Call to Artists

Gawendum Gaakina Awaya - Thunder Bay Police Service Headquarters 

The Thunder Bay Police Service offered artists an opportunity to create artwork for the exterior windows of its headquarters at 1200 Balmoral Street. Developed in collaboration with the Thunder Bay Police Service Board, this public art project aimed to support healing and truth & reconciliation, aligning with the Gawendum Gaakina Awaya Reconciliation Training. Open to Indigenous artists with ties to Thunder Bay or the surrounding region, the artwork was selected through an open competition. Funding was provided by the Thunder Bay Police Service and Clean, Green, and Beautiful's Emerging Projects Grant, with potential additional funders.

SnowDay on the Waterfront 2025 Sculpture Competition 

The 2025 sculpture competition opened for submissions, including the Snow Sculpture Competition and the No Snow, No Problem Sculpture Competition for professional artists and artist-led teams. Artists were encouraged to apply and take part in the event!

North Core Street Scape Project 

Artists, artist teams, and organizations were invited to submit proposals for public art installations as part of the North Core Street Scape project. The North Core Street Scape initiative strives to reinvigorate the North Core as the Entertainment District, fostering economic growth and community vitality. By offering spaces for patios, events, and programming, the revitalized streets aim to attract families, businesses, and tourists. Artwork chosen from this call will help contribute to the vibrant new atmosphere being created.

The Collaboration Project - Canada Day on the Waterfront Opportunity 

The Collaboration Project encouraged artists and performers to exchange ideas and develop a unique and engaging performance for the main stage as part of Canada Day on the Waterfront event. 

SnowDay on the Waterfront 2024 Snow Sculpture Competition 

This competition was open to professional artists and artist-led teams.
This snow sculpting opportunity was open to community members, groups and organizations interested in designing and carving a small block snow sculpture. These groups did not have to be professional artists or artist led. 

Women's History Art Bus Project 

Artists and artist teams were invited to submit a proposal for visual artwork to be applied to the exterior of a City transit bus. Artwork chosen will be printed on adhesive-backed vinyl and applied to the exterior of a transit bus. The completed Women’s History Art Bus will travel on various routes throughout the city as a visual celebration of the impact women have had and continue to have in our community. The art bus will bring colour, art, history, and heritage to the streets of Thunder Bay creatively engaging pedestrians, commuters, and onlookers alike. 

Traffic Box Art Project 2023 

Artists and artist teams were invited to submit a proposal for visual artwork to be applied to the exterior of traffic signal boxes located in high pedestrian traffic areas throughout the City. Artwork chosen was printed on adhesive-backed vinyl and applied to the exterior of select traffic signal boxes, bringing colour and art to existing infrastructure and creatively engaging pedestrians, commuters, and onlookers alike.

SnowDay on the Waterfront 2023 Snow Sculpture Competition

2023 competition theme: Local Landmarks & Landscapes allows artists to submit concepts ranging from iconic architecture to natural formations that are reflective of our community, fun-focused, and family-friendly. Professional artists, professional artist-led teams, organizations and community groups across the region and beyond were encouraged to apply. 

The majority of the City's competitions are administered via open calls to artists. Responses are then juried by a panel comprised of representatives from the Public Art Committee, City administration, artists, art professionals and project stakeholders. Final selection of artists is determined by the jury. The completed works then become part of the City art collection.

We engage artists and acquire works of art through a variety of established processes, including Calls to Artists, purchase of finished works, and donations by artists. In recent years, we have broadened the collection to include contemporary works by Canadian artists that reflect the growth, change and sense of renewal in our city. The City is proud to support these projects and to offer opportunities to the local art community. 

Artwork purchase

There are occasions when a City Department, Commission or Board under the mandate of City Council desires to purchase a finished work of art from an individual artist, a corporation, an organization or through a commercial gallery. The artwork may be purchased to develop the City's permanent art collection or to beautify a specific civic space. As with commissioned works, all purchases of finished art works are subject to the City's Policy for Art in Public Spaces and collection mandate. Any opportunities for artists to submit portfolios for jury consideration will be listed in the Open Competitions section of this page.

A sub-committee of the Public Art Committee is formed to consider each potential purchase. Recommendations may be based on advice from outside individuals or organizations relevant for the art being considered. For example: A curator or director from a local art gallery or heritage organization; a representative of the site for the artwork; a professional in a relevant discipline.

Donating an artwork

If you would like to donate an artwork to the City's Public Art Collection please fill out the Artwork Donation Form and submit it to culture@thunderbay.ca 

The City of Thunder Bay also forms partnerships with local individual artists and organizations to produce and/or purchase public art projects. For more information contact culture@thunderbay.ca 

Public art can significantly change an artist's career. The Artist Guidebook was created as a resource for emerging and experienced public artists, and outlines the City's competition and commissioning process from start to finish. It includes perspectives from local artists and covers a variety of topics such as:

• How to find competitions
• How the City acquires public art
• How to provide a submission
• The artist contract
• Insurance, contractor safety, and WSIB
• Working with subcontractors