OTTAWA (CBC) - Work to revitalize several major streets in Ottawa is paving the way for a record number of public art projects, including the city's largest ever commission.

The City of Ottawa is currently commissioning 11 pieces of art to beautify public buildings, spaces and thoroughfares - more than it ever has before - said Nicole Zuger, head of the public art program at the city.

On Thursday night, the city will be holding public consultations on five local contenders for its largest public art project in history, a $225,000 work for Wellington West.

The city has a long-standing policy of putting one per cent of the construction budget for public buildings and roadwork toward public art, and all the digging on Bank, Wellington West and Preston Streets these days has helped the public art budget grow, Zuger said.

"For a very small percentage - one per cent of the budget of that particular project - you're going to get a very tangible expression of your community," she added.

Mitchell Webster and Janet MacKay are among the five finalists for the Wellington Street West commission, chosen from 19 initial submissions.

At their studio this week, the pair showed off models of bronze sculptures - smaller versions of the ones they envision lining the street between Western Avenue to Champagne Avenue North.

They depict birds carrying "little treasures from the neighbourhood," MacKay explained.

Webster said the idea of working on such a large scale attracts him.

"Our creativity can grow in direct proportion to the budget that we're provided," he said.

The four other finalists are:

- c.j. fleury.

- Marcus Kucey Jones and Ryan Lotecki.

- Jennifer Macklem.

- Carolynne Pynn-Trudeau and Chandler Swain.

The public is invited to view the sketches and models for the proposed artworks, meet the artists and provide comments at Hintonburg Community Centre between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. CT.

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