Call to Artists: Children’s Area, Central Library
Submission deadline: November 27, 2026, 11:59 EST
Total budget: $250,000 CAD +HST (if applicable)
Anticipated installation: Fall 2027
Project summary
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library invite experienced and qualified artists and artist-led teams to submit an Expression of Interest to create an original public artwork for the Children’s Area within Guelph’s new Central Library.
The Central Library is a light-filled, 88,000 square foot, three story 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library over the past 22 years. The artwork will become part of the City of Guelph’s 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 an honorarium to develop a detailed proposal for submission.
Please view projected timeline and selection process and criteria for further detail.
Project theme
The Children’s Area at the new Central Library is a multi-purpose space designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning. Welcoming, accessible, and filled with opportunities for discovery, the space offers engaging collections, interactive experiences, and comfortable areas for reading, play, and connection.
Created with children (aged 0-12) and caregivers in mind, the Children’s Area is a vibrant community hub where curiosity is nurtured, imagination can flourish, and every child feels inspired to explore.
This commission offers artists a unique opportunity to create contemporary art for children. The artwork will be an original piece of public art that is imaginative, joyful, and inspires child-led engagement.
The artwork will create a strong visual identity for the Children's Area. It will be visible from the street to passersby, serving as an invitation to enter and explore, and helping to establish the Children’s Area as a beloved repeat destination for years to come.
- Artists must consider how the artwork will shape the experience of children and caregivers by:
- Sparking curiosity, delight, and creative play
- Inviting accessible and inclusive ways of engaging with the art
- Inspiring repeat visits
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
The Children’s Area is a light-filled, highly modular, programmatic space, framed on two sides by floor-to-ceiling windows. The artwork will be visible to passersby from the roadway adjacent to the library building. The space hosts a range of experiences, including storytelling, gathering, and play.
Approximate area of available space: 556 ft2 (51.7 m2)
Ceiling Height: 12.3ft (3.7 m)
Approximate dimensions of windowed walls (including dividers):
West: 11.4ft high x 55.7ft long (3.5m high x 16.9 m long)
South: 11.4ft high x 29.5 ft long (3.5m high x 8.9 m long)
Art in the play area
Uses of the space: active play and exploration
Features: large corner windows, natural light, open space, visible from the street
Furniture: comfortable chairs
Considerations
- Large corner windows provide natural light and street-level visibility. Artists are invited to consider how the artwork might preserve and/or enhance the quality of the light and provide privacy for children and caregivers.
- Artwork will be visible from the street during the day and at night. Artists are invited to consider how interior lighting might be a material and/or experiential component of the work.
- Artwork will be a piece of contemporary art designed for a young audience, not a climbing structure.
- Children will play in the vicinity of the artwork. The art must be durable, low maintenance, and easy to clean.
- Interventions that modify the building surfaces are possible but would be developed in collaboration/communication with the architectural team.
Areas adjacent to the artwork
A: Storytime Room
Uses of the space: nesting, reading, imagining, quiet play
Features: large windows, natural light, recessed circular wall nooks
Furniture: portable stools, comfortable chairs
B: Children’s Lounge
Uses of the space: gathering, reading, snacking, tabletop play, tutoring and homework help, board games
Features: large windows, adjacent to book stacks
Furniture: portable tables and chairs
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.
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library, 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library, in collaboration with the Guelph Public Library, will:
- award a $250,000 +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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library
- bring the project from concept to production, sub-contract trades and other creative collaborators, oversee fabrication, transport and installation
- communicate regularly with the Friends of the Guelph Public Library 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library 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 at 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 Children’s Area 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library 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 children and caregivers 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 19, 2026, 6 p.m. – Online Information Session (optional)
- November 27, 2026 – Submission Deadline: Phase 1
- December 14-18, 2026 – Shortlisted artists notified
- January 11-15, 2027 – Site visit and project brief at the Central Library
- February 16, 2027 – Submission Deadline: Phase 2
- March 3, 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 – 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 $250,000 +HST (if applicable) 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library public art project. If you have any questions regarding that purpose, contact the City of Guelph 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, Friends of the Guelph Public Library, Guelph Public Library staff, or City of Guelph staff.
Consent
Shortlisted applicants will be required to enter into an agreement with the Friends of the Guelph Public Library 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library. 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 Friends of the Guelph Public Library 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.
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library is a volunteer organization that supports and promotes the Guelph Public Library through fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement. Originally conceived as an organization to advocate for a new library 22 years ago, the Friends have collectively raised over $1.3 million through their annual Book Sale, the first million of which was donated to the completion of the New Central Library. The Friends continue to play a vital role in supporting and ensuring that Guelph’s public library system thrives as a place for learning, culture, and community connection.
Guelph Public Library
The Guelph Public Library 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 with this application contact:
Friends of the Guelph Public Library
c/o Cultural Program and Events Coordinator
culture@guelph.ca
519-836-1221 extension 3652
TTY 519-826-9771