Call for New Members 2024: Toronto Public Art Commission

The Toronto Official Plan encourages the inclusion of public art in all significant private sector developments across the City. City Planning works with the private sector to secure public art contributions through development review, Official Plan amendments and rezonings.

The governing principle for the Percent for Public Art Program is that art is a public benefit to be enjoyed and experienced by residents and visitors throughout the city. The privately-owned art is intended to make buildings and open spaces more attractive and interesting and to improve the quality of the public realm. The Program requires that the artwork must be clearly visible at all times from publicly accessible areas. Alternatively, City Planning may seek public art contributions to be directed to City-owned public lands. An overview of the Program can be found in the Percent for Public Art Program brochure. To explore some of Toronto’s public art on your own, use the Public Art Map.

Above image: Lexier, Micah Two Circles at 22 Adelaide Street West, won an Award of Excellence at the 2017 Urban Design Awards. Photo credit copyright Tom Arban