Toppling Monuments is a collaborative research project that aims to explore the impact of Kington’s colonial heritage on the health and wellbeing of Indigenous and racialized minority individuals.

We are looking for an artist or artist group to create a permanent outdoor artwork that will address and/or touch on some our project’s key themes, including belonging, representation, celebration, and restorative healing. The selected artist or artist group will work with our research project team, comprising Queen’s University faculty members and an Advisory Circle made up of Indigenous and racialized minority community leaders in Kingston, to ensure that their artwork appropriately reflects our research findings.

Eligibility

Individual artists and artist groups/teams are eligible to apply.
The individual artist—or at least one artist in the artist group—must identify as a member of an Indigenous and/or racialized minority community.
All artists across Canada are encouraged to apply, but preference will be given to those with ties to the City of Kingston or Queen’s University.

Selection Process

This is a two-stage process.

Stage 1: Artists submit an Expression of Interest outlining their qualifications, experience, and initial concept, through an online form and e-mail.

Stage 2: A shortlist of up to three finalists will be selected to advance to Stage 2, where they will receive a $2,500 honorarium to submit more detailed proposals, including preliminary 3D models or renderings and information on budget and timeline.

The selection committee is comprised of research project members (academics/researchers and Kingston community leaders), with additional guidance from a third-party artist consultant. Selection is guided by these considerations (each weighing 20%):

1. Demonstrated capacity to execute, evaluated based on previous projects in portfolio or artist CV.

2. Project feasibility evaluated based on concept sketches and proposed approach.

3. Material durability, with preference for stone, concrete, and other long-lasting materials.

4. Alignment with project themes and objectives, reflecting the spirit and goals of the initiative.

5. Connection to Kingston and the surrounding region, as reflected in the proposal’s context or inspiration.

Submission Requirements and How to Apply

Artists or artist groups/teams must submit their EOIs by filling out an online form and e-mailing relevant materials.

1. Fill out this online submission form to:

Share your contact information
Verify your eligibility
Share your thoughts on the question: “What would ‘inclusive heritage’ in Kingston look like to you?” (maximum 200 words)

2. E-mail application package to [email protected] with your name in the subject line:

Artist CV and/or link to portfolio showcasing relevant past work
Artist statement (maximum 200 words) outlining your practice, approach, and creative vision
A description of the proposed artwork (maximum 200 words)
A sketch series of 6 to 10 images showing your concept.

The listed compensation/artist fee will cover: design and planning cost, artist travel and expenses, materials, and transportation of the artwork to the site. Expenses related to permits, electrical work, and installation will be covered separately.