Public Art Mentorship Program 2026
Call for Mentors
The City of Saskatoon’s Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) invites experienced artists, curators, and arts professionals to participate as mentors in the 2026 Public Art Mentorship Program.
The program supports emerging artists and artists interested in expanding their practices into public art by providing practical experience developing a hypothetical public-art proposal. It also seeks to strengthen connections among artists, civic institutions, arts organizations, and communities in Saskatoon.
The program is guided by broader questions:
When we say, public art, who do we imagine as the public?
Who is included, and who might be left out?
Mentors are invited to bring their own perspectives on this question to the program, encouraging mentees to think critically about how artworks enter public space, whom they address, and the communities, histories, and relationships they encounter there.
The Mentor Role
Four mentors will be selected, and each mentor will be paired with approximately two mentees whose interests or proposed projects align with their areas of experience.
The mentorship runs during October and November 2026. The commitment includes:
- An information Session at the start of the program (approximately 60 minutes, online or in person).
- Two meetings with each mentee, approximately 1.5 hours each, held online or in person.
- The concluding presentation on December 4, 2026, where mentees share the proposals developed through the mentorship and receive feedback. Mentors are invited and encouraged to attend.
Mentors are not expected to develop proposals on behalf of participants. Rather, they will act as advisors and critical interlocutors, helping mentees identify questions, possibilities, and practical considerations as they develop their projects.
Depending on the mentee’s proposal, mentorship might address concept development; relationships between artwork, site, community, and public; materials and fabrication; accessibility; budgeting; timelines; consultation and collaboration; and strategies for communicating a proposal through writing, drawings, models, images, or other forms.
Mentors will also be invited to attend the program’s concluding presentation, where mentees will share the proposals developed through the mentorship and receive feedback.
Compensation
Mentors will receive an honorarium of $1,200.00 in recognition of their participation, (paid on completion of the program). This is a flat amount regardless of the number of mentees assigned.
Who We Are Looking For
We welcome expressions of interest from artists, curators, and arts professionals with:
- Experience relevant to public art and a willingness to share their knowledge with artists who may be new to public-art processes;
- Professional experience in public art, community-engaged art, or large-scale projects;
- Experience submitting successful artist proposals or participating in public art commissions;
- Ability to support and guide emerging artists through the proposal process;
- Strong communication and mentorship skills;
- A connection to Saskatoon and/or Saskatchewan arts communities.
We are interested in mentors representing a range of approaches to public practice, including permanent and temporary work, sculpture and installation, performance, socially engaged and participatory practices, Indigenous and land-based practices, media and digital work, and other forms of artistic engagement with public space.
Mentors do not need experience in all aspects of public art. We will aim to pair mentors and mentees according to relevant interests, experience, and approaches.
Expression of Interest
Please submit:
- a brief statement of interest (~200 words);
- a short bio or CV;
- your areas of experience or particular interest in public art;
- preferred contact information (name, email, phone number).
Email submission to city.clerks@saskatoon.ca, with the subject line: “PAAC Mentor Expression of Interest”
Deadline: August 31, 2026, at 5:00pm
What to Expect After You Apply
Expressions of interest will be reviewed by Public Art Advisory Committee at its September meeting and selected mentors will be contacted. Mentors will be matched with mentees in October.
Questions:
city.clerks@saskatoon.ca