“The process was very easy! STEPS was the one-point contact so we didn’t have to go through the process of finding and working with an artist and communicating with the Councillor.”
Need art for your hoarding exhibit?
PATCH (also known as Public Art Through Construction Hoarding) is our industry gold standard service to help you meet legislated requirements for your next construction site.
Through our connections with City of Toronto Councillors and artists, as well as professional expertise in public art management, we expedite the process to get your permits approved and development projects started. Whew!
How does it work? Well, we:
- Prepare a Hoarding Exhibit Plan that we submit to the City of Toronto
- Hire artists to work on your project
- Navigate a complex bylaw process so you can put your focus elsewhere
- Lead community engagements and consultations
- Help produce the artwork for your construction hoarding
- Document it all with professional photography, so you can use it in your marketing
Worry about nothing, ‘cause we do it all!
Colour Paths (Concert Properties)
Artist Credit: Yasaman Mehrsa
Photo Credit: Mila Bright Zlatanovic
What outcomes can you expect?
- A seamless process so you can move forward quickly with construction staging permits
- Artwork that reflects your vision and the surrounding community
- A professional and beautiful hoarding exhibit that markets your brand and development project so your business can be seen as the leader you are
Ready to get started? Book a call with our team today!
If you’re an artist, please contact us through the artist form
What’s an example of construction hoarding artwork?
Looking forward to the future: Right the Future
Markham, Ontario
Sparking joy and hope: Comm(unity)
Toronto, Ontario
Community love stories:
Love Letters
Toronto, Ontario
Let’s transform your construction site into public art
Hiring us to elevate your brand or meet bylaw requirements for your construction hoarding is easy and straightforward. Follow the steps below and you’ll be off to the races.
Step 1: Reflect
Think about your hoarding exhibit goals. Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to learn more about PATCH and services available (such as shortlisting artists and facilitating city approval of exhibit plans).
Step 2: Book
Use the Book a Call function on the website to schedule a call with a member of our Agency team.
Note: Are you an artist? We have a space just for you! Please contact us through the artist form.
Step 3: Prep
Check your email and make sure the call is in your calendar. Don’t forget to prepare–come with your goals, dreams, and timeline so we can help you best.
Step 4: Attend
Attend the call. During this time, we’ll determine whether your project is a good fit for what we offer. If it is, we’ll recommend the next steps.
Step 5: Celebrate!
We look forward to working with you and your team.
Ready to get started? Book a call with our team today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is construction hoarding?
Construction hoarding is the temporary barrier between a construction site and the public to keep communities and passersby safe. Types of construction hoarding include fencing, aluminum composite panels and plywood.
At STEPS, we have experience across different types of hoarding materials and we help you shortlist artists who can create artwork that suits your site. We figure out the logistics so you don’t have to. To learn more, book a call with us today.
Why is there art on construction hoarding sites?
Already a legislated city bylaw requirement in Toronto, Canada, public art is encouraged on construction sites in cities around the world. Depending on your city’s site requirements, you may also have to meet certain public art requirements to get your construction project approved.
We’ve been part of 100+ City of Toronto approvals and we’ll help you facilitate the same process with our strong connections to local councillors. Our service also includes preparing a Hoarding Exhibit Plan to the City of Toronto, hiring artists, producing the hoarding exhibit, and documenting the artwork. Book a call with us today to learn more.
Why should I hire STEPS Public Art for my construction hoarding exhibit?
The main benefits of working with us are that we:
- Understand the bylaw process and navigate it for you so you can stay out of the weeds
- Present a Hoarding Exhibit Plan that we submit to the City of Toronto so everything meets requirements
- Hire artists to work on your project through our extensive network
- Lead community engagements and consultations if required for your hoarding project
- Facilitate the production of your custom artwork for the hoarding exhibit
- Document it all with professional photography, so you can use it in your marketing
- Manage the process from start to finish so you can focus on other things
What does PATCH stand for?
PATCH stands for Public Art Through Construction Hoarding. Depending on your city’s legislation, your construction project can have specific public art requirements in order for the development to start. PATCH is a service offered by STEPS that connects developers, builders, and marketing firms with artists to create public art for their hoarding sites. We like to see them as accessible hoarding exhibits for the community to enjoy while effectively marketing your brand. Learn more by booking a call with our team.
I’m a developer and I need to include community engagement as part of the construction hoarding project. Does STEPS offer support in this area?
Yes! At STEPS, community engagement is what sets us apart–we believe public art on hoarding sites should reflect the diverse communities that live, work, and play around them. We have experience hosting community engagement in various ways, including calls for local artists, community consultations and surveys, participatory workshops, unveiling celebrations and events, and more.
If you want to incorporate the local community into your hoarding project, we want to work with you. Book a call to brainstorm ideas and get your project started.
I’m a developer interested in hiring artists to bring public art to a construction hoarding site. How do I get started?
Getting started is easy.
Step 1: Think about your hoarding exhibit goals, needs, and timeline.
Step 2: Use the Book a Call function on the website to schedule a call with a member of our Agency team.
Step 3: Check your email and make sure the call is in your calendar. Don’t forget to prepare–come with your goals, dreams, and timeline so we can help you best.
Step 4: Attend the call. During this time, we’ll determine whether your project is a good fit for what we offer. If it is, we’ll recommend the next steps.
Step 5: We look forward to working with you and your team.
I’m an artist and I’m interested in having my artwork displayed on a PATCH Hoarding Exhibit. How can I work with STEPS?
Glad you stumbled upon our PATCH service and thank you for your interest! Artists are the heart of what we do–we want to create and find public art opportunities for artists that are meaningful, equitably paid, and support artistic growth.
We have an Artists page dedicated to calls for artists and programs facilitated by STEPS, as well as external public art opportunities. We also encourage you to follow us on social media (@STEPSPublicArt) to stay engaged!
Ready to get started? Book a call with our team today!