Call for Submissions: Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail 2027
Submit a sculptural work for temporary outdoor display on the Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail, with opportunities for open-air plinth installation, covered plinth installation, or large-scale installation in Spencer Smith Park.
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Get matched →- Deadline
- 29 days left
- Entry fee
- Free
- Award
- $1,000
- Location
- Spencer Smith Park, Burlington, Ontario, Canada
- Exhibition window
- Apr 10, 2027 → May 31, 2027
- Size cap
- ≤ 24" max dimension
About
Overview
The Burlington Waterfront Sculpture Trail (BWST) is a project of the Dan Lawrie International Sculpture Collection creating a 2.5km experience linking Spencer Smith Park and Downtown Burlington. The 2027 edition will feature 60 temporary sculptures and 10 large-scale and/or interactive installations by local, regional, and national artists. The trail will be fully accessible and free of admission for all to engage in.
Exhibition Opportunities
- Base (60 selections): Open-air works on 24″ x 24″ concrete plinths (30 selections) or covered works on 21″ x 21″ x 30″ plexiglass enclosures (30 selections)
- Large-scale installations (10 selections): Structurally sound works within Spencer Smith Park; BWST provides technical expertise, power, forklift, and platform lift
- Sculpture Inside (30 works): Small sculptures for sale at the Art Gallery of Burlington (April 22–May 5, 2027) on consignment with 65% return to artist, 35% commission to AGB
Technical Requirements
- Open-air plinths: Height not to exceed 8 feet, weight not to exceed 800 lbs, overhang not to exceed 24 inches, must be affixed with mount or anchors
- Covered plinths: Must fit within 21″ x 21″ x 30″ (tall) enclosure
- Large-scale installations: Structurally sound for public engagement; stamped engineered drawings required; artist responsible for transportation and installation
Compensation
- Open-air plinths: $1,000 exhibition fee per work
- Covered plinths: $750 exhibition fee per work
- Large-scale installations: $5,000–$15,000 exhibition fee per work
- Artists receive 100% of sales price, less 50% of exhibition fee (does not apply to Sculpture Inside consignment sales)
- Artists responsible for all transportation and material costs
Key Dates
- September 18, 2026, 5:00pm ET: Submission deadline
- September 2026: Selection of Curator Committee
- October 2026: Artist selection
- November 9, 2026: Documentation request for large-scale works
- November 30, 2026: Municipal approval confirmation
- January 15, 2027: Sculpture Inside submission deadline
- April 5–9, 2027: Installation of sculptures
- April 10–May 31, 2027: BWST Exhibition
- April 22–May 5, 2027: Sculpture Inside at AGB
- June 1–3, 2027: Removal of works
Submission Requirements
- 75-word artist/collective bio
- 75-word statement or description of submitted work (option to expand up to 4 pages)
- Artist Resume/CV (maximum 4 pages)
- 1–6 images of previous work
- 3–5 print
Programming
2027 BWST will host public engagement opportunities including four or more guided tours, two Friday Night Lights events, Family Fun Day programming, and ArtSpeaks™—an immersive AI tool developed with participating artists.
Selection Process
A Curator Committee of five community members will be selected in September to support the jurying process and provide DLISC with a shortlist of selected works by category. Engineering drawings may be requested for large-scale works; fees are covered by the exhibition fee.
- Award
- Exhibition fee: $1,000 for open-air plinths, $750 for covered plinths, $5,000–$15,000 for large-scale installations. 100% of sales returned to artist minus 50% of exhibition fee.
- Entry fee
- Exhibition fees: $1,000 per work for 30 open-air plinths, $750 per work for 30 covered plinths, $5,000–$15,000 per work for 10 large-scale installations. Artists are responsible for all transportation and material costs.
- Sales commission
- Organizer retains 35% on sales
- Theme
- Sculptural works are selected for their ability to engage with site, materiality, and context, and to encourage audiences to think differently about place, time, and the spaces we share.
- Eligibility
- Open to emerging and established artists; local, regional, and national artists encouraged to apply.
- Audience
- Emerging and established artists; local, regional, and national artists.
- Size & format
- Open-Air Plinths: 24″ x 24″ concrete base, height not to exceed 8 feet tall, overhang not to exceed 24 inches. Covered Plinths: 21″ x 21″ x 30″ (tall) enclosure. Large-scale installations: structurally sound for public engagement, no specific dimensions given.
- Also worth noting
- Open-Air Plinths: 24″ x 24″ concrete base, height not to exceed 8 feet tall, overhang not to exceed 24 inches. Covered Plinths: 21″ x 21″ x 30″ (tall) enclosure. Large-scale installations: structurally sound for public engagement, no specific dimensions given.
Every listing links to the organizer's official page. Always confirm deadlines, fees, and entry rules there before you apply.