A City in Celebration!

About

Harbourfront Centre invites GTA residents to take centre stage through their original submission for a bold, large-scale mural for Toronto’s iconic waterfront—set to debut ahead of our summer season and the excitement of World Cup 2026.

This is a rare opportunity to have your concept showcased in celebration of Toronto as a global city: one defined by energy and cultural connection. Inspired by the theme A City in Celebration, your mural approach should be inclusive, highlighting the vibrant diversity of Toronto, capturing the spirit of joy and play, and reflecting communities coming together across cultures and generations.

The selected creative rendering will be awarded $10,000 CAD. The mural will be professionally produced and painted by an experienced mural fabrication team and remain on view for a minimum of 24 months.

As the world turns its attention to Toronto, your work will become a powerful symbol of welcome, connection and shared celebration, experienced by millions throughout an unforgettable summer in the city.

Open to community members across all disciplines and creative experience levels. No mural experience required. Don’t miss your chance to help tell Toronto’s story on the world’s stage!

Submission Deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026, 11:59 pm EST

Submission Criteria

Specifications

The Opportunity:

Submit a creative rendering (drawing, painting, illustration etc) that reflects Toronto’s vibrancy – joy, play, connection, and community across cultures and generations. Your submission should feel welcoming and inclusive, and resonate with people who will encounter it every day on the waterfront.
You don’t need to identify as a professional artist to apply – if you have a meaningful idea, we want to see it.
No fabrication by the applicant. A professional team will paint the final large‑scale mural to ensure safety, quality, and durability.
Duration of installation: The mural will be completed by May 2026 and will remain for a minimum of 24 months

The Selected Submission will:

Receive a total award of $10,000 CAD. If the chosen submission is created by a team or collective, the lead application contact will be issued the payment.
Provide input to final high-resolution files suitable for large-scale production.
Be recognized within Harbourfront Centre’s promotional efforts that celebrate the mural, in addition to other public-facing opportunities, to be determined.

Location & Specs:

Wall size: approximately 60 ft (w) × 17 ft (h). Please reference the photo and layout diagram below.
Site: North‑West side of Harbourfront Centre’s campus.
Notes: The wall includes doors/utility fixtures. Please reserve a 10 ft × 4 ft area in the bottom‑left corner of your layout for sponsor recognition.
Restrictions: Do not include protected imagery, logos, or trademarks (e.g., no FIFA or sports team branding).

Download Mural Schematics

Submission Requirements

Submissions must include:

Contact information
A PDF or JPEG file where the image composition reflects the mural’s dimensions of 17’ high x 60’ wide. The visual does not need to be professionally created, and can be a sketch, drawing, painting or image. If selected, you will work with our team to prepare the final file that will be used to paint the wall. Where possible, files can be submitted at 300 dpi, and applicants are welcome to include colour references or accompanying notes.
A short, written description of the concept (maximum 500 words), including how it responds to the theme.
Applicant biography (maximum 250 words).

Submission deadline: Friday, March 20, 2026 at 11:59 pm EST.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the opportunity?

Harbourfront Centre invites GTA residents to submit their creative rendering (drawing, painting, illustration etc) for an original, large-scale mural for Toronto’s iconic waterfront.

Inspired by the theme A City in Celebration, submissions should be inclusive, highlighting the vibrant diversity of Toronto, capturing the spirit of joy and play, while reflecting communities coming together across cultures and generations.

Why now?

The mural will be installed in advance of the upcoming summer – an unforgettable season that will include the World Cup 2026, bringing record numbers of residents and visitors to Toronto’s waterfront. As the world turns its attention to Toronto, your submission could become a powerful symbol of welcome, connection and shared celebration, experienced by millions.

Harbourfront Centre is thrilled to be part of a global moment that unites art, sport and community. Don’t miss your chance to help tell Toronto’s story on the world stage!

Who is this call open to?

Submissions are welcome from all Greater Toronto Area (GTA) residents. No prior mural experience or professional creative portfolio is required.

What is being requested in a submission?

Harbourfront Centre is seeking creative renderings (drawing, painting, illustration etc) for a 60’ x 17’ wall on the North-West side of its campus addressing the theme, A City in Celebration.

