Introduction
The City of Thunder Bay is hosting its annual SnowDay on the Waterfront event at Prince Arthur's Landing - Marina Park on Family Day - Monday, February 17, 2025. SnowDay on the Waterfront encourages visitors to embrace winter while participating in fun outdoor activities such as ice skating, ice fishing, snowshoeing and outdoor games. The event's main attraction will showcase a series of snow sculptures, complemented for the first time by an innovative display of No Snow, No Problem sculptures.
Invitation to Artists
This competition is open to professional artists, and professional artist-led teams. Teams local to Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario are strongly encouraged to apply. Artists are invited to submit proposals for temporary sculptural installations for SnowDay on the Waterfront. These installations, crafted from weather-resistant materials rather than snow, will introduce a unique art element to the event.
Theme
SnowDay on the Waterfront will not require artists to adhere to a theme. Proposals must keep within the spirit of the event as fun and family friendly while considering the typical design restrictions required to maintain public safety.
Project Specifications
Artists may propose up to a maximum of three (3) concepts.
Artists are solely responsible for all aspects of their sculptures, including creation, transportation, installation, secure anchoring, and removal following the event.
The City of Thunder Bay reserves the right to determine the total number of No Snow, No Problem Sculptures selected.
Artists and teams in this category will propose sculpture submissions within the following dimensions:
- Minimum - 3'H x 3'D x 3'W
- Maximum - 10'H x 8'D x 8'W
Design Considerations & Responsibilities
- Anchoring
- Artists are responsible for designing and installing secure anchoring systems for their sculptures.
- These systems must account for challenging weather conditions, including frozen ground, ice, and snow.
- Anchoring systems must be surface ground only and cannot be driven into the ground.
- Materials
- Artists must select weather-resistant materials that can withstand outdoor exposure, including cold temperatures, snow, rain, and strong winds, to ensure the durability of their sculptures throughout the event.
- Public Accessibility
- Sculptures will be enclosed with event fencing to ensure public safety.
- Artists should design their installations with this in mind, ensuring that the sculptures are clearly visible and engaging for viewers from behind the fencing.
- Lighting
- Competitors are not required to include a lighting element(s) that will illuminate their completed sculpture. Effective use of lighting element(s) will be taken into consideration by the jury. Consider using temporary battery or solar lighting options. All lighting fixtures are the artist’s responsibility.
The artwork must not:
- Include any openings or climbable elements
- Incorporate snow or ice (ex. Materials that are weather dependant)
- Pose a hazard in terms of position/orientation, materials used, or circulation of the site
- Exceed 10’ in height
- Require artists to position themselves unsafely while installing/removing
All sculptures will be in the Festival Area of Prince Arthur’s Landing - Marina Park. The specific location of your sculpture will be assigned by City staff.
Sculptures will be available for viewing until the conclusion of the SnowDay on the Waterfront event. However, if sculptures pose a safety concern due to weather or other factors after installation, the City reserves the right to ask that the sculpture be removed.
Installation Timeline
Installation of the No Snow, No Problem Sculptures can occur between February 14 – February 15. Please also note that regular hours for City staff are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. Outside of those hours you will have an on-call contact to assist with urgent matters/inquiries. If snow removal is required, removal from around sculptures during installation will occur daily at approximately 5:00 pm, weather permitting.
Sculptures must be complete & installed, and all equipment removed from the park by Saturday, February 15 at 5:00 pm to allow for final snow removal & fencing installation. The jury will be reviewing the sculptures on Sunday, February 16, 2025.
Signed Documentation
Before installation takes place, all selected artists/teams will be required to sign a Photo Release as well as an Indemnity and Release of Liability Waiver. Artists/teams without signed documentation will be disqualified from participation.
Honorariums and Accommodations
Selected artist/teams will receive an $800 honorarium per sculpture.
Accommodations may be provided for artists or teams from outside the District of Thunder Bay and is based on double-occupancy. The number of accommodations is limited and will be assigned on a first-come first-serve basis to selected eligible teams.
The City of Thunder Bay is not responsible for any additional costs incurred by the artists or teams in providing a submission, travelling to the site, insurance, or creating sculptures.
Awards
NO SNOW, NO PROBLEM SCULPTURE JURY PRIZE - $1000 cash prize (awarded by a jury)
NO SNOW, NO PROBLEM SCULPTURE JURY HONORABLE MENTION PRIZE - $250 cash prize (awarded by a jury)
NO SNOW, NO PROBLEM SCULPTURE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD - $500 cash prize (awarded by votes from the public)
Sculptures that are deemed complete and eligible will be reviewed by a jury of qualified people, including members of the City of Thunder Bay's Public Art Committee, City administration, and sponsor representatives.
Judging will take place Sunday, February 16, 2025.
One team will be selected by the jury to be the recipient of the $1,000 cash prize. In addition, one artist/team will receive the honourable mention prize of $250. Winners of the Jury Prize and Jury Honourable Mention will be notified first by phone, then announced on the City of Thunder Bay’s Culture and Events social media channels by Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
The People's Choice Award prize is a $500 cash prize. This will be awarded to one artist/team based on public votes submitted by physical ballot and online voting (via the City of Thunder Bay’s Get Involved web page). Three voting stations with physical ballots in Marina Park will be available on Sunday February 16, 2025, and Monday, February 17, 2025. One voting station with physical ballots will remain open at the Water Garden Pavilion until both online and physical polling closes on Monday, February 24, 2025 @ 4:00 pm EST. The winner for the People’s Choice Award will be notified first by phone, then announced on the City of Thunder Bay’s Culture and Events social media channels by Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
