Call to Artists: Atrium, Central Library
Submission Deadline: November 30, 2026, 11:59 EST
Total Budget: $200,000 - $300,000 +HST
Anticipated Installation: Fall 2027
Project Summary
The Guelph Public Library Board invites professional artists and artist-led teams to submit expressions of interest to create an original three-dimensional public artwork for the Atrium of Guelph’s new Central Library.
The Central Library will be a light-filled, 88,000 square foot, three storey building designed to accommodate future growth in Guelph by providing expanded collections, archives, and amenities such as community rooms, maker spaces, and digital resources.
The selected artwork will celebrate the community’s ongoing support of the Library and the dedicated work of the Guelph Public Library Board over the last 35 years. The artwork will become part of the City of Guelph Public Art Collection.
This call will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will select a shortlist of artists or artist teams. Those selected for Phase 2 will be provided with a fee to develop a detailed proposal for submission.
Please view project timeline and selection process and criteria for further details.
Project theme
The Atrium of the new Central Library is an impressive two-storey space filled with natural light — a place where people come together to connect, explore, and share in community life.
The Atrium is both a destination and a gateway to all that the Library offers: a place of belonging and social connection, a site of creativity and curiosity, and a hub for support and resources.
Art in the Atrium will have a strong physical presence and create a visual identity for the new Central Library, offering artists a unique opportunity to shape the experience of one of Guelph's defining cultural spaces.
As the creator of a signature, three-dimensional artwork in the Library, artists must consider how their art will:
- Invite wonder and joy
- Create a sense of place
- Inspire community connection
Artists must consider safety, durability, and ongoing maintenance requirements in their proposals. Selected artists will develop a Maintenance Plan in collaboration with City of Guelph staff to support the ongoing care of the piece.
Location
Visitors to the Library enter through the Atrium – an expansive, light-filled space, bookended by a two-storey window and a three-storey cascading staircase. The artwork will be central visual element in the Atrium, visible through the windows and from every floor within.
The Atrium
Approximate area of available space: 2058 ft2 (191 m2)
Dimensions: 71.2 ft x 28.9 ft (21.7 m x 8.8 m)
Ceiling Height: 26 ft (7.9 m)
Considerations
- Artwork may be interactive but must be durable, low maintenance, easy to clean, and vandalism resistant.
- Interventions that modify the building surfaces are possible but would be developed in collaboration/communication with the architectural team.
Eligibility requirements
Artists or artist-led teams whose primary place of residence is Canada and who are legally entitled to work in Canada, and Indigenous artists residing in or originating from the unceded territories now known as Canada, may qualify for this project.
Artists with limited experience in large-scale, structural, and/or technical work who wish to apply are encouraged to do so in collaboration with a team who can support those aspects.
Guelph Public Library Board members, Guelph Public Library employees, and City of Guelph employees are not eligible to apply. Arts and Culture Advisory Committee members may be eligible to apply but must contact the Cultural Program and Events Coordinator at the City of Guelph in advance of submission to discuss their proximity to the project and any potential conflict of interest. Fundraising activities are not eligible.
Project roles
The Guelph Public Library Board will:
- award a $200,000 - $300,000 +HST budget to the selected artist(s)
- recognize the selected artist(s) in project communications
- professionally photo-document and promote the project
- plan and host an unveiling event and/or associated programming
City of Guelph Staff will:
- provide administrative support throughout the commissioning, project planning, fabrication, and installation process
- coordinate site access, technical review, permits, and health and safety requirements
- support the development of a maintenance plan for the care of the artwork
- custodianship of the artwork within the City of Guelph Public Art Collection
The selected artist(s) will:
- establish the project vision, timeline and budget in consultation with the Guelph Public Library Board
- bring the project from concept to production, sub-contract trades and other creative collaborators, oversee fabrication, transport and installation
- communicate regularly with the Guelph Public Library Board and City of Guelph support staff, providing budget and project management updates
- deliver the project on time and within budget
- develop a maintenance plan for the ongoing care of the artwork in collaboration with City of Guelph support staff
- provide feedback on successes and challenges of the project when it concludes
Selection process and criteria
The awarded artist(s) will be chosen through a two-phase selection process:
- Phase 1 – Expression of Interest
- Phase 2 – Request for Proposals
The Guelph Public Library Board’s Public Art Committee will review all applications and recommend shortlisted candidates based on the selection criteria outlined below.
Phase 1 – Expression of Interest
Applicants should submit items listed below using the online submission form:
Expression of Interest (up to 500 words, maximum PDF size 2 MB)
Explain why this project is of interest to you. Share how your artistic practice connects to the project. Describe your preliminary vision for the artwork.
Experience and Qualifications (up to 3 pages, maximum PDF size 2 MB)
CV outlining your applicable professional accomplishments. For artist-led team applications, include a 3-page CV (maximum) for each team member and a cover letter that briefly explains everyone’s role.
Support materials (up to 10 pages, maximum PDF size 5 MB)
- 3 simple visual references sufficient to illustrate the artists’ preliminary vision for the artwork (e.g. sketch, rendering, palette and/or material choices, etc.). We are not requesting fully developed image concepts are this time.
