Call for Indigenous Mural Artists
Request for Qualifications: City of Wetaskiwin Indigenous Public Art Mural
Deadline Extended: June 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM MST (Previously June 4)
Award: $20,000 (inclusive of all taxes)
Photo credit: City of Wetaskiwin
Call for Artist Opportunity Overview
The City of Wetaskiwin is seeking to commission a new site-specific mural from an Indigenous artist from or with ties to Wetaskiwin and the surrounding communities. Eligible Indigenous artists are invited to submit expressions of interest and qualifications to this call. The commissioned artist will create a mural in Downtown Wetaskiwin in summer of 2024.
The commissioned artist will be selected through an open, two-stage process. The project budget of $20,000 CAD (inclusive of GST) includes all costs directly associated with the artwork: including taxes, artist fees, production, materials, equipment rental, installation, and other professional services, insurance, permits, travel and other incidental and production expenses.
Up to three (3) artists will be shortlisted and paid $500 CAD (inclusive of GST) each to create detailed proposals.
Community Background
The City of Wetaskiwin is located on Treaty 6 Territory, the ancestral and traditional gathering place of the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway, Saulteaux, Anishinaabe, and many others whose histories, languages and cultures continue to influence the Wetaskiwin community and way of life. For hundreds of years before settlers arrived, the land that is now the City of Wetaskiwin was populated by the Plains Cree peoples. The name Wetaskiwin means “the place where peace was made” in Cree, referring to a battle and subsequent peace between the Cree and the Blackfoot.
The City is conveniently located 35 minutes away from the Edmonton International Airport and only 10 minutes away from the Canamex Trade Corridor. With its location, and over 13,000 residents, the City of Wetaskiwin offers the conveniences of a big city. Residents enjoy access to a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities, including lakes, trails, and sports facilities, as well as museums, libraries, festivals, and art exhibitions.
As one of the oldest cities in Alberta, the City of Wetaskiwin began as “Siding 16”, a stop on the Calgary-Edmonton Railway, before being incorporated into a city in 1906. Since 2005, City Hall has been located at the renovated courthouses built in 1907, one of the earliest courthouses in Alberta. Wetaskiwin’s historic downtown is home to many restored historic buildings, where visitors can take part in the historic walking tour of mainstreet. Additionally, the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum showcases the history of the city.
In 2021, the City launched the 50-Year Community Vision based on engagement with over 1000 Wetasikwinites. Reflecting the City’s long-term commitment to the community, the report envisions Wetaskiwin as a vibrant, sustainable and self-sufficient small city distinguished by an easy access for people of all abilities; abundant nature inside and outside the city; a thriving downtown core that honours the past; a resilient economy rich with opportunity; and unquestioned safety of person and property for residents and visitors alike.
Artwork location
This mural will be located at the Wetaskiwin Mall located at 3725 56 St, Wetaskiwin, and is sized at 17’ 10.5” by 70’ (just over 1250 square feet). Please see the below image (Figure 1. Mural Area) for detailed dimensions.
Figure 1. Mural area
Selection Process
Artwork proposals are not requested at this time. Artist applications will be reviewed on the basis of artistic excellence, expressed written interest in the site and other professional qualification criteria listed below.
This Call to Artists is open to all Indigenous professional artists who have a connection to Wetaskiwin and the surrounding area. All applying artists are required to draft a letter stating their relationships to the City of Wetaskiwin. Artist teams are welcome to apply but must share the total project award. Per the Canada Council’s guidelines, a professional artist is defined as someone who:
- has specialised artistic training (not necessarily in academic institutions);
- is critically recognized as a professional by their peers (artists working in the same artistic tradition);
- is active in and committed to their art practice;
- has a history of public exhibitions; and/or
has produced an independent body of work.
The Selection Panel will be composed of project planholders.
Applicants who need support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Collin Zipp (Public Art Manager, STEPS Public Art) at collin@stepspublicart.org at least one week before the application deadline to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.
Stage one: Request for Qualifications
Shortlisted artists and artist teams will be selected based on qualifications demonstrated from their submitted applications. Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Panel on the basis of:
- Previous artistic excellence demonstrated through previous samples of work
- Interest in the project and the site
- Past experience of managing and facilitating projects or public art competitions of similar scopes and sizes
- Assessment and review of references
The Selection Panel will recommend a shortlist of up to three (3) artists to move to Stage 2.
Stage Two: Shortlisted Proposal Development and Presentation
If selected for Stage 2, shortlisted artists/artist teams will be provided a fee of $500 CAD (inclusive of taxes and other expenses) for the development of detailed artist proposals.
Shortlisted artists will be given detailed site information including deadlines, dates, site locations, and dimensions for the site. Each artist/artist team will create a detailed artist proposal including a written artist statement, a project budget, production and installation plan, etc. Further details and deliverables will be provided at the outset of Stage 2.
The artist/artist team selected by the Selection Panel as the competition winner and approved by the City of Wetaskiwin will enter into a contract with the City to create the final public artwork.
Application Requirements: Stage One
Professional artists/artist teams are invited to respond to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by submitting a single PDF document. This PDF document must be labelled with the name of the artist and project (Name_City of Wetaskiwin Public Art Mural).
Each single PDF document must include the following:
Letter of Intent: 2-page maximum (11-point font). Outline of artistic experience, ability, approach and interest in this project, site and community, highlighting relevant experience. While proposals are not accepted at this stage of the competition, we encourage artists to speak to the artwork themes in this letter.
Curriculum Vitae (CV): 3-page maximum. Detail professional experience as an artist, past public art experience, and other information relevant to this Expression of Interest (EOI). If applying as a team, provide one CV per team member.
Connection to Local Communities: 1-page maximum (11-point font). Include detailed and specific ways outlining how you are connected to the local communities of Wetaskiwin and the surrounding area.
Artistic Support Material: Maximum of ten (10) images of work. For each image, a title and image number should be provided. If applying as a team, please only submit a total of ten (10) images.
Support Material List: A written list that clearly outlines the Artistic Support Material (above) with corresponding titles and numbers. Include the following details in order of: Title, date, location, commissioning agent (if applicable), budget, dimensions, medium/materials and a brief description of the works (maximum 50 words each).
References: Names and contact information (current email and phone number) for two (2) references (preferably from recent public art projects) with their role and affiliation listed. Reference letters are not required at this stage of the competition.
*If applying as a team, please list team members and submit required credentials for each. Please also only provide the contact information for the designated contact person.
Upon submission, please ensure you have carefully examined this Call for Artists, including any clarifications or revisions posted on the project website.
Estimated Project Timeline
- May 2024: Call to artists is issued
- June 2024: Shortlisted Artists identified, Shortlisted Artists develop detailed proposals
- July 2024: Final Artist selected, Artist Agreement signed
- July – August 2024: Mural production
- September 2024: Mural unveiling
This project has a tight turnaround time to ensure 2024 installation and will require the shortlisted and selected artist/artist team to complete the proposals and project components within the above timeline.
Application Delivery and Deadline
Submissions must be received by June 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM MST. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted via Google Forms – emailed, faxed or mailed applications will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to ensure the application package is complete and submitted by the posted deadline.
Please upload your submissions through the Google Form. Final submissions must not exceed 10 MB in total size.
Questions and requests for clarification will be received by email until May 22, 2024 at 12:00 PM MST. Applicants who need additional support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Collin Zipp (Public Art Manager, STEPS Public Art) at collin@stepspublicart.org by May 22 at 12:00 PM MST to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.
Contact
Collin Zipp, Public Art Manager
Phone: 1-888-783-7780 ext. 704
Email: collin@stepspublicart.org
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