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 2017, City Council updated the policy and established an Ad Hoc Public Art Committee to make recommendations to Council on the make-up and mandate of a Public Art Committee. Their report will go to Council this spring.
PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
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 Propsal Checklist to ensure we have all of the necessary information to assess your proposal.
Jacqueline Soczka, Manager of Culture.
Ph: 705-325-4530; Email: jsoczka@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.
Art in Public Places Policy 1.12.6.1
LIGHTFOOT SCULPTURE
On November 5, 2017, hundreds gathered in front of the Orillia Opera House with Mr. Lightfoot, members of Orillia City Council, and sculptor Gino Cavicchioli for the unveiling of Orillia's latest tribute to our legendary, hometown artist.
The sculpture was installed at the Orillia Opera House in recognition of his enduring connection to the performance venue. The legendary singer-songwriter has been performing on its stages since 1950, when he won second place in an amateur singing competition held at the theatre. In 1997, the City of Orillia paid homage to the artist by naming the large auditorium the Gordon Lightfoot Auditorium.
The piece was created by world-renowned portrait sculpture, Gino Cavicchioli, whose works can be found in private and permanent collections of individuals such as Margaret Thatcher, George Bush, Jean Chretien and Mikhail Gorbachev. It is the latest in a series of growing tributes to the artist in Orillia, offering the public various opportunities to explore his life and legacy in his hometown.
The City of Orillia is thankful to Mr. Lightfoot for this wonderful gift and is proud to display it in the heart of his hometown
GOLDEN LEAVES: A TRIBUTE TO GORDON LIGHTFOOT
Golden Leaves was one of the first pieces of art to be acquired by the City of Orillia under its Art in Public Places Policy. Located in J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park, the sculpture was donated to the City of Orillia by Christopher Bratty and the Rudolph P. Bratty Family Foundation and unveiled on Oct. 23, 2015. More on the donation are included in the news release dated October 23, 2015.
