Public Art

Public art improves livability, quality of life and wellbeing. It showcases local artists, helps to revitalize and beautify neighbourhoods, engages residents and visitors with art, reflects our histories and identities, and cultivates community pride. We invest in public art.

Year of the Arts Projects

In celebration of the provincial Year of the Arts, the City of St. John’s has two exciting initiatives planned for visual arts:

Downtown Pedestrian Mall Public Art

The City is excited to feature the work of visual artists on new, vibrant signage throughout the Downtown Pedestrian Mall in summer 2024.

This year, the work of various visual artists were featured, including:

Molly Margaret
Yelyzaveta Anysymova
Rashelle Beach
Kyle Bennett
Vessela Brakalova
Krista Burton
Heather Coughlan
Emma Dooley
Jay Mach
Shan Leigh Pomeroy
Susy Randell
Nicholas Watton
Stephanie White

The artwork enhances the vibrant, colourful streetscape of Water Street, contributes to the fun, inviting atmosphere of the Downtown Pedestrian Mall for residents and visitors and helps celebrate the unique characteristics of the City of St. John’s.

Artists for this project were secured through a call for artwork during Spring 2024.

Year of the Arts Mural

In April 2024, the City of St. John’s issued an RFP seeking artists to design and complete a mural celebrating the art and artists of Newfoundland and Labrador, in recognition of the provincial Year of the Arts. The mural will be installed on a portion of the concrete retaining wall running west from the Harvey Road/Bonaventure Avenue intersection to the gate below The Rooms, adjacent to the “Come Home 2022” mural completed by artists Molly Margaret and Lily Taylor as part of the City’s “Come Home 2022” celebrations.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) received 13 submissions. A selection committee including representation from the local visual arts community, and City of St. John’s staff assessed the submissions based on the criteria outlined in the RFP. The submission from artist Jerry Evans was chosen as the successful proposal.

The mural will celebrate the varied contributions of artists in St. John’s and Newfoundland and Labrador, while enhancing the streetscape and highlighting the unique characteristics of the City.

Art procurement

The City regularly issues a public call to individual artists and commercial galleries for submissions of artwork to be considered for purchase by the City for inclusion in the Civic Art Collection. Artwork in the collection can be seen throughout City Hall and other City buildings.

Submissions should be made via email to arts@stjohns.ca and must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on October 25, 2024. For more information regarding program guidelines and submission information, please email arts@stjohns.ca.

Juror Expression of Interest

Interested in serving as a juror on the Grants to Individual Artists Jury or Art Procurement Jury? Complete the Juror Expression of Interest form.

Murals

We hire artists to create murals in many neighbourhoods. Murals enliven and beautify the City and reduce unwanted graffiti.

Our mural sites include:

McBride's Hill - Great Fire of 1892 Commemorative Mural (Artist: Julie Lewis)
Mural on Duckworth Street West (Artists: Derek Holmes and April Norman)
Mural on Duckworth Street near Prescott (Artists: Derek Holmes and April Norman)
The Outer Battery (Artists: Derek Holmes and April Norman)