- 7 examples of past/current artistic work. Under each image, include the following details: title, year produced, medium, dimensions, location, budget (if applicable), and brief description.
- For artist-led teams we are only requesting 7 total examples of past/current work.
- Re: budget, we are interested in understanding the scope/scale of past works. Only include budget numbers that have been shared publicly.
Letters of Reference (formatted as PDFs)
Two (2) letters of support connected to previous public art projects, including a contact name, title, organization, email address, and phone number.
Please include only the items listed above. Additional materials will not be reviewed.
Phase 1 – Evaluation criteria
Following industry standard practice and professional guidelines, Phase 1 submissions will be evaluated on:
Expression of Interest (artists’ interest, connection, vision for artwork) = 35%
Artistic Vibrancy of past/current artwork = 30%
Experience and Qualifications as demonstrated by CVs = 25%
Successful Track Record as demonstrated by Letters of Reference = 10%
Up to 5 shortlisted artists or artist-led teams will be invited to develop their concept proposals in a second submission. They will be compensated with a $2,500 +HST honorarium.
Shortlisted artists/artist-led teams will be invited to visit the Atrium of the new Central Library to better understand the aesthetic and technical parameters of the space and to ask questions about the project or the application process.
The site visit will be guided by members of the Guelph Public Library Board Public Art Committee and supported by Library/City staff.
Phase 2 – Request for Proposals
During Phase 2, applicants will be provided with submission requirements that will be ranked by the Guelph Public Library Board Public Art Committee on the following criteria:
Artistic vibrancy of the proposed artwork = 60%
In the context of this project, artistic vibrancy is defined as:
- Concept – idea and aesthetic in response to the theme = 20%
- Execution – design and craftsmanship of the physical artwork = 20%
- Experience – how visitors interact with the artwork = 20%
Feasibility = 40%
- Budget and Timeline (use of funds and project management) = 20%
Technical (choice of materials, functionality, installation, ease of maintenance, durability) = 20%
Projected timeline
- October 7, 2026 – Call to Artists / Project Launch
- October 20, 2026, 6 p.m. – Online Information Session (optional)
- November 30, 2026 – Submission Deadline: Phase 1
- December 14-18, 2026 – Shortlisted artists notified
- January 4-8, 2027 – Site visit and project brief at the Central Library
- February 8, 2027 – Submission Deadline: Phase 2
- March 1, 2027 – Notice sent to successful artist(s)
- March 8-12, 2027 – Contract administration
- April to September 2027– Fabrication (~ 6 months)
- September 2027 – Approximate project completion
- October 2027 – Project Installation
- October to November 2027: Project Unveiling & Celebration Period
This timeline is subject to change and will be discussed in collaboration with the successful artist(s).
Compensation
The artist’s project budget is $300,000 +HST and includes, but is not limited to:
- Artist fees (designing, creating, producing, and installing the artwork)
- Production (materials, equipment, fabrication, shipping, and other services)
- Studio space, travel, and accommodation, where necessary
- Installation of artwork
- Any required insurance
The project budget will be managed by the artist, in consultation with the Guelph Public Library Board Public Art Committee and with administrative support from the City of Guelph.
Disbursements will be made throughout the project on a mutually agreed schedule.
The compensation terms are informed by the Public Art Minimum Recommended Fee Schedule — CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation / Le Front des artistes canadiens).
General provisions
Personal information
Personal information, as defined under the Municipal Freedom of lnformation and Protection of Privacy Act ("MFIPPA"), is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act, 2001, and in accordance with the provisions of MFIPPA. Personal information will be used for the purpose of administrating the Guelph Public Library Board public art project. If you have any questions regarding that purpose, contact the Information and Access Coordinator at 519-822-1260 x2349 or privacy@guelph.ca
Conflict of interest
All applicants must disclose any potential conflicts of interest in their submission, including any which may involve personal or professional relationships with members of the selection committee, the Guelph Public Library Board, Guelph Public Library staff, or City of Guelph staff.
Consent
Shortlisted applicants will be required to enter into an agreement with the Guelph Public Library Board to advance to Phase 2 of the competition and to receive the shortlisted artist honorarium.
The successful artist(s) will enter into an agreement with the Guelph Public Library Board. On notification of being awarded the project, the artist(s) will have a seven-day period to finalize and sign the agreement.
Reserved rights
The Guelph Public Library Board Public Art Committee is not obliged to accept any of the submissions and reserves the right to not recommend any proposal or finalist and to terminate or re-advertise the project.
About the Guelph Public Library
The offers inclusive, sustainable spaces, and opportunities for people to engage their curiosity and create community. For more on the community engagement process that contributed to the development of this commission, check out the Library’s New Central Library webpage.
City of Guelph Public Art Collection
The City of Guelph recognizes that art in public places is an important aspect of culturally vibrant cities. Through public art we celebrate our culture and heritage, reflect our diversity, express shared values and define our unique identity.
Public Art | City of Guelph / Public Art Policy | City of Guelph
For more information or to request accommodation, contact
Cultural Program and Events Coordinator
culture@guelph.ca
519-836-1221 extension 3652
TTY 519-826-9771