Hamilton the Electric City Public Art Project

The City of Hamilton is undertaking a process to commission a permanent Public Art work(s) to be sited at Confederation Beach Park in Hamilton.

Project Themes

• AC power as a catalyst for Hamilton’s development, influencing its population through an immigration boom and shaping the city physically and culturally.
• Spirit of innovation embodied by Nikola Tesla - an inspiration to youth today.
• Our changing relationship to energy as it transitioned from the visible to the invisible; with hydroelectricity, power became quiet, cheap, constant, ubiquitous and easier to take for granted.
• Sustainable technology - responsible innovation from today forward; solar or wind power can be generated at the site and stored for continuous use.Please review the artist/artist-led team’s proposals, indicate your preferred proposal and provide comments to inform the jury.

Artists were asked to address the following goal:

That the proposed Public Art work(s) reflect the complex social, environmental and physical impact that AC hydroelectric power (invented by Nikola Tesla and brought to the city by the five Johns) had and continues to have on Hamilton, as well as inspire a spirit of responsible and balanced innovation for the future.

Public Opinion Survey

The survey has now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated. Review the Electric City Public Art Consultation Opinion Survey Results(PDF, 124.24 KB).

Call for Artists

Artists will be selected by a citizen jury through a two-stage process involving a concept and design proposal, followed by public consultation on selected Artists’ detailed proposals.

Award $185,000

For design, fabrication and delivery to site. Short-listed Artists invited to complete a stage two submission will receive a $1500 honorarium

The Call for Artists closed on January 19, 2023 and 6 submissions have been selected by a citizen jury to prepare detailed proposals for public consultation.

Focus Group Report

A virtual focus group discussion was held with community stakeholders, artists and subject matter experts on January 13, 2022. The focus group developed the Project Goal and Themes that artists will be asked to address in Public Art submissions to this competition. Please review the Hamilton the Electric City, Nikola Tesla and the Five Johns Public Art Focus Group Report(PDF, 196.97 KB)