Call for projects in partnership with the Parc olympique

Please note that the submission period for this program is over. The documentation is provided for information purposes.

IMPORTANT: This program is not accessible through Mon dossier CALQ. You must complete the grant application form in the “Presentation of the application” section.

Before submitting an application, we recommend that you read the program carefully. If you have any questions after reading it, or to confirm your understanding, we suggest you contact the person in charge of this program by e-mail or telephone. This will enable the artist to obtain information and advice on how to present the project and what to include in the application.

The Parc Olympique (Olympic Park) and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ) are partnering on a call for projects for professional artists in visual arts and arts and crafts to create two original, outdoor, permanent artworks, which will be integrated to the grounds of the Olympic Park to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Olympic Games in Montréal.

The artworks, installed in the Espace Vert Viau and along the Sentier Morgan of Montréal’s Olympic Park, will evoke the historical, social, and architectural importance of the 1976 Games, while offering a thoughtful, contemporary perspective on key issues of the day related to the environment, diversity and inclusion. They will aim to create a dialogue between past and present and between nature and the built heritage of the Olympic Park.

The project is part of an effort to showcase the iconic Olympic Park as a vibrant, accessible, and inclusive civic space, where public art can enrich the experience of the site and foster public reflection.

The artworks in the Olympic Park will be part of a larger series of sculptures created using repurposed materials from the dismantling of the roof of the Olympic Stadium and will form the Écoart art walk in the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough.

Artists are invited to propose a meaningful work that blends harmoniously with the site’s natural surroundings, created using a sustainable approach both in the choice of materials and in the production process.

The Société de développement et de mise en valeur du Parc olympique (Olympic Park) is the organization that develops, manages, promotes, and operates the Olympic Park, hosting sports, cultural, and community events, exhibitions, as well as recreational and tourist activities, working in collaboration with its partners and the surrounding community. The organization is also responsible for showcasing the site’s Olympic heritage and legacy.

The name of the Parcours Écoart (Écoart walk) is a reimagining of the French expression “parcours artistique,” or art walk, adding the prefix “eco” to refer to this artistic and civic initiative’s environmentally responsible approach.

Aiming to make art accessible to everyone and to strengthen the sense of belonging to the community, this initiative will offer residents of Eastern Montréal a series of contemporary art sculptures created from repurposed materials taken in part from the dismantling of the roof of the Olympic Stadium.

This project is aligned with the development plans for the Olympic Park and will coincide with the 50^th anniversary celebrations for the Montréal Olympic Games in 2026.

The artworks

The works proposed must be created sustainably, in keeping with the principles of environmental responsibility espoused by the Écoart project.

An essential feature of the Écoart project is the use of repurposed materials from the roof of Montréal’s Olympic Stadium. At least 60% of artwork’s materials must come from these recycled elements, grounding the artistic approach in the themes of memory, transformation, and reuse. This choice gives the work both a symbolic and environmental impact: it becomes a tangible reminder of an iconic piece of architectural heritage and an expression of an artistic practice that embraces the future.

The artworks must also take into account the site’s design constraints and orientations, to ensure they are thoughtfully integrated into the patrimonial context of the Olympic Park.

All types of approaches and materials are welcome, as long as they meet general specifications and technical constraints outlined in the sections below.

The locations chosen

The artworks will be placed in locations at an iconic historical site for Montréal and Québec: the Olympic Park, best known as the host of the 1976 Summer Olympic Games, and an important landmark in the city, rich in collective memory. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of local and international visitors every year, it is a vibrant civic space where sports, culture, and community intersect.

The locations chosen will enhance the impact of the Écoart project by placing the artworks in a setting that connects with both the past and the future. By incorporating materials from the transformation of the Stadium roof, the works will engage in a dialogue with the site's past while reflecting the contemporary values of innovation, resilience, and sustainability.

Espace Vert Viau

Located at the south entrance of the Olympic Park, this site is a strategic, highly visible entryway. It offers an opportunity to create a bold, urban entrance that reflects the iconic nature of the site. Open and spacious, this location lends itself to a more horizontal installation, one that can help structure the space without obstructing sightlines or overwhelming a landscape that already has a strong visual identity.

