturesque Grand River winds through the heart of Brantford, connecting it the vibrant communities of Six Nations of the Grand River and the County of Brant.
Project Direction
Brantford has a deep and long-standing connection to Canadian military service, dating back to its earliest history. This legacy is marked by the Brant War Memorial, designed by Walter S. Allward and dedicated in 1933, which honours the 701 local soldiers who lost their lives in World War I, a war in which Brantford had one of the highest enlistment rates in the country.
During World War II, the City once again made a significant contribution with more than 6,000 men and women from the County of Brant enlisting, and over 300 making the ultimate sacrifice. Brantford was also home to major training facilities: No. 20 Canadian Army Basic Training Camp and No. 5 Service Flying Training School, where more than 2,000 pilots graduated.
Today, this heritage is carried forward by the 56th, Royal Canadian Artillery which continue their active presence at the Sergeant William Merrifield (Victoria Cross) Armoury. There are four eras that represent the regiment’s lineage from 1866 to the present: infantry, light anti-aircraft artillery, medium artillery, and field artillery. Additionally, this heritage is shared through the Canadian Military Heritage Museum and existing local units such as the 56th Field Artillery Regiment and RCA, which continue their active presence at the Sergeant William Merrifield VC Armoury
Afghanistan was Canada’s longest war and about 65 per cent of 56th Field Regiment’s personnel were deployed over the course of Canada’s over 12-year deployment. Today, 56th Field Regiment is supporting the regular army artillery unit deployed to Eastern Europe in Latvia with 50 per cent of all its Reserve Force augmentees. 56th Field Regiment has also sent personnel on peace enforcement and peace keeping missions around the world. They have also answered the call to support domestic operations such as the Ice Storm of 1998 and other occasions when states of emergency have been declared. These are the qualities of service and sacrifice that are shared by modern-day soldiers and their families.
This new public artwork will serve as both a tribute and a contemporary reflection. Unlike the existing Brant War Memorial, this commission seeks a less representational and more conceptually driven approach. Artists are invited to explore broader themes such as service, shared conflicts, peace, local connections, history, time, modern service, and more. Proposals that are innovative, unique, and thoughtful in their exploration of these themes will be prioritized. This opportunity will see the creation of a new public artwork that not only honours Brantford’s past but also resonates with present and future generations, pointing towards hope, service and peace.
Design Considerations
This artwork must fit on the existing concrete pad, which has uplighting, and was designed for the original cannon that has been rehomed. Sculptures should be designed to be bolted onto or affixed to the existing concrete pad. Final specs for the concrete pad and the location of the uplighting will be provided to artists who move to Stage Two in the competition. The final work must be securely anchored to the ground and demonstrate durability in its design, construction, and materials. Artists/artist teams should select materials that can withstand extreme weather conditions, vandalism, and theft attempts, and incorporate these considerations into the overall design.
Two-Stage Competition
This is a two-stage, open competition for Canadian artists/artist teams. 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.
A specially convened Selection Panel, composed of practicing arts professionals and community members, will be established for this two-stage competition. The City of Brantford acknowledges that art is subjective. Shortlisted artists, as well as the final selected artist, will be determined through a combination of scoring criteria and deliberation by the Selection Panel.
Stage One: Expression of Interest
The Selection Panel will review all submissions and meet in February 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. Design proposals will not be accepted during this Stage One selection process.
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 detailed information required to prepare and submit their full proposals. Shortlisted artists will be paid a fee of $1,000 (HST inclusive) for this stage.
Elements of each artist’s proposal will be shared online with the Brantford community for feedback. STEPS Public Art will host this engagement session on their website and community feedback will be collected via Google Forms. This feedback will be provided to the Selection Panel and the City of Brantford.
Shortlisted artists will submit final proposals for Selection Panel review in May 2025 (date to be confirmed). The panel will choose one (1) artist/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 a public artwork on the site. The selected artist/artist team will be notified in May 2026. The public artwork will be fabricated and installed by June 2027.
The selected proposal will be reviewed by a technical team composed of City of Brantford 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
- Late October 2025
- RFQ is issued
February 1, 2026
- Stage One Applications due
March 2026
- Shortlisted Artists identified
March to May 2026
- Shortlisted Artists develop detailed proposals
- Community feedback surveys
June 2026
- Shortlisted Artist deliberations
- Selected Artists chosen
- Artist contracts with client developed
July 2026
- Selected Artists begin artwork fabrication
August 2027
- Artworks installed
- Artworks open to the public
Submissions
Professional artists and artistic teams are invited to respond to this RFQ by submitting a single PDF document via Google Forms. This PDF document must include:
- Artistic Statement – 1-page maximum. Outline your artistic experience, ability, approach and interest in this project, highlighting relevant experience. Please note any connection to or understanding of the neighbourhood in which the artworks would be installed. Do not include proposals at this stage of the competition.
- 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.
- Artistic Support Material – Maximum of ten (10) images of work. For each image, provide a title and image number.
- 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).
- References – Names and contact information (current email and phone number) for two (2) references (preferably from recent public art projects). Please identify their role and affiliation in the project. Reference letters are not required.
Additional artist/artist team information will also be required when filling out the Google Form.
Application Delivery and Deadline
Submissions must be received by January 18, 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 11:59 PM EST. All questions and responses will be posted to the call to artists website shortly after this date. Applicants who need accommodations or support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Collin Zipp at collin@stepspublicart.org at least 15 business days before the application deadline to allow STEPS to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.
The City of Brantford reserves the right to reject any or all submissions, or any part thereof, or to terminate or re-advertise the RFQ. The decision of the Selection Panel is final.
Contact
Collin Zipp, Public Art Manager
P: 1-888-783-7780 (ext. 704)
E: collin@stepspublicart.org
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