Public Art Mentorship Program 2026

PUBLIC ART MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 2026

Call for Mentees

The City of Saskatoon’s Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) invites emerging artists and artists interested in expanding their practice into public art to participate in the 2026 Public Art Mentorship Program.

This initiative is designed to raise awareness of the value and potential of public art in Saskatoon by engaging local communities, supporting emerging artists, and advocating for increased municipal sponsorship of diverse public art practices.

Our guiding questions:

When we say, public art, who do we imagine as the public?

Who is included, and who might be left out?

The program provides support to artists interested in learning more about public art and the process of developing proposals for work situated within public space and community contexts. Through a short-term paid mentorship, selected participants will work with experienced artists and arts professionals to develop a hypothetical public art proposal as a learning exercise.

Public art can take many forms. Proposed projects might be permanent or temporary, object-based or performative, site-specific, participatory, relational, or otherwise engaged with public space and communities. You do not need previous experience creating public art to participate.

Eligibility

Applications are welcome from:

• Saskatoon-based emerging and mid-career artists;
• Artists interested in public art and community-engaged practice;
• Artists interested in developing skills related to artist calls, proposals, and public art processes;
• Artists working in diverse disciplines and cultural practices; and
• Individuals who can commit to attending all required mentorship meetings and presentations.

PAAC encourages applications from individuals with diverse artistic practices, cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences.

Information Session

Online and in-person information sessions will be held for artists interested in learning more about the program.

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Time: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The session will introduce the Public Art Mentorship Program, discuss different approaches to public art, explain the application and mentorship process, and provide an opportunity for prospective participants to ask questions.

Attendance at the information session is encouraged but not required to apply.

Zoom Link

Passcode: 12345678

How to Apply

Applicants are invited to submit a short 200 – 300-word pitch describing an idea for a permanent, temporary, pop-up, site-specific, or publicly engaged artwork.

The pitch does not need to be a fully developed proposal. We are interested in the idea you would like to explore and why you are interested in developing it through the mentorship program.

Your submission should include:

1. a short description of your proposed project or idea;
2. a brief statement about your interest in participating in the mentorship program; and
3. short bio, outlining your artistic experience
4. preferred contact info (name, email, phone number)

Email PDF application with components to city.clerks@saskatoon.ca, with the subject line: “PAAC Mentorship Application.”

Application deadline: September 28, 2026, 5:00pm

Selection

Up to eight mentees will be selected to participate in the program. Applications will be reviewed based on:

• Interest in public art and community-engaged practice;
• Strength and originality of the proposed idea;
• Commitment to learning and participating fully in the program;
• Alignment with the goals of the mentorship program; and
• Supporting diverse representation and perspectives.

The Mentorship

Selected mentees will be paired with an experienced artist, curator, or arts professional with knowledge of public art and related forms of artistic practice.

Each mentor will work with approximately two mentees. Mentor/mentee groups will meet twice for approximately 1.5 hours during October and November. Meetings may take place online or in person.

The mentorship is intended to help participants move from an initial idea toward a more developed hypothetical public-art proposal. Depending on the project, conversations might address:

• concept development;
• relationships to site and community;
• materials and fabrication;
• accessibility;
• budgeting and timelines;
• installation, consultation and documentation; and
• other practical aspects of realizing work in public space.

Mentees who complete the program will receive an honorarium of $400.00.

Final Presentation

At the conclusion of the mentorship, participants will be invited to present their hypothetical proposals and receive feedback (and encouragement!) from mentors, fellow participants, and invited guests.

The presentations provide an opportunity to practice articulating a public-art proposal and to explore how an initial artistic idea might develop in relation to a particular site, community, budget, and timeframe.

Program timeline

September 22, 2026 — Public information session (zoom link above)

September 28, 2026 — Mentee/participant applications due 
October 9, 2026 — Mentees selected and paired with mentors 
October – November — Mentorship meetings, develop proposal presentation 
December 4, 2026 — Final presentations

Questions: 
city.clerks@saskatoon.ca