Call For Artists: Downtown Mural Project
Are you an artist located in Stratford, Ontario, or with a strong connection to the city, who has experience painting outdoor wall murals? The Downtown Stratford BIA is seeking an artist for a public art installation animating the east-facing wall of 118 Ontario St. Eligible artists are invited to submit expressions of interest and qualifications through the online form HERE by June 30, 2026 at 5pm.
About Downtown Stratford
Downtown Stratford endeavors to be a community where Public Art is innovative, diverse, and accessible; creating vibrant public spaces and meaningful connections while complementing the heritage core, celebrating local community talents, showcasing Stratford’s diverse stories and experiences and beautifying public spaces to enhance the city’s reputation as a cultural destination.
Downtown Stratford is known for its distinctive heritage and character with the area home to historic Victorian-style brick buildings and a main street that is home to more than 300 businesses. Tourism is one of Stratford’s most significant economic drivers due to its picturesque setting and the presence of the Stratford Festival which draws over 500,000 visitors a year.
During the process of building our Public Art Plan in 2023, it was revealed that there is a strong desire to further invest in public art initiatives and infrastructure that builds a more robust and inclusive public art ecosystem that is a draw for both visitors and residents.
Theme of Project
Project Details and Requirements
Location: 118 Ontario Street, Stratford (wall facing East adjacent to the parking lot)
Production Timeline: Production will take place by end of September 2026
Number of Artists Selected: One (1)
Artist Qualifications: We are seeking professional artists who:
- Have a connection to the Stratford community
- Have a minimum of 1-2 years of mural production experience using exterior paint and aerosols
- Are available to paint on site during the production timeline
- Have ‘working at heights’ experience and certification or willing to take a course in advance of production time
- Artists who identify as Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, and/or people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply
Compensation
Artist Fee: $8500.00 CDN (including HST). Material cost, equipment rental, and insurance will be covered by the BIA. Accommodations (if necessary) will be discussed.
Selection Process
Artist applications will be reviewed based on past artistic excellence, expressed written interest, and other professional criteria.
Proposals will not be considered during Stage 1 of the selection process.
The jury will recommend a shortlist of up to three artists to move to Stage 2. If selected for Stage 2, shortlisted candidates will be provided with a fee of $650 CDN (inclusive of taxes and all expenses) for the development of a detailed artist proposal following discussion with the BIA on the concept.
Submission Requirements
Deadline to Apply: June 30, 2026 by 5 pm
Submissions must include:
Images of past work: minimum of five and maximum of 10 images
Contact information (name, preferred pronouns, full address, email, phone number, website if applicable)
Letter of intent (maximum two pages) describing artistic practice, experience, and interest in the project
Artist CV(s) (maximum two pages per artist)
