Percent for Public Art Program

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.

The Toronto Public Art Commission (TPAC) is a panel of citizen volunteers that serves as an informed peer review group to advise City Planning on public art projects and policies.

To learn more about the Program and the role of TPAC, refer to the City Council approved (August, 2010) Percent for Public Art Program Guidelines.

For more information about TPAC and future application calls, please contact Lara.Tarlo@toronto.ca.

TPAC *Agenda Closing (Noon) TPAC *** Meeting (6 p.m.)
January 10 January 31
February 7 February 28
March 6 March 27
April 3 April 24
May 8 May 29
June 5 June 26
July 10 July 31
September 4 September 25**
October 9 October 30
November 6 November 27

Dates subject to change.

* The agenda deadline and submission of a draft Public Art Plan assumes that:

  • Preliminary meetings with Community Planning and Urban Design staff have already occurred
  • If requested by staff, the preparation and submission of a first draft Public Art Plan may be required earlier than the agenda closing.

** Staff meetings and review of draft public art plans for the September TPAC meeting must occur in early summer.

*** TPAC meetings will be held virtually on Cisco WebEx – subject to change.

Note: Final approved public art plans must be AODA compliant. Staff will endeavour to meet Council deadlines, pending finalized approvals.

City Planning (community planners and urban designers) administers this program and works with the private sector to secure public art contributions through development review, Official Plan amendments and re-zonings.

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 Program requires that the artwork must be clearly visible at all times from publicly accessible areas. View the Percent for Public Art Program Guidelines.

When making a percent for public art contribution, a developer has three options:

  1. ‘Off-site‘ – the contribution is collected by the City in a Public Art Reserve Fund and used with other similar contributions to commission public art for a City-initiative in the local ward. When public art is commissioned by the City, the process is administered by History, Art & Culture.
  2.  ‘On-site‘ – the contribution is used by the developer to commission a public artwork located on or immediately adjacent to the development property. In some cases, the developer commissions art as part of the design for an open space or a park that will later become a City-owned amenity.
  3. ‘On-site’ and ‘Off-site’ – any combination of the above two options. When the public art program is ‘On-site’ a City Council approved Public Art Plan is required. With the assistance of City Planning staff and the Toronto Public Art Commission, a citizen advisory group, the Public Art Plan ensures that the developer identifies appropriate public art opportunities on the site; a feasible budget and project schedule; and a fair and professional method for art/artist selection.