1. art and entertainment
2. visual art and design
3. painting

Burlington Mural Project
Local Artists | Local Stories
Application Package
Deadline: Monday June 8, 2015
6 mural commissions; various locations; various budgets
Budget: $2,500 - $12,000 CAD (CAD, all inclusive)
Eligibility: Applicants must be a resident of Burlington, Ontario
For more information:
Kim Selman
T: 905-548-0111
E: kim@cobaltconnects.ca
Online application can be found at:
www.burlingtonpublicart.com
Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
About the Burlington Mural Project
The City of Burlington public art program is pleased to launch a new initiative, the Burlington
Mural Project. Designed to tell local stories using local artists, this annual program will
commission small to medium-scale murals throughout the city. These commissions are open
exclusively to Burlington, Ontario artists. Additionally, free professional development
opportunities will be offered to assist artists with the application process and project
development.
2015 Program
Six murals (one mural per ward) will be commissioned in Year 1 of the program.
Commissions range in value from $2,500 - $12,000 depending on the scale and complexity of
the project (budget and location details can be found in the ‘Projects’ section of this
document).
How Does the Program Work?
1. Select a project: Review the 6 mural projects outlined in this document and
decide which project(s) you want to apply to. You may apply to more than one
project however only one commission per artist will be awarded.
2. Prepare a preliminary design: Each project profile contains an overview of the
site and a list of suggested themes. Prepare a preliminary design based on one of
the themes.
3. Prepare your application: Prepare the materials outlined on page 13 (‘Application
Package’). Need help? The public art program is offering a variety of free
workshops and resources designed to assist you with the application process. See
the ‘Resources’ section for more detail.
4. Submit your application: Applications are due on June 8, 2015 and may be
submitted online (www.burlingtonpublicart.com) or by mail / in person.
5. Community jury: A community jury will review all applications and will select 6
artists to move forward with a commission (one artist per project).
6. Ongoing project support: Commissioned artists will be provided with additional
resources and professional development to assist with the development of a
detailed design plan and ongoing project support.
2 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Eligibility & Jury Process
Who Can Apply?
The Burlington Mural Project is open to artists at various stages of their career (i.e. emerging,
mid-career and established) working in a variety of mediums. You do not need past
experience in public art and/or murals in order to apply for this program.
Applicants must be a permanent resident and/or taxpayer in Burlington in order to apply
to the Burlington Mural Project. Artists who are selected for a commission will be required to
supply proof of residency prior to entering into a contract with the City of Burlington. Artist
teams may apply provided all members meet the residency requirements.
Please note artists selected for a commission in 2015 will not be eligible to apply to the
program the following year.
How Do I Apply?
There are six (6) different mural projects outlined in this document. Artists may apply to more
than one project, however only one commission per artist will be awarded. As such,
applicants are encouraged to focus their time and energy in applying to the project(s) that
best match their interests and abilities.
To apply to a project, applicants will submit a preliminary design sketch and the required
support materials. The design sketch is intended to be a work-in-progress / concept sketch
rather than a finished piece. Please refer to page 12 ‘Application Package’ for detailed
application requirements.
Jury Process
A community jury comprised of residents and arts professionals will review all applications
using a two-phase process:
Phase One: The jury will evaluate the artwork concept proposals in Stage One (mural
design sketch and project proposal). These proposals will be evaluated without
identifying the artist or evaluating other components of the application package. The
jury will then create a short-list of proposals to move on to Stage Two.
Phase Two: The jury will review the additional application materials for each of the
short-listed concepts (i.e. images of past work, CV/resume). The artists’ identities will
be revealed at this stage. During Stage Two, the full application will be evaluated and
the winning artists will be selected.
3 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Scoring Criteria
PHASE ONE
Artistic Excellence
Strength of artwork concept, originality and artistic merit of the preliminary design
sketch.
Context
The proposed mural creatively responds to the site, neighbourhood and
suggested themes/ subject matter.
Execution & Feasibility
The artwork concept, scale and suggested materials are feasible within the
budget and timeframe of the project.
PHASE TWO
Artwork Samples
The artwork samples provided display a high level of artistic merit within the
artist’s chosen discipline (not necessarily mural production / public art)
Curriculum Vitae (C.V.)
The artist’s qualifications and experience demonstrate a high level of commitment
to their chosen discipline (not necessarily mural production / public art)
10 points
10 points
5 points
10 points
5 points
Cobalt Connects manages the City of Burlington’s Public Art Program. Guided by the Public
Art Policy, Cobalt Connects works in cooperation with City staff to develop and implement the
Public Art Master Plan.
Please note, the selection committee, Cobalt Connects, and the City of Burlington reserves
the right to choose to not recommend any application, proposal or finalist and to terminate or
re-advertise any project.
Project Profiles
In the following pages, you will find descriptions and technical specifications for all six
projects. Artists may apply to more than one project, however only one commission per artist
will be awarded. As such, applicants are encouraged to focus their time and energy in
applying to the project(s) that best match their interests and abilities.
4 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Ward 1: King Road Underpass
Location: King Road @ CN rail tracks
Budget: $12,000
Overview
King Road is an important transit link in
Burlington as it is one of the few routes
that extend north from Lake Ontario,
across the CN rail tracks and Highway
403, to the northwest, rural area of the
city. The railway crossing itself is one of
the busiest in the city with nearly 100
train crossings each day. The
underpass was built in 2012 to handle
the increase in rail traffic and to
decrease traffic delays.
King Road is known for a number of other unique features such as the “Magnetic Hill” (the
northwest stretch near the entrance to Bayview Park). King Road has also recently become
known for the conservation efforts associated with the Jefferson Salamander. For the past
three years, the City of Burlington has closed a section of King Road (between base of
escarpment to Mountain Brow Road) from late March to mid-April to accommodate the
breeding habits of the endangered salamanders.
Suggested themes / subject matter:
• Jefferson salamander; Burlington’s conservation efforts
• The importance of Burlington’s environment and biodiversity; linking the lake to the
escarpment
• The role that the train system played (freight and/or passenger) has played in the
development of Burlington
Technical Specifications:
• The mural can be applied to the retaining wall / entrance portion of the underpass; it
may not touch any portion of the railway or supporting structure
• The mural can either be on one side only or both sides of the retaining walls
• The mural must be created on panel to accommodate future maintenance
requirements. Acceptable panels include: Aluminum Composite Panels (trade
names: Dibond, Alucobest, Alucobond), Medium Density Overlay / sign board (trade
name: Crezone)
• All materials used are subject to approval by the Technical Advisory Committee
5 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Ward 2: Freeman Station
Location: 1255 Fairview Street
Budget: $11,000
Overview:
Built in 1906 for the Grand Trunk
Railway as a combination
passenger and baggage depot,
the Burlington West Station
(known as ‘Freeman Station’) is
considered a fine example of a
building from that era. It has been
recognized for its architectural
and historic significance by the
Historic Sites and Monuments
Board of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Culture, and Heritage Burlington. With the
introduction of the GO transit system in the late 1960s, however, the station had become
obsolete and was eventually closed by 1988. In 2013 the station was relocated to a
temporary location on Fairview Street where it is undergoing a significant restoration effort led
by a dedicated team of community volunteers.
The development of steam-powered railways in the 19th century revolutionized transportation
in Canada and was integral to the very act of nation building. Railways played an integral role
in the process of industrialization, opening up new markets and tying regions together, while
at the same time creating a demand for resources and technology. Throughout its life,
Freeman Station has been a destination for travellers, immigrants, soldiers, commuters,
engineers, and farmers. It is currently Burlington’s only surviving Grand Trunk Railway station.
Suggested themes / subject matter:
• Passengers waiting at the station in 1906 (the year the station opened); highlight
period clothing, original construction of the building such as the open portico, early
farming history, etc.
Technical Specifications:
• The mural location is the front, exterior wall that was originally built as an open portico
• Wall is approximately 15’8” X 10’10”; painted wood siding
• A painted mural is preferred at this location
• The mural must be created on panel to accommodate future restoration efforts.
Acceptable panels include: Aluminum Composite Panels (trade names: Dibond,
Alucobest, Alucobond), Medium Density Overlay / sign board (trade name: Crezone)
• All materials used are subject to approval by the Technical Advisory Committee
6 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Ward 3: Amherst Park
Location: 2030 Amherst Heights Crt.
Budget: $8,500
Overview:
Amherst Park is a small park with a
newly built community garden.
