Seeds to Sow: Barrie’s First Large-Scale Exhibition of Temporary Site-Specific Public Art

Six months ago, the City of Barrie closed its first large-scale exhibition of temporary site-specific public art. Seeds to Sow was organized by the city and was on display September 28 to November 8, 2024. The exhibition featured 6 artists and displayed 6 unique art installations as well as a satellite exhibition at the MacLaren Art Centre. Thanks to support from Invest Barrie, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund (OCAF) and seventeen local sponsors, this exhibition and its programs were free to the public and marketed to audiences within Barrie and beyond, targeting the Barrie-Toronto corridor and the GTA.

Led by staff in the Economic and Creative Development Department with support from Corporate Facilities and Parks Planning, the exhibition was a draw for locals and visitors alike. A total of 53,972 people enjoyed the event over the six weeks. 22% of these were from outside a 40km radius, designating them official "tourists". This data was collected in partnership with Tourism Barrie using Environics Analytics Mobilescapes data technology to determine the number of unique attendees, both tourists and residents, who attended Seeds to Sow.

Hosting an event of this size and duration with the support of local partners presented an opportunity for the city to showcase itself as a progressive destination for visitors seeking arts and cultural activities. A successful and well-executed site-responsive exhibition like Seeds to Sow also instills a deep sense of civic pride among Barrie residents who had the opportunity to experience the city, its landscape, history and future, from a new perspective.

Active participation in the exhibition was offered through opportunities to volunteer, receive mentorship and education about public art, and attend a variety of programs organized by the City and our local partners. Nineteen volunteer docents contributed forty hours of their time over five weekends.

Seeds to Sow owes its success to an incredible artistic offering led by guest curator Katie Lawson. Thank you to the participating artists for their unique installations made for Barrie, about Barrie:

Amy Bagshaw, Adrian Blackwell, Ted Fullerton, Lisa Hirmer, Native Art Department International, Lou Sheppard and Derek Liddington.

Watch the Seeds to Sow Public Art Exhibition playlist to learn more about the installations from each artist: