Culture Counts
The Culture department at the City of Oshawa provides services and programming under the branding Culture Counts.
Get involved
Oshawa has two key committees that support the vision and development of arts and culture initiatives across the city. We are thrilled to partner with the many incredible artists, arts administrators, and art enthusiasts who support cultural work in Oshawa through their voluntary participation in the Cultural Leadership Council (C.L.C.) and Public Art Task Force (P.A.T.F.).
Apply to volunteer with the C.L.C Apply to volunteer with the P.A.T.F.
Calls for expressions of interest
The City is excited to launch an open call for Expressions of Interest for an Indigenous language and culture public art project to be installed in Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park.
This two-stage competition is open to Indigenous creative writers, poets, artists, Knowledge Holders or storytellers connected to or from the Williams Treaties First Nations, which include the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, Hiawatha, Curve Lake, and Alderville First Nations, and the Chippewas of Georgina Island, Rama and Beausoleil First Nations. The selected writer will be commissioned to develop a text-based artwork that can be installed in Ed Broadbent Waterfront Park near the Garden of Human Rights.
Applications are due on or before 11:59 p.m. of November 5, 2026.
Calls for artists
To support Culture Counts: Oshawa's Arts, Culture & Heritage Plan as well as the Public Art Policy and Public Art Master Plan, the City develops opportunities for artists to participate in the creation of public art, imaginative activities and experiences through artist calls.
The City is currently accepting proposals from Oshawa-based organizations, collectives and post-secondary programs in the creative and cultural industries, or Indigenous organizations, for temporary exhibitions to be displayed at Art & Culture in the Hall located outside Council Chambers at City Hall.
Applications are due by November 13 at 12 p.m. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Strategic plans and policies
Culture programming aligns with key arts and culture strategic plans and policies, including:
View the Mural Art Evaluation Plan.
Get information from the source
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