Mural Public Art Project
Sheppard Avenue West at the CN – GO Train Overpass

Issued: April 7, 2021
Deadline: April 30, 2021

Situated at the northernmost part of the city of Toronto, DUKE Heights is one of the highest points of the city. Nestled between Downsview Park and York University, the area has great potential and is home to a wide variety of uses from residences through to an innovative mix of businesses. With the TTC, GO transit, the under-construction Finch West LRT and various highways surrounding the BIA, the community is better positioned than any other business area for strategic and planned growth.

The DUKE Heights Business Improvement Area, created in 2014, is Ontario’s second largest BIA in terms of surface area, and represents an association of over 2,500 businesses, employing over 30,000 people.

Duke Heights BIA’ s mandate and main objectives are:

• to provide support to all businesses in the area by create a thriving, competitive and safe neighbourhood and to attract new businesses, intensify employment and create economic growth.
• to improve the area through beautification, capital improvements, branding, maintenance and streetscape development.
• to creating a sense of place, instilling civic pride in the neighbourhood and promoting the area’s unique features.

The DUKE Heights BIA is issuing this Request for Proposal/Call to Artists as a two-stage competition:

Phase 1/ Scope of Work:
The artist is to submit an Interest to Participate, explaining their understanding and vision of the theme; previous projects; references; no concept design is to be submitted at this stage.

Phase 2/ Terms of Reference:
Three selected finalists will be selected from all applicants and will be invited to submit Conceptual Designs. The top finalist will be awarded the contract, while the next two applicants will be awarded $2,000.00 each for their work in Phase 2 submission.

Vision Concept:

The mural should be an invitation to a Journey in Time. The concept we are envisioning for the proposed mural should reflect the neighborhood identity and be geared around a few major themes:

• Celebrate and acknowledge the lands that were once part of Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississauga territories, and now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
• Reflect Downsview’s aviation legacy, from Havilland to Bombardier, from the military base and airport to the aerospace innovation hub.
• Promote Duke Heights’ employment land, industrious nature, entrepreneurial spirt and the vibrancy and vitality of the business community.
• Celebrate Downsview Park natural heritage, urban wilderness, nature trails and urban agriculture.
• Reveal transformations, resiliency, sustainability, connectivity, new beginnings and healthy community growth.

Above all, it is expected to:

• Engage the community at large in the urban and employment neighborhood
• Serve as a memorable and welcoming landmark
• Serve as a source of pride for the community

Proposals must be submitted via email to Lia Martelluzzi (lia@dukeheights.ca) and Laura Ispas (laura@dukeheights.ca) by Friday, April 30, 2021 at 4:00pm (local Toronto time).

For details and submission guidelines, download the complete RFP document.