Jubilee Terrace Park Emerging Artist Mentorship

The City of Brantford is inviting a local emerging artist to take part in a paid mentorship opportunity as part of the Jubilee Terrace Park Public Art Project. The selected artist will serve as a paid assistant to a commissioned professional artist or artist team during the fabrication and installation of a new public sculpture to be located within Jubilee Terrace Park, 10 Brant Ave, Brantford. This mentorship opportunity is designed to provide a local artist with practical, hands-on experience and professional development in the field of public art. Applicants are encouraged to visit LetsTalkBrantford.ca/JubileeTerracePark to review the individual proposals to make an informed decision about which artists they would like to work with.

Program Goals and Benefits

• Gain hands-on experience: The local artist will have the opportunity to work directly with an established sculptor or public artist.
• Skills development: The local artist will learn about the entire public art process, from community engagement and project management to fabrication techniques and installation.
• Professional networking: The local artist will have the opportunity to build a professional relationship with a lead artist and connect with City of Brantford and STEPS Public Art staff.
• Earn an honorarium: The local artist who is selected to take part in this mentorship opportunity will receive a paid honorarium of $1,000.00 for their participation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be a local emerging artist residing in Brantford, the County of Brant, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, or Six Nations of the Grand River. An emerging artist is defined as someone in the early stage of their professional artistic career who has started to develop and present a recognizable body of work. The term does not refer to an age; it’s more about career stage than years of experience.
• Applicants must have an interest in sculpture or public art.
• Previous public art experience is not required.
• Applicants must be available for the duration of the project, including the fabrication and installation phases. This program will require a commitment of two to four hours per month and up to one week for on-site work during the installation period next year, early to mid-2027.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a single PDF document (maximum 20MB) that includes the following components:

• Cover Letter/Statement of Interest (1 page maximum): Describe your artistic practice, your interest in public art, and how you would benefit from this specific mentorship opportunity.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (3 pages maximum): Include your education, exhibition history, awards, and any relevant work or volunteer experience.
• Artistic Support Material: Minimum 5, up to 10 images of your recent work. For each image, include the title, year, dimensions, medium, and a brief description.

Selection Process

A selection panel, which may include the commissioned lead artist, will review all applications. The selection will be based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated artistic ability and quality of work.
• The applicant's stated interest and willingness to learn and collaborate.
• The perceived benefit of the mentorship to the applicant's professional development.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: Friday, July 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST
• Notification of Selection: August 2026
• Mentorship Begins: August 2026

Contact Information

For questions regarding the application process, please contact culture@brantford.ca.