Welcome to the registration page for
Public Art Workshop Series Answering the Call: All Things Public Art Applications with Spark Box Studio
Sunday, March 22, 2026 from 1-5 p.m.
Location - The County Arts Lab, Unit 2E, Picton Armoury Building
County Arts is thrilled to partner with the Municipality through the new Public Art Program to present a series of workshops aimed at providing artists with opportunities to build skills to aid in the creation of Public Artworks. County Arts is the County’s Public Art Program Administrator and as we plan our commissions and first few projects we are offering these workshops to prepare artists to respond to future open calls.
For this workshop, join artists Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping of Spark Box Studio for a practical session on navigating applications to public art open calls. In this workshop, Chrissy and Kyle break down the application process into manageable steps, sharing the tools and strategies they use to develop compelling applications, plan projects, and work within real-world constraints.
This workshop will cover:- Different types of public art calls, what opportunities are worth applying for, and how to prepare strong, clear applications- Commonly requested materials, such as: artist statements, cv’s, budgets, timelines, and support documents- Best practices for organizing, writing, and submitting applications with confidence.
This workshop will include a hands-on walkthrough of a current RFP (Request for Proposal). Participants will work in small groups to review the call, identify key requirements, and draft responses to selected application components. This collaborative exercise is designed to demystify public art language and help participants better understand what selection committees are looking for.
This workshop is for:- Those wanting to brush up on their application skills- Anyone looking to understand more about applying for public art opportunities- Anyone needing a refresher on support material- Artists, creatives, producers
This workshop is offered for FREE to help anyone who would benefit from public art knowledge to access it without financial barriers.
About the County's Public Art Program
County Arts is currently serving as the Corporation of the County of Prince Edward’s (the County’s) Public Art Program Administrator! To learn more about the County’s new Public Art Program, click here to visit the County’s Public Art webpage where you will find links to Public Art Program-related application forms and guidelines. For any questions related to the Public Art Program, reach out to the Public Art Coordinator, Stacey Sproule, [email protected].
Since 2009, Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping have been cultivating a vibrant hub for artists at Spark Box Studio, at their studio located in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Over the years, they’ve welcomed more than 450 artists from around the globe—painters, poets, musicians, filmmakers, and more—seeking a dedicated space to step away from the demands of daily life and immerse themselves in their practice.
At its heart, Spark Box Studio is a resource created by artists, for artists. It’s a space designed to inspire creativity, foster research, and encourage growth. Whether it’s through mentorship, workshops, or simply the quiet support of an open studio, Spark Box aims to equip artists with the tools, skills, and connections to confidently share their visions with the world.
Both Poitras and Topping are graduates of Queen’s University’s Bachelor of Fine Art Studio program and are practicing artists specializing in painting, installation art and printmaking. Their dedication to the arts extends beyond Spark Box Studio, through teaching at Loyalist College and OCADU, they’ve also developed and led courses on studio arts and arts management, all while remaining deeply engaged with their local and national artistic communities.