Following the advocacy work of
BurlingtonGreen, the City of
Burlington built its first community
garden in 2012 at Central Park. The
garden was an immediate success
and prompted the construction of two additional gardens at Amherst Park and Francis Road
Bike Trail. An additional garden is now being planned for 2015/16. The Amherst Park
community garden boasts 28 ground-based plots, two wheelchair accessible plots, water,
street parking, full sun, a storage shed, a security fence, and is near a playground.
Burlington has long been associated with gardening- in fact earning the nickname of the
“Garden of Canada” in the 19th Century. Burlington farmers began creating market gardens in
the 1880s when they found they could derive an income from fruit and vegetable production.
Burlington was well situated to transport food to neighbouring communities (Hamilton, Toronto
and even overseas). The area also boasted fertile soil and ideal growing conditions to
support this economy. The market gardens began to disappear in the latter half of the 20th
century due to residential intensification and the building of highways.
Suggested themes / subject matter:
• History of market gardens in Burlington
• Community gardening, then and now
• Healthy living; living local
Technical Specifications:
• The mural location is a fence surrounding the community garden; approximately 70’ X
110’ X 70’ X 110’
• A variety of materials could be affixed to fence including panel, cutouts, plastic,
Plexiglas, etc. The material should be lightweight and not place undue stress on the
fencing
• It is not anticipated that the mural will cover all fence sections
• Mural should not fully obstruct view into garden
• All materials used are subject to approval by the Technical Advisory Committee
7 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Ward 4: Port Nelson Park
Location: Lakeshore Road @ Guelph Line
Budget: $2,500
Overview:
The small community of Port Nelson was
part of the "Brant Block" which had been
deeded to Chief Joseph Brant in 1798.
James Gage, the founder of Burlington,
bought land from the heirs of Chief Joseph
Brant, and developed Port Nelson and a
square piece of land known as Wellington
Square. Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson was
honoured when the area was named after him.
With the completion of the local survey after the War of 1812, the land was opened for
settlement. Early farmers prospered in the Burlington area because of the fertile soil and
moderate temperatures. Produce from the farms was shipped out via the bustling docks of the
lakeside villages of Port Nelson and Wellington Square, as well as Brown's Wharf in the
nearby village of Port Flamborough (which was to become Aldershot). Lumber taken from the
surrounding forests also competed for space on the busy docks.
In 1874, Wellington Square and Port Nelson were incorporated into the Village of Burlington.
However, the arrival of large steamships on the Great Lakes made the small docks of the
local ports obsolete, and the increased use of railway to ship goods marked the end of the
commercial wharves.
Suggested themes / subject matter:
• History of Port Nelson wharf; grain, produce and lumber shipping
• History of early setters; Port Nelson village
• Importance of the waterfront to Burlington and its residents
Technical Specifications:
• The mural location is two electrical utility boxes at the entrance of the park; facing
Lakeshore Road
• Box #1: 70” X 37” X 26”
• Box #2: 47”X31” X 15”
• Available space includes front and sides of the box. There are safety-warning notices
located at the back of the box that must not be covered (located on top 1/3 of box)
• Vinyl wraps can be used or murals may be painted directly on the box
• All materials used are subject to approval by the Technical Advisory Committee
8 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Ward 5: Orchard Community Park
Location: 2255 Sutton Dr.
Budget: $8,000
Overview:
The Orchard community was
named to recognize the
importance of orchards in
Burlington’s history. Fruit
production, with a strong
emphasis on apples, was a key
source of income to many local
farmers. Larger orchards stretched
along Highway 5, Walkers and
Appleby Line and towards the Oakville / Burlington border. Large quantities of apples were
shipped out of Port Nelson to neighbouring communities and as far away as England and
South Africa. Fruit production began to decline in the mid-1900s as large steamships and
expanded rail transport made Burlington’s small ports impractical.
Orchard Community Park is located next to Alexander’s Public School. This park is a popular
destination for area residents and families. The park features a number of amenities
including: accessible playground, basketball, two lit soccer fields, multi-use court, multi-use
paths, open area, parking, and a small skate feature.
Suggested themes / subject matter:
• The importance of orchards / fruit production in Burlington’s history
• Quality of life in Burlington: active living; family; children/youth.
• Community art projects may be proposed for this location (i.e. engaging residents,
children/youth, etc.)