We require a PDF or JPEG (at 300 dpi) image reflecting the mural’s full dimensions of 17’ high x 60’ wide. Where possible, images should be submitted at a reduced scale (e.g., 1:10 or similar), ensuring the aspect ratio is maintained and is clearly represented in the full composition. Colour references and any specific production notes may also accompany the mock-up.

Why was an RFP used instead of an RFQ?

This project was structured as a Request for Proposals (RFP) to enable broad community participation, rather than require professional credentials or past experience with large-scale commissions. A Request for Quote (RFQ) typically evaluates applicants based on prior experience and completed bodies of work. Using an RFP allows individuals without traditional portfolios, including community-based creatives, to participate meaningfully with the potential for their design to be selected.

Will the selected applicant be expected to paint the mural?

No. The selected applicant is not expected to paint, fabricate, or install the mural. The winning design concept will be professionally painted by an experienced third-party mural fabrication team engaged by Harbourfront Centre. This ensures safety, quality, and durability while removing technical and physical barriers to participation.

What will the selected applicant receive and be responsible for?

The selected applicant will receive a total award of $10,000 CAD. If the chosen submission is created by a team or collective, the lead application contact will be issued the payment.
The selected applicant will provide input toward final high-resolution artwork files suitable for large-scale production, with final format to be confirmed.
The selected applicant will be recognized within Harbourfront Centre’s promotional efforts that celebrate the mural, in addition to other public-facing opportunities, to be determined.
The selected applicant will not be responsible for painting, fabrication or installation of the mural.

Who owns the artwork?

Every applicant retains copyright in their work. For the final selected design, Harbourfront Centre holds a non-exclusive license to use the artwork for promotional and documentation purposes related to the project.

Are accessibility accommodations available?

Accessibility accommodations are available upon request. This may include alternate formats, assistance preparing materials, or other supports to help ensure equitable access to the application process.

Who can I contact with questions?

Additional questions can be directed to visualarts@harbourfrontcentre.com.

Submission Form

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Name

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Having trouble with this form? Email us at visualarts@harbourfrontcentre.com.

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Concept Description(Required)

Provide a short written description of your concept, including how it responds to the theme 'A City in Celebration'. (Maximum: 500 words / approx. 3600 characters; spaces, punctuation marks, and carriage returns count as characters.)

Applicant Biography(Required)

Provide a short written bio of yourself. (Maximum: 250 words / approx. 1800 characters; spaces, punctuation marks, and carriage returns count as characters.)

File Access(Required)

Provide a download URL to the drive where your image file is stored. We require a PDF or JPEG file where the image composition reflects the mural’s dimensions of 17’ high x 60’ wide. The visual does not need to be professionally created, and can be a sketch, drawing, painting or image. If selected, you will work with our team to prepare the final file that will be used to paint the wall. Where possible, files can be submitted at 300 dpi, and applicants are welcome to include colour references or accompanying notes. Please test the link in advance to ensure that the file is accessible to someone outside of the account that you are using.

Eligibility Criteria

By submitting to this call, I acknowledge and agree that

I am a current resident of the Greater Toronto Area able to receive payment though a Canadian financial institution. (For applicants under 18, payment may be made with the consent of a parent or guardian)
My submission is original and does not infringe on any third-party rights.
My submission does not include any generative AI-produced elements.
If my submission is selected by the jury, I grant Harbourfront Centre a non-exclusive license for promotional use (I will retain the copyright in my submission.)

Eligibility Confirmation(Required)

I confirm that the Eligibility Criteria statements above are true

Harbourfront Centre is committed to fostering an inclusive arts community that reflects the full diversity of Toronto. We actively encourage submissions from GTA residents who are part of communities that have been historically underserved in the arts sector.

Accessibility accommodations are available on request (formats, support preparing materials, etc.).

Questions? Please contact visualarts@harbourfrontcentre.com.

Before you submit, please ensure that the link to your dropbox/drive is accurate and functional; if your design file cannot be retrieved in a straight-forward manner, we will be unable to accept your submission.