Sentier Morgan

Located at the north entrance of the Olympic Park, the site opens directly onto Parc Maisonneuve, offering a unique topography and beautifully landscaped setting. This entry point lends itself to a more immersive installation that blends seamlessly with the landscape, enhancing the visitor experience while respecting its fluid, verdant character.

Selected proposals could each receive up to $200,000 in funding.

As the commissioning body, the Olympic Park may award up to $150,000 to each project. A formal agreement will be signed between the selected artist and the Olympic Park, which will own the work. This agreement will set out the project timeline, terms of payment for the amount granted by the Olympic Park, and provisions regarding the transfer of copyright for exhibition and reproduction.

In addition, the CALQ will award a one-time grant of up to $50,000 to each of the two artists whose projects are selected.

Artists will be required to respect the project criteria, including using materials repurposed from the Olympic Stadium roof.

Professional artists in Visual arts, and Arts and crafts with at least five years' artistic practice in Quebec or abroad and experience in the creation or, at the very least, the design of permanent public artworks are eligible.

The number of years of professional artistic practice is determined taking into account the applicant’s entire career and includes the number of years of practice in another discipline.

To be eligible, the applicant must satisfy the General criteria and conditions for this program.

This call is open to professional artists working in visual arts or arts and crafts who meet these general criteria:

• Declare themselves to be professional artists;
• Produce works or practice an art on their own behalf or offer services for payment, as creators or performers, in disciplines within the CALQ’s jurisdiction;
• Have been recognized by their peers;
• Publicly present or perform works at sites or in a context recognized by their peers.

In addition, to qualify for this call, the artist must

• Have at least five (5) years of relevant professional experience, including significant achievements in visual arts or arts and crafts.
• Have already created at least one permanent work of public art, or demonstrate an equivalent capacity to conceive, produce and deliver a work in the public space, with a portfolio demonstrating mastery of production constraints, durable materials and installation.

Artist collectives are eligible if all members meet the eligibility requirements. Applications must be submitted by a single person. To facilitate the reading of the present text, the use of the term “artist” is preferred and includes the notion of collective.

The call is open to artists from all regions of Quebec, subject to their ability to ensure rigorous follow-up of the project remotely or in person, as required by the Olympic Park.

Disciplines

• A project that is not original.
• A project that does not follow the sustainability requirements (655 KB) or any other element outlined in the specifications (32 MB) .

The maximum amount granted is $200,000 and will cover all costs related to the design, production and installation of the artwork (including taxes), such as:

• the artist’s fee;
• fees for collaborators and subcontractors;
• detailed technical plans;
• the site installation plan;
• the purchase of materials;
• production of the artwork and its supporting structure;
• site preparation;
• shipping and installation of the artwork;
• insurance in the studio;
• copyright for the exhibition and reproduction of the work;
• the artist’s travel and accommodations.
• the Olympic Park will provide in-house technical support for the integration of the artwork with existing systems (electrical, mechanical, architectural, and electronic).

The Olympic Park will also cover the cost of technical certification (including technical specifications with an engineer’s seal and signature). It will also cover insurance costs for transporting the works and installing them on site.

Maintenance for the artwork will be the responsibility of the Olympic Park.

The artworks must be completed and installed for unveiling during the week of September 1, 2026, as part of celebrations for the 50^th anniversary of the Montreal Olympic Games.

As part of the Écoart initiative, the works will celebrate the collective commitment, solidarity, and unifying spirit of Quebecers during key moments in their contemporary history. They will highlight the power of peaceful coexistence, social cohesion, and the importance of taking action together, in a united, responsible way, to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future.

Each piece will also be a lasting symbol of recognition and remembrance, becoming a unifying civic landmark within the Olympic Park landscape.

