Contact(s)
The City of Orillia adopted its first Art in Public Places Policy 1.12.6.1 in 2010 to recognize and promote the value of arts and culture through the integration of artwork into public views. The objective of the policy is to establish a standard and transparent for the acquisition, consultation, selection, site selection, maintenance, deaccession, monitoring and evaluation of purchased and/or donated works of art for display in public places.
In 2018, City Council passed a resolution authorizing the Orillia Museum of Art & History to manage the City's public art program under the direction of the Manager of Culture and an Art in Public Places Committee.
The Committee advises Council on donations and public calls for artwork originating with Council, the Committee, City staff or members at large. This page is dedicated to the work they are involved in. To stay informed, sign-up for page updates.
| Call to Artists - Patio and Public Realm Project |
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Calling all muralists, sculptors, carvers, painters, musicians, dancers, and other creatives!
The City of Orillia is looking for local artists to add vibrancy to the Economic Recovery Task Force’s (ERTF) Patio and Public Realm Project this summer.
The Patio and Public Realm Project was initiated in support of downtown businesses as a means of them expanding out into the road in front of their establishment. Read More...
Together with the Downtown Orillia Management Board (DOMB), the City of Orillia is working on creating space for local artists, at key locations along the road closure, that enhance the patio and downtown experience. The closure encompasses Mississaga Street and Peter Street S, between Andrew Street and Front Street and Colborne and Mississaga Street respectively.
In an effort to infuse the creativity of individual artists into the program, those interested in participating are invited to submit their own idea(s) for animating the street. Proposals will be reviewed by the DOMB, City Staff and the Art in Public Places Committee on a case by case basis and selected to maximize program diversity to the extent possible while adhering to health and safety guidelines and budgetary constraints. Those selected will be paid an honorarium congruent to the services described in their proposal.
Multiple submissions from the same artist or artists will be accepted. Please submit each proposal separately.
Proposals will be accepted throughout the summer until such time as all of the creative spaces are full. There are approximately 50 spaces in total.
The first opportunity to participate is tentatively scheduled for Friday, July 31, of the Civic Long Weekend.
Parametres While subject to change, creatives should consider the following parametres when developing their proposal:
Safety Measures Performance spaces will be marked out to ensure physical distancing between the artist(s) and audience. Six (6ft+) social circles will be stepped out for artists and spectators to ensure physically distancing. Artists will also be expected to take precautions and adhere to all health and safety guidelines.
At this time, proposals should focus on activities that can be enjoyed from a distance, with little interaction or public engagement unless it can be done safely from 2m or individually as part of a collaboration.
For updates on guidelines related to covid-19, visit www.orillia.ca/covid-19.
Marketing All marketing and promotion of artists’ participation in this program must go through the ERTF as part of the Stay Safe Shop Local initiative. Creatives will be provided approved marketing material and are encouraged to share the Stay Safe Shop Local messages should they be selected.
How to Apply This call is open to creatives from Orillia and the surrounding municipalities of Oro-Medonte, Severn, Ramara and Rama.
To apply, click here. |
| CALL TO ARTISTS - J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park Butterfly Garden |
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DEADLINE EXTENSION - July 24 at 4p.m.
The City of Orillia is looking to commission a local artist to create a complimentary piece of public art for its new Butterfly Garden in J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park. The habitat garden is being designed for pollinating insects and will be located at the park entrance along Atherley Road.
The competition is open to local artists residing in Orillia or bordering municipalities of Severn, Oro-Medonte, Ramara and Rama only, and closes July 24 at 4 p.m.
Click here for more details on the Call to Artist. Budget: $5000 CAD (maximum, inclusive) |
| Call to Artists - Inspired: The Road to Gold - closed |
| Local artist, Craig Mainprize, was commissioned by the CIty of Orillia and the 2020 OWG Games Organizing Committee to create a lasting impression mural for the 2020 Ontario Winter Games.
Nine artists from throughout the province answered the call to create an 8’ X 12’ mural that encapsulates the theme, ‘Inspired: The Road to Gold.’ “Craig’s unique style, bold colours and simplistic designs captured the imagination of the jury,” said Jacqueline Soczka, Manager of Culture and a member of the Games Organizing Committee. That, combined with his passion for sport resulted in his selection. |
| Call to Artists - Orillia Recreation Centre Gallery Space - closed |
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As part of the new Orillia Recreation Centre, the City of Orillia has included a free gallery space for artists to display their work. The theme for its inaugural exhibit is ‘From Foundry to Future’, which challenged artists to explore the site’s evolution from an industrial centre to state-of-the-art sport and recreation facility in their work. This call is now closed. Submissions will be reviewed by jury, with information on selected pieces posted here as it becomes available.
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In 2019, the piano at Moose Beach in J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park was painted by local artist, Jessica. Jessica is a young emerging artist pursuing a degree in Museum and Gallery Studies. She has a passion for public art, research and culture and spends much of her time during the summer on the waters of Lake Couchiching. In her spare time, Jessica enjoys cooking, hiking and gardening. Her painting is heavily influenced by nature and her desire to educate others. This vibrant piece is inspired by pop art, dance, local history and summer scenery.
The Piano at the Orillia Waterfront Centre was, by Toronto-based Korean muralist, Jieun June Kim. Below is a collage of what she refers to as her best nine projects of 2018.
She is also the artist selected to create the City's vibrant waterfront banners in 2019.
Visit www.jieunjunekim.com for more on this exciting up and coming artist. |
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Call to Artists - 2019 Waterfront Banners - closed |
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In 2019, the City of Orillia put out a call to artists to create five renderings, one for each of the five chosen themes. Prospective artists were tasked with submitting one design sample to the City. The samples were adjudicated by a panel of jurors organized by the Orillia Public Art Committee. There were five artists in total that submitted samples. The five themes depicted on the waterfront banners were:
Jieun's bold and colourful interpretation of Orillia's cultural heritage won her the commission. Jieun is a Toronto-based artist who has exhibited paintings around the world since 2010. She immigrated to Canada in 2017 and is the co-founder of KJ Bit Collective, a group that creates murals and street art events. In 2018, Jieun was the recipient of the Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship grant from Toronto Arts Council.
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| ART IN PUBLIC PLACES COMMITTEE |
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The Orillia Museum of Art & History (OMAH) in partnership with the City of Orillia has established an Art in Public Places Committee to provide advice and guidance to the City of Orillia on matters related to policies, projects, and procedures related to the provision and installation of public art within the community. Sign up for email updates to stay up-to-date on the committee's progress. |
| PUBLIC ART PROJECTS |
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Do you have a public art project you would like to bring to life? We encourage you to contact staff before completing our Public Art Proposal Checklist to ensure we have all of the necessary information to assess your proposal. Jacqueline Surette, Manager of Culture. Ph: 705-325-4530; Email: jsurette@orillia.ca Public Art projects are subject to the City of Orillia’s Art in Public Places Policy 1.12.6.1. and require a written proposal prior to being forwarded to Council for approval. |
