Application Deadline: October 24, 2021
During a time marked by widespread challenges to public health and well-being, public spaces have served as essential sites for civic life; including recreation, cultural engagement, advocacy, activism and commerce. But the opportunities, recognition of expertise, and allocation of resources for city-building have long been exclusive or confined. How then can cities around the world take this moment to broaden the public space field to include, empower and value more perspectives in the development, operations and programming of our shared public realm?
The Bentway’s Public Space Fellowship seeks to help address these gaps and ensure that burgeoning talent, lived experience, and a diversity of expertise help shape a more inclusive and accessible city for all.
Eligibility
- Applicants must reside in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area and have demonstrated
experience and interest working in and around public space in areas such as: urban
planning and design, architecture, landscape, active transportation, public art, health and
well-being, public policy, cultural equity, creative place-making, safety, accessibility, and
community engagement, supportive housing, social services, sustainability, and
environmental studies. - We recognize and value a wide range of experiences and expertise, both traditional and
applied. Applicants are not required to have professional degrees in the above-mentioned
categories. We encourage applications from individuals who are undertaking relevant
community initiatives to engage in city-building processes of critical importance in
maintaining or regaining the strength and resilience of cities.
thebentway.ca CALL FOR PUBLIC SPACE FELLOWS - The Bentway is committed to fostering a positive and supportive creative environment that
promotes equity and diversity and will prioritize applications from persons with disabilities,
Indigenous and racialized persons, women, and LGBTQ+ people. Priority will be given to
BIPOC candidates, and other historically marginalized individuals who have valuable
professional and/or lived experience in equitable public space development, programming
and research.
BENEFITS
- Hands-on Experience
The Public Space fellowship offers unique opportunities for direct engagement in
public space and with public space practitioners through site work and over digital
platforms. Fellows will benefit from exposure to the day-to-day realities of public
space operations and programming. Please note that due to COVID-19 may change
the nature of work on site and in the Bentway office leading to a greater reliance on
digital communication and coordination. - Cross-Sector Learning
Fellows will have the opportunity to work closely with creative partners, peer
organizations, community stakeholders and multiple City divisions during the
duration of the fellowship. They will gain a firsthand look at how public and private
entities and individuals actively work to shape the public realm. - Capacity-Building
Fellows will be invited to attend education and engagement opportunities aimed at
sharing individual perspectives, building connections, and furthering collective
knowledge of the unique health and safety and equity issues faced by a diversity of
communities. These opportunities may take the form of roundtable discussions,
working groups, information sessions, and more. - Professional Development
The Public Space Fellowship will lead to new learnings and relationships that will
help the fellow further their career objectives. The Bentway will assist fellows in
their future endeavors by facilitating new connections, sharing information about
professional opportunities and new developments in the field, as well as offering
continued mentorship. - Stipend
$16,000 ($800/week over 20-week fellowship period)
Application Procedure
Complete applications must be received by no later than 11:59 pm on October 24, 2021 to
be considered. Applications may be submitted via email with the subject line ‘Public Space
Fellowship Application’ to careers@thebentway.ca
Application Package Components:
• CV (PDF format, no more than 3 pages)
• Letter of Intent (no more than 2 pages), which addresses the following:
- How have your past experiences equipped you to explore this topic?
- What research areas are you interested in exploring?
- How do you think you would benefit from the Public Space Fellowship
program?
• 1 letter of support from someone who is familiar with your experience and skills
PROCESS OF SELECTION
Proposals will be evaluated by The Bentway team, as well as external reviewers from
Bentway partner organizations or peer projects. Successful candidates will be contacted in
early November 2021 to arrange interviews. Accommodations will be made available to
those prospective candidates that are unable to attend an online interview, either through a
phone-based interview or by means of an in person, physically distanced interview.
Candidates who are not part of the interview shortlist will be notified no later than
November 15, 2021. In an effort to support all applicants’ ongoing professional
development, The Bentway team will conduct a follow-up session on December 8, 2021
providing feedback on the application, interview, and review process. The session will also
thebentway.ca CALL FOR PUBLIC SPACE FELLOWS
highlight opportunities for continued engagement with the organization, including
professional development events, training, as well as volunteer opportunities related to
ongoing programming and operations.
Official Website: Call for Fellows: Public Space Fellowship Program 2022
