Brightening Barriers is a temporary public art project that brings original works by local and regional 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 event 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.
2025 Exhibition
For the fifth year, the City's Brightening Barriers public art exhibition is back, featuring six art installations from new and emerging artists located in Barrie and beyond. The artworks are on display until September 26, 2025.
| Artist(s) | Downtown Patio |
|---|---|
| Alex Kostecka-Silva | Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, 107 Dunlop Street East |
| Bianca Demelo | Dunlop Street Diner, 20 Dunlop Street East |
| BRIGHT 2, MacLaren Youth Project with Kaitlyn Hewett, Willow Peart, Alliyah Segura & Maya Segura and artist mentor Neda Mazhab Jafari | Bohemia, 125 Dunlop Street East |
| Christeen Awad | Michael & Marion’s, 89 Bayfield Street |
| January Paige | McReilly’s Public House, 82 Dunlop Street East |
| Jessica Wisniewski | Homestead Artisan Bakery, 80 Dunlop Street East |
Artists were compensated for their work. New for 2025, the City offered a mentorship program to selected artists who were new to public art. Three local artists with previous Brightening Barriers experience were tasked with offering support and advice during the fabrication process.
A self-guided walking tour and a family scavenger hunt will be available at the Barrie Public Library, Downtown Barrie BIA, Sandbox Centre, MacLaren Art Centre, City Hall, and the restaurants participating in the exhibition.
Follow @creativebarrie on our social media channels and subscribe to the Culture Pop e-newsletter to keep up with project updates.
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 2021–2024, 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:
