Town seeking artists for community mural and new “Art in the Halls” program

Artists must submit applications by March 31

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Caledon has two new opportunities for local artists. 

The first is a commission for an artist to design and illustrate an outline of a mural for a community painting event that will take place during Caledon Day on June 15. 

“The chosen artist will design and illustrate the mural as a giant paint-by-numbers piece, so anyone in the community can help paint it,” said Town Staff in a March 6 announcement. “This mural is a way for Caledon to celebrate our 50th anniversary during Caledon Day.”

The artist selected to design the mural will be paid $3,000.

The artist must be able to attend the Caledon Day event. 

The Town expects the project as a whole will be finished by August 15, with a to-be-determined unveiling date set for September. 

The mural will be approximately six by eight feet in size and completed on crezon MDO board. 

Interested artists must email culture@caledon.ca by March 31 with their full name, address, phone number, and images of previous public art or relevant projects. Artists must also provide a written or visual description of their proposed approach to the mural, and explain how Caledon's 50th anniversary will be celebrated in it.

The other opportunity the Town has for artists is its new “Art in the Halls” program. 

The program will allow local artists to showcase their original artwork in Caledon's recreation and culture facilities.

“These exhibition spaces will provide a platform for professional and emerging artists, instructors and students in the community,” said the Town in the statement. “Art will be displayed in three town facilities for a period of 12 weeks, with applications being accepted on a quarterly basis.”

The theme for the first intake of art is “50 Years of Caledon” and artists interested in showcasing their work must apply to the program by visiting the following link: caledon.ca/art.

The first application window for the program closes on March 31 and artists selected for this intake will have their work displayed from May 1 to August 30.

Caledon's Commissioner of Community and Human Services, Catherine McLean, said the Town is happy to be offering the two new artist opportunities. 

“We are excited to launch these two new arts and culture initiatives, designed to not only showcase our local artists, but to bring the community together to appreciate their creations, and to also create one for the entire community to enjoy,” said McLean. “Celebrating a 50th anniversary is an exciting event, and these two initiatives will help us celebrate Caledon's milestone birthday together as a community.”