City seeks Expressions of Interest from Indigenous artists to create public artwork for downtown parkette

Permanent installation planned for the ‘Five Corners’

The City of St. Catharines is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Indigenous artists and Indigenous-led artist teams to create a site-specific, permanent public artwork for the Five Corners parkette at the intersection of St. Paul, Geneva, Queenston, and Niagara streets.

The two-stage competition will see as many as three artists / teams shortlisted and invited to develop concept proposals in Stage 2, with a $2,000 plus HST honorarium provided to each shortlisted artist / team. One finalist will be selected to realize the commissioned artwork. 

The Five Corners site sits at a historically significant convergence of Indigenous trail systems – reflecting deep histories of movement, exchange, and relationship – that have connected the Niagara region for millennia, many of which continue to shape our downtown today.

The City invites artists to respond to this place through themes such as:

·       Indigenous trails and pathways

·       Movement and travel

·       Meeting place and convergence

·       Storied land and layered histories

·       Relationships and coexistence

“Artists are encouraged to meaningfully engage with the histories of the land, including the presence and knowledge systems of the Neutral Nation Confederacy, the Anishinaabek, and the Haudenosaunee, and the continuing significance of agreements such as the Dish With One Spoon, Great Peace of Montréal, and Between the Lakes Treaty,” said Culture Supervisor Jessica Wilson. 

The project is developed in collaboration with the Niagara Academy for Indigenous Relations, which will provide curatorial guidance and cultural advisory support throughout the process. 

“The Indigenous trails that course through, intersect, and converge in St. Catharines remind us that Indigenous history is not separate from Niagara’s story — it is foundational to it,” said Tim Johnson, president of the Niagara Academy for Indigenous Relations. “The trails through this city were routes of movement, diplomacy, trade, and relationship-building, and today they continue to provide both understanding and inspiration as we honour the past, strengthen relations in the present, and build a more informed future together.”

The deadline for Stage 1 Expressions of Interest is Sunday, July 12 at 11:59 p.m. with the shortlist notification taking place the week of July 20. 

The Stage 2 Request for Proposals from selected artists will be issued on July 27. The submission deadline is Aug. 30. Artists’ presentations will take place the week of Sept. 7. The final selection will be made the week of Sept. 14. 

Production of the commissioned artwork is scheduled to occur from fall 2026 to spring 2027, with an installation target of June 2027.

The total commission budget is $140,000 plus HST, inclusive of artist fees, design, fabrication, materials, engineering (if required), transportation, and installation. Funding support is provided by the City of St. Catharines, and in part through the Niagara Region Public Realm Investment Program.

Visit our Request for Expressions of Interest: Indigenous Public Art – Five Corners Parkette webpage to learn more.

If you require disability accommodation or materials in an accessible format, email culture@stcatharines.ca