City of Peterborough Invites Artists and Residents to Shape Public Art Projects

Peterborough artists, designers, creators and residents are invited to help create and shape the artistic experience through various projects in the City of Peterborough. 

file photo.

The City is launching several new projects focusing on public art, including a vinyl mural project at the Peterborough Transit Terminal, a Request for Proposals for digital artwork and the creation of a Public Art Jury.  

Public Art at the Peterborough Transit Terminal

Artists and artist collectives are invited to submit an Expression of Interest for a public art project at the Peterborough Transit Terminal.  

This project involves applying vinyl murals to the Terminal’s exterior concrete columns and façade surfaces. The artwork will improve wayfinding, help users identify entrances, pathways and key areas and enhance safety and accessibility.  

This public art project is part of an infrastructure upgrade at the Terminal, partly funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.  

Expressions of interest must be submitted by Feb. 23 at 4 p.m.  

Request for Proposals Open to Artists, Designers, Creators 

Local artists, designers and creators are invited to submit a proposal for the creation of an original, scalable digital artwork to support the City’s Culture and Sport Tourism marketing, communications and merchandise initiatives.   

The selected artist will be commissioned to create one original digital artwork that can be adapted and reproduced across a wide range of applications, including:  

• Apparel and merchandise 

• Printed promotional materials 

• Digital marketing and communications 

• Event branding and tourism campaigns 

Proposals must be submitted by Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. 

Join the Public Art Jury 

The City is seeking knowledgeable and passionate individuals to serve as members of its Public Art Jury.  

The five-member Public Art Jury will be responsible for reviewing and scoring artist submissions for public art projects, participate in meetings as required, provide professional and lived experience in making recommendations and support the City’s Public Art Policy. Jury members will make recommendations to the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.  

Selected Jury members will receive an honorarium for participating in meetings and reviews for up to six different art projects during the year.  

The deadline to apply is Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. 

For more information on these local art projects, including how to apply, visit the City’s website.

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City of Peterborough Community Activities for National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month 2023

Activities are being held throughout the community, including at City of Peterborough facilities, for residents to take part in National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month in June.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

Highlights from the activities at City of Peterborough facilities:

Art Gallery of Peterborough

250 Crescent St.

• Exhibition: Special Project: Tea with the Queens, June 7 to June 29, 2023

• Opening reception for new exhibitions, June 7, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

• Afternoon Tea with the Queens, June 11 and 14, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and June 11, 13, and 22, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• Indigenous Day Celebrations at Hiawatha First Nation: Art Gallery of Peterborough tent; June 17, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Peterborough Public Library

345 Aylmer St. N.

• PA Day Family Movie: Indigenous Cinema Shorts for Children, June 9, 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

• Crafternoon: Beaded Rings with Malinda Gray, June 10, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

• Teen Book Club: Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley, June 13, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Sunset Story Time with Betty Baker, June 16, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

• Non-fiction Book Club: Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jesse Wente, June 20, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Summer Solstice Story Time, National Indigenous Peoples Day at Millennium Park, 130 King St., June 21, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• 10 Indigenous Titles You Should Read this Month featured at the Seniors Showcase, Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr., June 21, 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

• Tween Book Club: Barren Grounds by David Robertson, June 22, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Friday Film & Discussion: Voices Across the Water, June 23, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Adult Book Club: A Minor Chorus by Billy-Ray Belcourt, June 27, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

• Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Legacy Space, open during library hours

Peterborough Museum and Archives

300 Hunter St. E.

• ‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales’ exhibit, open during museum hours until mid-November

• Quillwork Workshops, June 21, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., registration required

• Pride Flag Scavenger Hunt, during open hours all through June

• Pride Craft based on the book ‘My Rainbow’ and Stories station, during open hours all through June

• Indigenous Day Kids Crafts, June 21, during open hours

• Interpretive tours of the ‘To Honour and Respect: Gifts from the Michi Saagiig Women to the Prince of Wales’ exhibit, available June 21, watch for details on the Museum website and social media

The City of Peterborough’ s Public Art Program invites you to visit The Nogojiwanong Project

The Nogojiwanong Project, located at the south end of Millennium Park, was a collaboration undertaken in the spirit of kinship between local First Nations, Indigenous peoples, and the City of Peterborough in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20. Through the collaboration, this gathering space was created to encourage learning and reflection with a series of interpretive panels highlighting the evolution of local treaties and inherent rights of Indigenous peoples. The “Gathering” provides the focal point for the space.

Michael Belmore’s, entitled “Gathering,” complements the panels and anchors the space. It consists of a grouping of glacial erratic boulders, carved, lined with copper, and fitted so that they sit slightly apart and seemingly radiate heat. The stones are embellished with the Treaty 20 Clan Totems or Dodems as they are called in Anishinaabemowin.