Additional requirements for each artwork:

• The artwork must include a commemorative plaque, either on the ground or elsewhere.
• Any text used in the artwork must be exclusively in French.
• The artwork must not contain partisan messaging, hateful, violent, or discriminatory content, explicit sexual material, or any commercial or profit-driven intent. It must avoid religious references of any kind.
• The work must respect the political neutrality of the Government of Québec and must not harm or discredit its honour or reputation.
• As the artwork will be installed outdoors, the choice of materials must take into account weather conditions, vandalism, ease of maintenance, and durability.
• The artwork must be visible from all angles, day and night.
• The artist is expected to prioritize local and responsible procurement wherever possible and implement mechanisms to dispose of materials eco-responsibly.
• The artists must ensure that the artwork complies with building codes and safety standards currently in effect for public sites.​​​​​​

The artist must follow the detailed technical specifications. It is recommended that they visit the installation site before designing their project.
Technical specifications for the installation sites for the artworks and the site’s characteristics are outlined in the specifications prepared by the Olympic Park (32 MB) .
Candidates will also have the chance to tour the Olympic Park’s storage facility to familiarize themselves with the reusable materials from the Stadium roof.
Artists may submit only one project. They must indicate in their application the site they have chosen.

The selection process will take place in two stages: 

•    Submission of preliminary projects by artists 
At this stage, the committee will select up to three proposals per site from the applications submitted. Shortlisted artists will be invited to develop their project and create a scale model. Each artist selected will receive $4,000 for this stage.

•    Presentation of the finalists’ detailed proposals to the selection committee 
Artists will have an individual meeting with the committee to present their project and answer questions. Following these meetings, the committee will     select the two winning projects.

In the first stage, candidates must submit an application including a CV, an outline of the proposed project as it relates to their artistic practice, sketches or drawings that illustrate the proposal, a short statement demonstrating their ability to complete the project on budget and on time, as well as images of recent work.

All technical specifications for the installation sites and requirements for the artworks are detailed in the specifications. 

If they register in advance, candidates will have a chance to visit the Olympic Park’s storage site to familiarize themselves with the reusable materials from the Stadium roof. Registered artists will receive the site address upon confirmation. To reserve your place for a visit of the storage site, please fill out the registration form available HEREThis link will open in a new window (in French only).

Dates for site visits: 
       Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
       Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
       Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
       Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The file contents are listed on the form. 

The application deadline is September 30, 2025.
 

CALQ staff will submit eligible applications to the selection committee, which may select up to three candidates per project for the next stage.

Evaluation criteria

At this stage, applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Artistic quality of the artist's past work;
• Orginality and relevance of the concept proposed;
• The artist's ability to complete the project.

The CALQ will contact the artists selected to confirm their interest in moving forward in the selection process.

All applicants will be informed of the results.

Model and project development

For the second round of evaluation, finalists will have 11 weeks to finalize their project presentation and produce a physical model or a 3D model at 1:20 scale, including a reference figure to illustrate scale.

At the start of their work, they must take part in an on-site information session with representatives from the Olympic Park and the architectural firm responsible for the site plan, who will provide details about technical constraints and answer questions.

Finalists will also be required to work with the Olympic Park’s engineers to obtain technical approvals, which will be presented to the selection committee.

Each artist will receive a lump sum of $4,000 (including taxes) to develop their proposal, build the model, and provide one or more samples of materials and finishes at a 1:1 scale.

Finalists will be invited to present their project to the selection committee. Along with the model, they must submit the following documents:

• a written description of the concept and how the work will be integrated to the site;
• a list of material and their supply sources;
• a statement of technical feasibility signed by an Olympic Park engineer;
• 3 to 5 colour models (in context);
• the detailed budget;
• a project timeline;
• the maintenance estimate;
• the signed sustainability commitment form, which can be found at the end of the specifications.

At this stage, the evaluation will focus on the concept and feasibility of the project. The evaluation criteria are as follows:

• artistic quality and originality of the concept;
• whether the project reflects the themes and values set out in the call for projects;
• integration of the work into its environment;
• consideration of the project’s environmental aspects;
• the practicality of the technical assessment, budget projections, the project timeline, and maintenance estimate for the work.

At the end of the evaluation process, the committee will select two proposals, one per installation site. The winning artists will be notified as soon as possible so they can begin work without delay.

All CALQ decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

 September 30, 2025 - 11h59PM

An application filed for this program will be treated in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the application deadline are not eligible.

Only one project per artist.

Acknowledgement of receipt will be sent by e-mail. Candidates registered with Mon dossier CALQ This link will open in a new window can follow the progress of their application directly in their online file. Please note that from now on, to access Mon dossier CALQ, you must log in via the Government Authentication Service This link will open in a new window. This authentication method replaces clicSÉQUR – Citizens.

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