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Call for BIPOC Artists: Billboard in City of Victoria

BIPOC artist call for the creation of a billboard in Old Town/Downtown Victoria, BC! 

A project by the Victoria Arts Council supported by the City of Victoria’s Participatory Budgeting Initiative and facilitated through STEPS Public Art.

Application Deadline:
September 1, 2022 at 11:59 PM PST

Operating from the traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking people, The Victoria Arts Council (VAC) in conjunction with STEPS Public Art invites local artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a Person of Colour to submit a final design for a temporary two dimensional artwork to be digitally printed and installed on the exterior of the Victoria Art Council’s main gallery space located on the corner of Store and Herald in Victoria’s Old Town.

With the support of the City of Victoria’s Participatory Budgeting Initiative, the Victoria Art Council strives to support vibrant public artwork that reflects the diversity of our community, and engage its residents and visitors. The successful artist will receive a one-time fee of $2,500 (inclusive of taxes). Printing and installation costs will be the responsibility of the Victoria Arts Council.

There is no fee to apply. The selected artwork will be displayed on a prominent 10’x10’ billboard. The work will be on display until Spring 2025. The copyright will remain with the artist, though the printed billboard becomes property of the Victoria Arts Council.

Open House:
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 6 PM

Join the “Demystifying Public Art” online information session via Zoom.

Artwork Location

As Old Town is a rapidly-developing neighbourhood, and earmarked as a future arts+tech hub, this BIPOC billboard will be an integral element reminding residents about the importance of civic-minded art and the City’s commitment to social justice.

The site for the artwork is located on the exterior of VAC’s gallery in Old Town located on the corner of Store and Herald. The actual size of the printed work to be installed on the building is 10 feet by 10 feet.

Selection Process

The selection process of who will be awarded this commission will be led by a committee of BIPOC artists/curators/community members/business leaders.

How to Apply

Applicants must be local Victoria-based artists who identify as BIPOC to qualify for this opportunity. Interested applicants must submit their artwork by September 01, 2022 at 11:59 PM PST. Submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Applications must be emailed to:

Collin Zipp, Public Art Manager
STEPS Public Art
collin@stepspublicart.org

Eligibility

Applicants must be local Victoria-based artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, or as a Person of Colour (BIPOC) to qualify for this opportunity. Must be 19 years or older or have written parent/guardian consent.

Design Criteria

The proposed artwork should address systemic barriers to inclusion in the visual arts and /or the lived experience of BIPOC artists in these territories. Proposals can be illustrated, painted, digital, photographic, collaged or any artwork that can be reproduced digitally for a two-dimensional support structure.

We are looking for completed work, not a rough sketch. An Artist Statement must accompany the application.

Project Timeline

Call to artists: May 2022 – August 2022

Deadline for submissions: September 1, 2022

Selected artist notified: October 2022

Artwork installation: November/December 2022

Public launch: December 2022

Proposal Requirements

This proposal requires completed artwork in JPG format no larger than 10 MB file. Final artwork for the successful candidate will require enlarging and must be provided electronically to the Victoria Art Council as a 600dpi CMYK JPG or TIFF, once selected. The file will be enlarged to the final 10’ x 10 image.

Artist to provide:

  • Brief biography with self-identification, include artistic background or approach;

  • Artistic CV or outline of related artistic experience;

  • Artist statement (500 words or less);

  • Finished visual proposal of artwork to scale, in JPG format no larger than 10 MB.

Contact STEPS’ Public Art Manager, Collin Zipp with any questions: collin@stepspublicart.org

About the Victoria Arts Council

Established in 1968, the Victoria Arts Council connects artists with audiences. A nonprofit charitable organization, the Victoria Arts Council works with hundreds of artists annually across multiple platforms, including ten community satellites, a professional gallery, a monthly lecture series, and a quarterly magazine.

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