Nogojiwanong is an Anishinaabe word meaning “place at the foot of the rapids” and the name given to the gathering place, at the bottom of a turbulent stretch of the Otonabee River, renamed Peterborough by European settlers.

Millennium Park forms the present-day landfall and eddy along the western shoreline. It is also the site of the trailhead to the Chemong Portage – a six- or seven-mile historic footpath between the Otonabee River and Chemong Lake.

The Nogojiwanong Project location acknowledges these ancestral lands and the thousands of years the Michi Saagiig navigated this route between their winter camps and traditional fishing grounds at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on Lake Ontario.

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Call For Expressions of Interest; The Road Mural Mentorship Program

Expressions of interest for the City of Peterborough Public Art Program peer mentorship program are due by May 1.

photo courtesy of the city of peterborough.

The Road Mural Mentorship Program seeks applications from local professional artists interested in gaining hands-on experience in planning and developing a large-scale public artwork. Ten artist mentees will be selected and work directly with mentors on the 2023 road murals. This is a paid mentorship opportunity.

Applications from artists and cultural practitioners living in Peterborough City, Peterborough County, Hiawatha First Nation, and Curve Lake First Nation are welcome.

The application deadline is May 1 at 4 p.m. All applications must be submitted online.

The call for expressions of interest for the program and more information about the program parameters with tips about the application process are on the City’s Public Art webpage.

The Renaissance on Hunter public art projects are administered and funded through the City of Peterborough’s Public Art Program and presented in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement Area and GreenUP.

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‘Get Your Art On’ at Mount Community Centre’s Art and Craft Exhibition and Sale

Join the Mount Community Centre for the 7th annual ‘Get Your Art On’ exhibition and sale of local arts and crafts at Austin Doran Hall at The Mount Community Centre May 12 to 14.

photo courtesy of the mount community centre, facebook.

Paintings, photography, pottery, sculpturing, woodworking and more will be on display and for sale.

“There are numerous artists and crafts people coming to display and sell their works,” says Hartley Stephenson, local artist and event organizer. “The items are unique and specially designed to please the buyer. Attendees are bound to find something that will interest them and be a perfect gift for Mother’s Day celebrations.”

The Mother’s Day Weekend exhibition and sale will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Friday, May 12 to Sunday, May 14 at the Mount Community Centre (1545 Monaghan Rd.)

This event is free admission, and 10 per cent of all profits will go to The Mount Community Centre’s ongoing commitment to providing affordable housing and food security.

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A Crafter’s Dream: ARTISANity Show and Sale Hits Peterborough Square

Spring is in the air, and with it the return of Spring ARTISANity 2023 from April 28 to 29.

photo courtesy of the ARTISAN centre.

ARTISANity will be taking place Friday, April 28 from noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the lower level of Peterborough Square (across from the Artisans Centre.)

The show and sale will feature the beautiful, hand-crafted works of local artisans. fibre arts, gourd arts, woodturning, pottery and jewelry will all be available.

One hour free parking is available on April 28 and all day free parking on April 29.

For more information, visit the website.

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Jason Wilkins and Peterborough Arts Collective Present Canvas Combat Event

The Peterborough Arts Collective (PAC) is hosting their first big event outside of the Jason Wilkins Factory; presenting the head-to-head artist battle ‘Canvas Combat’ on March 11.

Photo courtesy of Jason Wilkins.

From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Farmhill Weddings and Events, 10 artists will battle it out in three 30-minute rounds of live painting.

PAC members and other community artists will also be showing work during the event, displayed on the exposed brick wall next to the combat zone.

“This is a really passion project of mine, and giving artist’s a platform that they can use to promote their work, sell their work and sort of elevate themselves as artists is kind of what the Arts Collective is all about,” says Wilkins. “Events like this really just bring that whole idea to the next level.”

The Peterborough Arts Collective, founded by local illustrator Jason Wilkins, is a group of multi-disciplinary artists from Peterborough working to better themselves and the community through art.  

PAC has gained momentum since it's inception in 2021. With community support, the group of artists continue to come together to make art and collaboration accessible to all.

Photo courtesy of Jason Wilkins.

Wilkins says five of the 10 spots are already spoken for, but those interested in battling or showing off their work can reach out to him via email.

Tickets are $75 dollars each, which includes one drink at the bar (or non-alcoholic beverage) and a personal charcuterie board (or vegan/vegetarian option), as well as travel to and from the venue by Pascal Bus Co., leaving from 188 Hunter St W. at 6:15 p.m. March 11, with two retiring trips downtown at different times throughout the evening. 

All pieces will be up for auction post-battle with 100% of the proceeds going to the artists.

During the rest of the month the collective hosts workshops, First Friday events, artist drop-ins and PAC meetings at the Jason Wilkins Factory. Those interested in learning more can call Jason, or drop in during business hours at Unit #7, 188 Hunter St W).

