Brightening Barriers is a temporary public art project that brings original works by local, regional, and provincial artists to patios throughout the downtown. With patio fencing serving as a canvas, Brightening Barriers offers an opportunity to turn “barriers" into a collective artistic experience.
The exhibition brings a free and accessible cultural experience to the community, and animates the downtown corridor with points of interest. Residents and visitors are invited to explore downtown Barrie and support local businesses while appreciating the variety of artwork on display.
This project, organized by the Barrie Public Art Committee, supports visual artists by highlighting regional artists and original works of art.
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2026 Exhibition | Coming May 2026
Selected artwork will be on display from May 15 to September 21, 2026. Each installation will be affixed to a patio fence along Dunlop, Collier and Simcoe Streets, generously provided by a local business.
For the 2026 exhibition, the City and the Barrie Public Art Committee invited proposals from artists, with the intention to commission up to six artworks. The call for artists was open from February 10 to March 13, 2026 (a copy of the 2026 Brightening Barriers call for artists remains available for reference). As part of the application process, the City also offered a mentorship program to support emerging artists (artists who are new to public art). Successful applicants will be compensated for their work.
Artists were invited to respond to the theme Rhythms of the City. This theme explores the patterns, movement, and energy that shape the city of Barrie. Collectively, the selected works will create a cohesive visual rhythm across downtown Barrie.
2026 marks the sixth year of the Brightening Barriers program.
2025 Exhibition
For the fifth year, the City's Brightening Barriers public art exhibition returned May 16–September 26, 2025, featuring six art installations from new and emerging artists located in Barrie and beyond. Artists were compensated for their work. New for 2025, the City offered a mentorship program to selected artists who were new to public art.
About the Installations
Project Recognition
Brightening Barriers received an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Excellence Award in 2022 in the Neighbourhood Development category. IEDC is the largest nonprofit professional association for professional economic developers in the world. Each year, IEDC recognizes organizations for exemplary economic development marketing campaigns, projects, and programs.
Past Exhibit Guides
Each summer from 2021–2025, restaurant patios in Barrie's downtown had temporary art installations displayed on their patio fencing. Residents and visitors could explore downtown Barrie and support local businesses while appreciating the original works. For information about past exhibits, download the guides: