St. Catharines 150th Legacy Mural Commission

The City of St. Catharines seeks Expressions of Interest for a large-scale original public mural celebrating the city’s 150th anniversary. The selected artwork will transform the north-west-facing exterior wall of the Ontario Street Parking Garage in downtown St. Catharines into a public art destination and landmark. The concrete façade is approximately 170 feet wide by 44 feet high and includes circular ventilation openings that must be thoughtfully integrated; artists may propose coverage of all or part of the wall and shortlisted artists must identify approximate square footage and explain site responsiveness. The work should reflect St. Catharines’ past, present, and future, including Indigenous histories and relationships to land and waterways; the Welland Canal; shipbuilding, manufacturing and industrial heritage; William Hamilton Merritt; Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad; the Garden City identity; agriculture, orchards and Niagara fruit-growing traditions; historic architecture and neighbourhoods; arts, culture, music and celebrations; diversity, newcomer experiences and belonging; and innovation, sustainability and future aspirations. The project is inspired by St. Catharines Poet Laureate Shannon Kitchings’ poem Love Letter to a City; shortlisted artists will be asked to integrate a phrase, excerpt or thematic element from it. Stage One requires an artist statement, CV, portfolio, image list and two references; no mural design is required. Up to five artists/teams may advance to Stage Two for concept development, community review and final selection.