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Hearts 4 Joy Opens Artisan Shoppe in Charlotte Mews

Hearts 4 Joy is celebrating the grand opening of their new Artisan Shoppe in Charlotte Mews on Feb. 11. 

Photo by Angela O’Grady.

Program membership has since extended from 8 artists to 13 artists with intellectual exceptionalities as they have found a space to create and sell. 

Hearts 4 Joy is a non-profit organization serving those over 21 who live with intellectual exceptionalities.

Those who wish to visit the shop can do so from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Artists Selected for Peterborough’s Indoor-Outdoor Art Project

Four local artists have been selected for the City of Peterborough’s latest public art project Indoor-Outdoor, which will integrate artwork into parks, recreation facilities and other City buildings.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

The call for submissions sought original new, recent or past works for indoor facilities, and was open to professional artists and cultural practitioners living in the City of Peterborough, County of Peterborough, Hiawatha First Nation or Curve Lake First Nation.  

Stage one of the project, Indoor, will be completed in early 2023. Stage two, Outdoor, will be completed later in the year.

City Public Art Projects are reviewed by selection committees composed of five community members with interests or expertise in contemporary art, architecture, design, engineering, history and/or cultural tourism. The members of the Indoor-Outdoor selection committee were Miguel Hernandez, Leslie Menagh, and Jon Lockyer from the community at large, and Su Ditta and Julia Kady Denton from the City’s Arts and Culture Advisory Committee.

This committee selected artworks by artists Cassandra Lee, John Climenhage, Brooklin Holbrough and Jeffrey Macklin.

“The Indoor-Outdoor project, which allows for the display of art in unexpected places, was made possible by a resolution passed by the Council in November 2021. The goal of this project is to support local artists and enhance the community by bringing art to a wider audience. The success of this project is evaluated not only by the benefits it brings to artists, but also by the pleasure it brings to the many people who will experience the artworks,” said chair of Council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Portfolio Councillor Alex Bierk.  

The artworks are set to be installed this winter and displayed at City Hall, Kinsmen Civic Centre, Healthy Planet Arena and the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre for a term of one year to eighteen months.

The artworks will rotate between sites at the end of each term, and the indoor artworks will be mounted in the main foyers of each facility.

For more information on the City of Peterborough’s indoor-Outdoor art project, visit the website.

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Peterborough Public Art Program Calling For 'Indoor-Outdoor' Project Art Submissions

The City of Peterborough Public Art Program is reminding artists in the community that the deadline for ‘Indoor-Outdoor’ art project submissions is Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.

File Photo.

The two-stage public art project plans to integrate artwork created by local artists into City spaces such as parks, recreation facilities and downtown City Hall. Stage one (Indoor) will be completed early next year and stage two (Outdoor) will be completed later in the year.

The program is looking for new, recent or past two-dimensional original works to be considered for the program. A selection committee will discuss each application and select four artworks; considering artistic merit, relevance and feasibility. The commission value for each artwork is $4,500.

The four selected artworks will be installed and displayed for twelve to eighteen months at either City Hall, Kinsmen Civic Centre, Healthy Planet Arena or the Sport and Wellness Centre, rotating the works between sites at the end of each term.

The Indoor artworks will be mounted on the main foyers of each facility.

More information about the project can be found on the City’s Public Art website.

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Applications Open For Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program 2022

The Electric City Culture Council is offering the Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program for Post-Secondary Studies in the Visual Arts.

The Bierk Art Foundation was established in 2006 in honour of Liz Bierk, an avid supporter and advocate for the arts. Photo courtesy of Electric City Culture Council.

This bursary is open to Peterborough high school students completing Grade 12 in 2022, who plan to undertake post-secondary studies at a provincially accredited institution in the visual arts during the 2022-23 academic year.

It is made possible with support from the Bierk Art Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. This is the fourth time EC3 has provided this program of support for young artists.

The Bierk Art Fund Bursary Program will provide two bursaries of $1,000 each to graduating high school students in the City or County of Peterborough (including Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations) whose work demonstrates great promise and who have a serious commitment to pursuing further studies at the post-secondary level in the visual arts.

Students present their work (including, but not limited to portfolios) to a jury panel comprised of arts professionals. The two successful candidates will be announced immediately and celebrated at this year’s Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts at the Peterborough Arts Awards on Sept. 30.

Eligible applicants must complete a Bierk Art Fund Bursary Application Form and send it back to bierkartfundbursaries@gmail.com before the deadline, May 26 at 11:59 p.m.

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from EC3’s Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock, with a designated appointment time and Zoom link to meet with the jury panel for a Portfolio Review during the week of May 30 to June 5.

Appointments are 30 minutes. The jury will choose two winners after meeting with all of the applicants. All applicants will be assessed on the same criteria.

Winners will be announced on June 7.

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