Call for Proposals: Art Nest – Public Art Opportunity for Artists at TOAF’s 65th Anniversary. As Toronto Outdoor Art Fair celebrates its 65th anniversary, Art Nest 2026 invites artists to reflect on what it means to reach this milestone—both for an organization and in the human life cycle. Age 65 is often associated with retirement, closure, or transition, yet it can also signal renewal, clarity, and the freedom to create on one’s own terms.
We are seeking proposals for public artworks that explore the intersections of creativity and aging: the shifting values of legacy, purpose, and intergenerational exchange; the challenges of health, identity, and relevance; and the possibility of imagining “an artist’s retirement.”
What would it mean to make a final artwork, or to never stop making? How might public art reframe ambition, permanence, and monumentality through the lens of later life? We welcome submissions from artists across disciplines and stages of practice who are interested in engaging these themes in bold, thoughtful, and site-responsive ways.
Why Apply?
Mentorship & Guidance: Work closely with accomplished Independent Curator Rui Pimenta, who will support your artistic journey and provide personalized mentorship throughout the process. Gain invaluable insights into conceptual development, installation logistics, and public engagement that will set you up with success and prepare you for future artistic endeavours.
Exposure & Audience: Showcase your art to a diverse audience of 170,000 art lovers, collectors, and critics. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, build relationships with industry professionals, or simply share your vision with a broader public, TOAF offers an exceptional platform to showcase your practice.
Compensation
Funding & Recognition: Selected artists will receive a commission fee of $2,000, as well as an additional $2,000 to support material costs, allowing you to experiment and bring your ambitious concepts to life.
Art Nest invites artists—emerging or established—with a passion for public art, to expand their practice by creating commissioned projects for installation at Nathan Phillips Square during the 65th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair in July 2026.
Submission Guidelines
Please submit all materials in a single PDF document to artnest@TOAF.ca by November 10, 2025. Include your full name and “Art Nest 2026,” in the subject line. Images can be submitted in a separate compressed zip file.
Your name, address, telephone number and email contact
Links to social media accounts if applicable
A brief bio (150 words maximum) and CV (2 pages maximum)
Statement describing the proposed work for exhibition, how it would be installed and how visitors might interact with it
5 images or sketches/renderings of the work to be exhibited and 5 images of previous works that are either relevant to the proposed project or show your ability to deliver the proposed work.
◦ JPG images can be no larger than 1024 x 768 pixels and 300 dpi
Description of images (title, year, medium)
Please compress your images into a zip file
Shortlisted artists may be contacted for further details. Proposals must account for visitor safety. All proposals are subject to approval by the City of Toronto.
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. Although not required, artists are encouraged to be present during the 3 days of the Fair to greet the public, answer any questions about their work and for associated programming (Art Talks, public art tours).
Selection Process
Only those with selected proposals will be contacted by January 8, 2026. We are not able to provide feedback on applications that were not selected.
deadline: November 10, 2025, 11:59pm ET
more info: https://toaf.ca/
