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Canada’s leading contemporary outdoor and online art fair

TOAF will take place July 12 – 14, 2024.

Art Nest Call for Proposals

Deadline February 29, 2024

Showcase your large-scale artwork at the largest art fair in Canada. Art Nest invites emerging artists to exhibit installations and public art pieces at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair.

TOAF is currently seeking proposals for installation, sculpture, new media and performance art for the 2024 season. Artwork should be site-specific, focusing on the outdoor setting and related weather conditions.

Commissioned artists will create artworks with guidance and mentorship from senior and emerging curators. The program provides artists with the experience, infrastructure, training and audience exposure needed to build confidence for future public art competitions and commissions. Proposals should also account for visitor safety. All proposals are subject to approval by the City of Toronto.

Art Nest is dedicated to inclusivity and supporting all art practices. We look forward to receiving applications that push boundaries and animate public spaces with large-scale works for outdoor settings. An artist fee of $2,000 plus $2,000 for material costs will be paid to each selected artist.


Eligibility

Art Nest is open to emerging artists or established artists who want to take their practice to the next level by creating commissioned public art projects to be installed at Nathan Phillips Square during the 63rd edition of the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, July 12-14, 2024.

TOAF has been celebrating art in public spaces and animating Toronto’s civic centre on a grand scale since 1961. The first iteration of Art Nest in 2022 was created in response to the City of Toronto’s ArtworxTO: Year of Public Art 2021-22 initiative. Championing career-launching platforms for the next generation of artists is central to TOAF’s programming values and key to the inspiration behind Art Nest.

Art Nest aims to redefine the meaning and future possibilities of public art in a way that is accessible and impactful by reflecting lived experiences with engaging temporary art projects.

Submission Guidelines

Please submit all materials in a single PDF document to [email protected] with your full name and “Art Nest 2024,” in the subject line. Images can be submitted in a separate compressed zip file.

 

Submissions must include:

  • Your name, address, telephone number and email contact
  • Links to social media accounts if applicable
  • Statement describing the proposed work for exhibition, how it would be installed and how visitors might interact with it 
  • 10 jpg images*/sketches/reference images of the work to be exhibited (include examples of previous work, especially if it is relevant to the proposed project)
  • Description of images (title, year, medium)
  • A brief bio (150 words maximum) and CV (2 pages maximum)
  • Please compress your images into a zip file 
  • Shortlisted artists may be contacted for further details

*Jpg images can be no larger than 1024 x 768 pixels and 300 dpi

Selected artists will be notified by the end of March 2024. 

Although some install support will be provided, selected artists should be prepared to install and tear down their own work. Artists must provide all materials for installation. Artists are also encouraged to be present during the 3-days of the Fair to greet the public and answer any questions about their work and for associated programming (Art Talks, public art tours).             

Only selected proposals will be contacted.

Questions? Contact us

416-408-2754 | [email protected]
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Hear from the Artists

“It was productive to be part of a curated exhibition of outdoor artworks. Art Nest pushed my boundaries as an artist, as I had to create robust large-scale outdoor public artwork.”  

– Kal Mansur, TOAF61 Art Nest Artist

“Participating in the Art Nest was a fantastic experience and opportunity.  I had been wanting to shift my practice by incorporating more public art projects and this was the perfect platform. By bringing art to the public in a non-traditional setting it allowed me to witness a more diverse audience interacting with my piece.”

– Erin Vincent, TOAF61 Art Nest Artist

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