Public Art

Calling Local Artists!

Public art is visual art that exists in the public realm. The Barrie Public Art Guide features works in public spaces across Barrie along with mapped locations. Copies are available for pickup at City Hall and tourism outlets.

City Council approved its first Public Art Policy in October 2012. The policy was created by a committee of arts experts from Barrie and surrounding area. The policy established a Barrie Public Art Committee that works to raise the profile of public art and create a vibrant, animated city full of public art for all to enjoy.

A Public Art Strategy and improvements to the Public Art Policy are being developed as part of the Culture Plan Update.

Public Art Listing

Public art is categorized as outlined below.
Permanent / Long Term: These artworks are part of the City’s public art collection and were commissioned, purchased by, or donated to the City. The care and maintenance of these objects is managed by city staff. The timing of each cleaning/treatment is determined by the medium of the artwork, its age, and location. There is an exception when cleaning is required due to unexpected causes (e.g. vandalism).
Temporary & Exhibitions: Public art that is on view for a short period of time. Some are part of temporary exhibitions organized by the city, some are artworks made of materials that are temporary in nature, some are on limited display due to the programs that initiated them.
Infrastructure / Public Realm: These artworks are commissioned by the city through inter-departmental partnerships. They are temporary artworks fabricated to beautify civic infrastructure.
Community Partnerships: Public art that is initiated by local community groups or artists and supported by the City. Support may include use of public land or assets, city resources, and/or guidance and advice.

Rendering of public art piece made of mirror finished stainless steel paddles connected to a stainless-steel armature, perched atop two painted structural steel poles.

Exhale Sculpture

Type: Permanent or Long Term

Status: Coming Soon

The Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal project will include a commissioned work of public art in the outdoor plaza at the Barrie Allandale Transit Terminal, to be installed in 2025.

Brightening Barriers Exhibition

Type: Temporary & Exhibitions

Status: Coming Soon

In 2024, nine restaurant patios in Barrie's downtown had temporary art installations displayed on their patio fencing. Brightening Barriers offers an opportunity to turn the “barrier" of imposed separation into a collective artistic experience.

Traffic cabinets wrapped in artwork

Graffiti Abatement Artwork

Type: Infrastructure / Public Realm

Status: Currently On Display

Proactively painting anti-graffiti coatings and murals on surfaces prone to graffiti is one of the approaches used on the City's graffiti abatement program.

Public art sculpture-bike rack

Dividers Made into a Juncture Sculpture

Type: Permanent or Long Term

Status: Currently On Display

Barrie’s first commissioned Public Art sculpture, titled “Dividers Made into a Juncture,” is installed at the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library.

The Container Project

Type: Infrastructure / Public Realm

Status: Currently On Display

Designed to serve two purposes, the container at Meridian Place is not only a storage facility, but a mural that adds to the beautification of downtown Barrie.

Sculpture: double-sided horn and a split heart form

The Horn and The Heart Sculpture

Type: Permanent or Long Term

Status: Currently On Display

Sculpture at Meridian Place in downtown Barrie. Also known as The Bob Hunter Memorial Public Art Project.

Sea Serpent sculpture at Barrie waterfront

The Sea Serpent Sculpture

Type: Permanent or Long Term

Status: Currently On Display

The Sea Serpent, located in Heritage Park, is the first large donation accepted into the City’s collection by the Public Art Committee.

The Moon Paint Jam Mural

Type: Community Partnership

Status: Currently On Display

Take a walk along the alley between Collier and Dunlop Streets and behind Donaleigh’s you will find a bright and bold addition to our downtown landscape.

Mother Nature Mosaic Mural

Type: Community Partnership

Status: Currently On Display

This mosaic mural was facilitated through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Barrie and the City of Barrie. It is intended to beautify the former Trans Canada Trail Pavilion.

Soapbox Sculpture close-up

Soapbox Sculpture

Type: Permanent or Long Term

Status: Currently On Display

Evoking an ideal central to Canadian identity, Soapbox was installed as part of Art in Unexpected Places, a temporary exhibition of public art hosted for Canada 150.

Text: What if you missed your stop, then walked a few blocks. Just imagine... how much your perspective would change, as you explore the city you call home.

Art on Transit

Type: Infrastructure / Public Realm

Status: Currently On Display

Art on Transit artwork is installed on high-profile bus shelters and featured in all ten Barrie wards.

composite digital image

Community Improvement Artwork

Type: Temporary & Exhibitions

Status: Currently On Display

Councillor-led community improvement art projects were completed in consultation with the BPAC.

Seeds to Sow Exhibition

Type: Temporary & Exhibitions

Status: Archived

Seeds to Sow featured six installations of site-specific artwork, transforming Barrie's landscape from September 27 to November 8, 2024.