Call for Expressions of Interest: Permanent Public Art for Dave Ryan Park, City of Pickering

Overview

The City of Pickering invites artists or artist teams to create permanent outdoor public artwork for Dave Ryan Park. The successful artist/artist team will be selected through a two-stage process, with one artist/artist team awarded the opportunity. As per the City of Pickering's Public Art Policy, an artist is defined as the designer/creator of an artistic work and can include a professional artist, graphic designer, collaborative team, architect or landscape designer.

Project Brief

Dave Ryan Community Park will be located at the southeast corner of Mulberry Lane and Alexander Knox Road and will include a full-size lit soccer pitch, lit ball diamond, tennis/pickleball courts, half-court basketball, large junior and senior playground, water play area, on-site parking lot, and a washroom/fieldhouse. The City is seeking integrated functional public artwork in the area adjacent to the fieldhouse building that combines artistic expression with a practical purpose such as seating, lighting, wayfinding elements, gathering spaces, or landscape features, and reflects themes of community building, expansion, and growth.

Key Dates

• Submission Deadline: November 6, 2026, 4pm ET
• Public Art Jury Meeting (shortlisted presentations): March 31, 2027

Eligibility

The City of Pickering actively encourages and welcomes applications from Indigenous Peoples and equity-deserving communities including women, persons with disabilities, racialized persons, persons who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, and other diverse communities.

Compensation

$60,000.00 CAD (including HST) is the total amount available for all related expenses of this public art project including, but not limited to: up to three (3) rounds of revisions, artist fees, all applicable taxes, detailed renderings, materials, technical consultations, community consultation, foundation and approvals or other expertise as required (engineering review), fabrication, installation, insurance, equipment, travel to meetings and to the site, conservation plan, and an artist statement for completed work.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) – A public art jury comprised of practicing arts professionals, project stakeholders and community members will evaluate submissions. The Jury will select a short-list of three (3) artists/artist teams for Stage 2. Stage 2: Request for Proposal (RFP) – Each of the three (3) artists/artist teams will be compensated $1,500 CAD including HST for their time and the creation of concept. The top three (3) artists/teams will be required to present their concept to the jury at the March 31, 2027 Public Art Jury Meeting.