Organizer Information
Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, is a leading research-intensive university dedicated to advancing knowledge and fostering community engagement. The Toppling Monuments project is led by a collaborative research team at Queen’s University, supported by the Wicked Ideas Fund and the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). The project aims to examine the effects of Kingston’s colonial heritage on the health and well-being of Indigenous and racialized minority communities, fostering research-informed
public art interventions. A key component of this initiative is community participation through consultation with an Advisory Circle of Indigenous and racialized community leaders, ensuring the work resonates with local perspectives while fostering inclusion, representation, and restorative healing.
Title & Description
“Toppling Monuments” Artist Competition Permanent Outdoor Public Artwork
Queen’s University invites applications from individual artists or artist groups to design and deliver a permanent outdoor artwork that engages with the themes of belonging, representation, celebration, and restorative healing. The
selected artist or group will collaborate closely with the university research team and the Advisory Circle to ensure that the artwork reflects findings from the ongoing Toppling Monuments research.
The commissioned artwork will be installed at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in Kingston, Ontario, as a 6-meter (20-ft) concrete roundabout base. The project emphasizes community engagement, site-specific design, and the use of durable materials such as stone or concrete. The process incorporates community consultation, public display of proposals, and iterative refinement in collaboration with experts and community stakeholders. Artists will have the opportunity to create a high-profile public work that combines aesthetic excellence with social impact and historical sensitivity.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Public Art
- Installation
- Site-Specific Art
- Community & Participatory Art
Eligibility
- Open to individual artists and artist groups.
- At least one member of the artist group must identify as Indigenous or racialized minority.
- Artists across Canada are eligible; preference is given to those with ties to Kingston or Queen’s University.
- Emerging, mid-career, and established practitioners may apply.
- Applicants must demonstrate experience with large-scale, durable, site-specific, or community-engaged artworks.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total project budget: $100,000 CAD, including artist fee, materials, travel, and production costs.
- Shortlisted artists receive an honorarium of $2,500 CAD for developing detailed proposals.
- Opportunity to create a permanent, high-profile outdoor artwork at Queen’s University.
- Collaboration with researchers, community leaders, and professional consultants.
- Exposure to the Kingston community and broader public through exhibition of proposals and public unveiling.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed online form with contact information, eligibility verification, and a 200-word response to: “What would ‘inclusive heritage’ in Kingston look like to you?”
- Email package to toppling@queensu.ca, including:
- Artist CV and/or portfolio link
- Artist statement (max 200 words)
- Proposed artwork description (max 200 words)
- Concept sketches (6–10 images)
Shortlisted artists will later submit detailed proposals, including:
- Concept statement and creative approach
- Design proposal with 3D model/rendering
- Project plan with budget and timeline
- Reference or testimonial
How to Apply?
- Completed online form with contact information, eligibility verification, and a 200-word response to: “What would ‘inclusive heritage’ in Kingston look like to you?”
- Email supporting documents package to toppling@queensu.ca
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 22 February 2026
- Shortlist Notification: 13 Mar 2026
- Draft Proposal Submission (Shortlisted Artists): 12 Apr 2026
- Community Display of Proposals: 17–26 Apr 2026
- Final Selection: 4 May 2026
- Expected Artwork Delivery & Installation: 4 Sep 2026 (tentative)
Location
Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Additional Details
- Artists will work with the Queen’s University Campus Planning Team, who will construct the concrete base, handle electrical work, and coordinate installation.
- Artists must consider material durability; preference given to stone, concrete, or other long-lasting materials.
- Community feedback will inform final selection, and all site permissions and installation logistics are managed by the university.
- Queen’s University acknowledges that its campus resides on Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee territories, and applicants are encouraged to engage with the local Indigenous context sensitively.