Technical Specifications:
• The mural location is a washroom / maintenance building located in the park; the
selected wall faces the park entrance at Sutton Drive.
• The dimensions are approximately 9’ X 25’
• The mural may be applied directly to the brick wall (i.e. paint, vinyl wrap applications,
etc.) or to panels that can be securely affixed to the structure. Acceptable panels
include: Aluminum Composite Panels (trade names: Dibond, Alucobest, Alucobond),
Medium Density Overlay / sign board (trade name: Crezone)
• Alternative media (i.e. brick, mosaic, sculptural, metallic, ceramic pieces, new media,
etc.) may be proposed provided the materials used are durable, easily maintainable
and highly resistant to theft, vandalism and weathering
• All materials used are subject to approval by the Technical Advisory Committee
9 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Ward 6: Ireland Park
Location: 2315 Headon Forest Dr.
Budget: $8,000
Overview
Ireland Park is named after Joseph
Ireland, one of the earliest settlers to
Burlington. Ireland arrived in Upper
Canada in 1819 and began
construction of a family home in
1835, known today as Ireland
House.
In 1823, Joseph married Ruth Best (1802-1867) at St. John’s Anglican Church in
Ancaster. They had 8 children, 5 of whom survived. Joseph became a respected figure in
Nelson Township. He served on the Nelson Township Council and was an overseer of
highways. A newspaper clipping dating to 1859 refers to Joseph Ireland as a Justice of the
Peace. He was also one of the founders of St. John’s Anglican Church built in 1842 on
Dundas Street near Guelph Line.
Suggested themes / subject matter:
• Early settlers; Joseph Ireland / Ireland family
• Quality of life in Burlington: active living; family; children / youth.
• Community art projects may be proposed for this location (i.e. engaging residents,
children/youth, etc.)
Technical Specifications
• The mural location is a concession stand / washroom building located near the
baseball diamonds; east facing wall
• The dimensions are approximately 9’ X 25’
• The mural may be applied directly to the brick wall (i.e. paint, vinyl wrap applications,
etc.) or to panels that can be securely affixed to the structure. Acceptable panels
include: Aluminum Composite Panels (trade names: Dibond, Alucobest, Alucobond),
Medium Density Overlay / sign board (trade name: Crezone)
• Alternative media (i.e. brick, mosaic, sculptural, metallic, ceramic pieces, new media,
etc.) may be proposed provided the materials used are durable, easily maintainable
and highly resistant to theft, vandalism and weathering
• All materials used are subject to approval by the Technical Advisory Committee
10 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Artwork Design Parameters
Each mural location is unique and has its own set of design parameters. Please refer to the
‘Project Profiles’ section for detailed site information. Please note a detailed design plan is
not required at this time. At this stage of the application process, only a preliminary
design sketch is required. Artists selected for a commission will meet with program staff
and an artist mentor to review their project plan and material choices prior to submitting a
detailed design plan. This will allow each artist to get one-on-one feedback and advice about
their project.
Resources
A series of free professional development workshops and resources will be available to
applicants and artists selected for a commission. The intent is to provide local artists with the
information and resources they need to prepare a good quality submission. All workshops
and resources are free of charge.
Application Review
Dates: May 25-26, 2015
Location: TBD
The Public Art Mangers will host an application review session. Artists will be able to book a
20-30 minute session with the Public Art Managers to review a draft of their application
package and provide constructive feedback.
This session will be open to all artists who are actively preparing an application to the
Burlington Mural Program. Attendance will be voluntary and appointments must be booked
in advance. To book an appointment please contact: Kim Selman, kim@cobaltconnects.ca
or 905-548-0111
Online Resources
There is a lot of great information online that can help you with your proposal and project
development. We have compiled a list of resources on our website:
www.burlingtonpublicart.com (Burlington Mural Project page).
Ongoing Professional Development
The artists who are selected for the 2015 commissions will be provided with ongoing
professional development throughout the duration of the project. This will include access to
staff and an artist mentor to provide one-on-one advice and project support as well as health
and safety training (mandatory).
