The city is looking for submissions for a public art project to be placed at the corner of Wilson Street and Gordon Street outside the Guelph Farmer's Market.
The commissioned project is part of the Wilson Street reconstruction project, the city said in a news release.
The chosen artist will receive $90,000 for the final design, production and installation of the art. Artworks in a variety of media and installation methods will be considered.
The city is accepting requests for pre-qualifications (RFPQ) where artists (individuals or teams) submit their resume and references, digital images of past works, and a letter that outlines their preliminary vision for the project. The deadline for that is Jan. 29.
Three finalists will be chosen by the selection committee. Each of the three finalists will receive a $1,500 honorarium to develop their final concepts followed by an interview and presentation opportunity.The selection committee will recommend one final concept to the City Council-appointed Public Art Advisory Committee for their consideration and approval.
The city currently has 22 permanent pieces of public art in its collection – the oldest being The Blacksmith Statue and Fountain, installed in 1885. The newest addition, installed in 2015, is Ruth Abernethy’s bronze sculpture of Colonel John McCrae entitled Remember Flanders.
For more details visit the website.
“We are very excited about the launch of this public art project,” says Stacey Dunnigan, the City’s manager of culture and tourism in the release. “This opportunity furthers our goals of animating public space and creating new opportunities for the appreciation of public art while growing the City’s official collection.”
“This is a unique opportunity to raise the profile of one of the most important intersections in our city,” added Dunnigan. “The corner of Wilson Street and Gordon Street has been a focal point of travel in and out of the city’s downtown core for over 150 years, and a perfect spot for public art to be on display.”