11 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Estimated Project Timeline (2015)
Deadline
May 1
May 24-26
June 8
By June 30
Activity
Application released
Application drop-in session (please book your session in
advance)
Applications due
August – September
Successful artists selected; enter into a contract with the City of
Burlington
Project development; Artists work with Public Art Managers and
mentor(s) to refine designs, develop project plan, finalize artwork
concept
Mural production and installation
September / October
Mural unveiling & community celebration
July
Application Deadline and Receipt
All applications are due on or before June 8, 2015 at 4:00 PM. Incomplete applications or
those received after the deadline will not be accepted. Faxed or emailed applications will not
be accepted.
All applicants will receive notice via email that their application has been received. It is the
responsibility of the applicant to ensure that his/her application has been received by Cobalt
Connects. If you do not receive verification within one week of submitting your application,
please contact kim@cobaltconnects.ca or 905-548-0111.
Loss or Damage: While every precaution will be taken to prevent loss or damage, the City of
Burlington, Cobalt Connects and Selection Committee shall not be liable for any loss or
damage, however caused.
Please note, application materials will not be returned.
12 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Application Package
Applications are due on or before June 8, 2015 at 4:00 PM. Applications may be
submitted online or in-person / mail. Please ensure your application includes the following
materials:
1. Application Form (page 14 or completed online)
2. Mural Design Sketch: Please submit a preliminary sketch of the proposed mural
design. The design sketch is intended to be a work-in-progress / concept sketch rather
than a finished piece. A maximum of 2 images may be submitted. Sketches may be
done either by hand or digitally. Please submit sketches in colour, as a high resolution
JPEG.
3. Project Outline: A brief outline of your proposed project (1 page maximum). Please
include the following information:
• Dimensions: Approximate dimensions. Each site image marks the available
mural space using a red rectangle. Please note, you are not required to fill all
of the space within the rectangle but cannot exceed this space. The murals can
be a variety of shapes and sizes within the available space.
• Preliminary material list: Please provide a basic materials list (for example,
you can specify that the artwork will be created using latex paint on panel but
do not need to include type of panel, anchors, etc.)
• Artwork concept statement: please detail how your proposed design
responds to the site and project profile (as outlined in this document)
4. Artwork Samples: submit 6 images (maximum) of your artwork. Please note:
• Images should be representative of your past work and do not necessarily
need to include samples of murals and/or public art
• All images must be in JPEG format, high resolution is preferred
• Do not embed images in documents such as Word or PowerPoint or compress
files (i.e. WinZip, Stuffit, etc.)
• Clearly label files and do not use any special characters, symbols, periods, etc.
(i.e. $, %,&) in the file name
• Original artwork or slides will not be accepted
.
5. Image List: Tell us about your artwork samples. Please include: title of artwork,
materials, dimensions, date and location of artwork (if applicable).
6. Curriculum Vitae: outline recent qualifications and artistic activities (2 pages
maximum)
13 Burlington Mural Project
Public Art Opportunity, City of Burlington
Application Form
Applications are due on or before June 8, 2015 at 4:00 pm. Applications may be
submitted online or in-person / mail.
Online Applications: please visit http://burlingtonpublicart.com to access the online
application form.
In-person or mailed applications: Applications may be submitted in-person or mailed to our
office (80 Queen Street South, Hamilton, Ontario). Applications may be submitted on a
CD/DVD or as a hard copy (letter-sized paper; 8 ½ X 11”). If submitting a hard copy, please
do not bind, staple or use cover sheets / folders / binders.
Name _____________________________________________________________________
Address __________________________________________________________________
City ____________________________
Postal Code _________________________
Phone (day) ______________________
Phone (evening) ______________________
Email ____________________________
Website ___________________________
Which project(s) are you applying to (select all that are applicable)?
☐
☐
☐
Ward 1: King Road Underpass
Ward 2: Freeman Station
Ward 3: Amherst Park
☐
☐
☐
Ward 4: Port Nelson Park
Ward 5: Orchard Community Park
Ward 6: Ireland Park
¨ I would like to receive notice of future Calls For Artists and program updates. Please add
me to the Burlington Public Art mailing list (optional)
The applicant is in agreement with the Eligibility and Selection Criteria, as outlined in this
document:
Signature of applicant__________________________
Send Submissions to:
Cobalt Connects
ATTN: Burlington Mural Project
80 Queen Street South
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 3R8 14 Date _______________
Contact Us
Kim Selman
T: 905-548-0111
E: kim@cobaltconnects.ca
W: www.burlingtonpublicart.com