This program has been designed in collaboration with a national advisory network and programming has been delivered in collaboration with cultural leaders and institutions from coast to coast. Some of our outreach and program delivery partners to date have included: Arts Accessibility Network Manitoba, ArtsBC, ArtsBuild Ontario, Arts Fund Yukon, Black Speculative Arts Movement (BSAM) Canada, Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Ontario, Klondike Institute of Art and Culture, MAWA, MU Montreal, National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC), NIA Centre for the Arts and Neighborhood Arts Network.

Special thanks to the following previous contributors:

• Advisors: ​​Charles Smith, Charmaine Lurch, David Turnbull, Jamaias DaCosta, Jennifer Smith, Lee Lucke,  Meghan Cheng, Nico Taylor, Niki Little, Sean Lee, Sidi Chen, Queen Kukoyi, Quentin VerCetty, Su Ying Strang, Tash Naveau, Ufuk Gueray, Yvette Cenerini

• Artistic Mentors: Aliza Zorlutuna, Ammar Mahimwalla, Amy Ball, Andre Kan, AZMA Digital INC, Eli Hirtle, Golboo Amani, Hiba Abdallah, Javid Alibhai, Linda Duvall, Mani Mazinani, Nico Taylor, Noor Bhangu, Paul Robles, Peatr Thomas, Quentin VerCetty, Sanaz Mazinani, Yannie Lo, Yen Linh Thai, Zongwe Binesikwe

• Programming Collaborators: Adriana Alarcon, Alica Hall, Ammar Mahimwalla, Bo Yeung, Bracken Hanuse-Corlett, Bruce Naokwegijig, Bruce Pitkin, Bruno Canadien, Chantel Parris, Charles-Eric Lavery, Elle de Lyon, Eli Hurtle, Florence Yee, Franchesca Hebert-Spence, Jaime Calayo, Jenel Shaw, Katie Buckley, Kayla Bernard, Lindsey Lickers (Mushkiiki Nibi Kwe), Meagan Byrne, Michel Dumont, Miriam Arbus, Nuff, Philip Ocampo, PUFF Paddy, Queen Kukoyi, Quentin VerCetty, Salima Punjani, Samar Hejazi, Tiffany Shaw, Winnie Truong, Yung Yemi, Ysabelle Vautour, Yvette Cenerini

Finally, the reflections shared by participating artists from the CreateSpace Residency have been invaluable in shaping the program.

Public art is art in any media whose form, function and meaning are created for the general public, is publicly accessible and aims to engage and/or reflect the local community, general public or surrounding area.

Participating artists will each receive individual support valued at $5000 CAD, inclusive of a $1500 participation stipend as well as production, documentation, engagement and accessibility support.

Residency spots will be awarded on a competitive basis by a review committee of Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and racialized public art practitioners from across Canada. Review committee members have been selected on the basis of their familiarity with a broad spectrum of public art practices, specialized expertise, fair-mindedness, and regional representation. The committee will assess applications based on: clarity of learning objectives and/or public art project concept; alignment with needs and residency supports; and merit of applicant’s arts practice.

The 2024 CreateSpace Residency term is 10 months in total, taking place from March to December 2024.

While these sessions will in part be finalized after 2024 participating artists are selected to ensure that they reflect the needs and interests of the program cohort, we anticipate that they will include a combination of capacity building workshops, artist talks, studio visits, artist-led panel discussions and industry connectivity opportunities that enable artists to connect with public art practitioners and each other on a variety of topics relevant to public art.

CreateSpace participating artists will gain:

• Skills: Virtual workshops, artist talks and studio visits for greater understanding of the public art process through the lens of Community, Identity, Accessibility, and Land, including: demystifying public art RFPs, exploring fabrication and approaches to public engagement.
• Relationships: Opportunities to connect with public art practitioners from across the country, cultivating professional networks in various sectors and industries.
  Practical Experience: Creating new public art work with tailored coaching from STEPS staff and artistic advisors, through which experimentation is encouraged.
• Public Audiences: Through promotional support leveraging STEPS and partner network, as well as supports to document and present past and current public work.
• Financial Support: Artists will each receive individual support valued at $3500, inclusive of a $1500 participation stipend as well as production, documentation, engagement and accessibility supports.

The timeline for the residency’s production period runs from June to October 2024. During this time, CreateSpace participating artists will work with mentors and STEPS staff to further develop their concepts, installation plans and engagement strategy, while independently fabricating their public artworks. The production period will culminate in the installation of a temporary public artwork within the artists’ community and involve an unveiling (if applicable) and documentation. During the production period, artists will also meet monthly as a cohort to explore themes and issues related to public art and their individual career paths through various programming opportunities.

Yes. Participating artists will be asked to identify potential sites for their works to be installed. STEPS staff and mentors will support this process and do their best to help the artist to secure the final installation site for their public artworks.

The length of the installation will depend on the installation site and its property owners among other factors, but participating artists will be encouraged to produce temporary public artworks during the 2024 CreateSpace Residency term.

he CreateSpace Public Art Residency is a project-oriented program, so participating artists will focus their efforts on the production of a public artwork in their community during the program. CreateSpace is also focused on network building and education so artists-in-residents will be required to attend at least 10 virtual residency sessions over the course of ten (10) months, including: workshops, artist talks, facilitated discussions, studio visits, etc.

Unfortunately, the 2024 CreateSpace Public Art Residency requires a ten (10) month time commitment (March to December 2024) from participating artists, with no opportunity to delay or extend your participation in the program.

Participating artists will be required to attend monthly virtual group cohort gatherings, one-on-one check-ins with the program coordinator, and meet with their mentors to develop their individual public artworks and identify areas of additional support. CreateSpace participating artists will need to have access to a strong internet connection and an internet-connected device (i.e.: computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.) to participate in this residency.

If you are unsure about your ability to participate in this program due to your current tech set up, please contact Belinda Uwase, Artist Programs Coordinator at belinda@stepspublicart.org or call 1-888-783-7780 ext 2.

Yes. Resident artists often have full or part-time jobs to support their studio practice. Ultimately, you want to make sure your schedule supports you getting the most out of this residency.

Yes. However, if you think your other residencies or travels would keep you away for extended periods of time or affect your active participation in CreateSpace, you might want to reconsider if this program is the best fit for you at this time.

Applicants who are Deaf, have a disability, or who need support applying for this opportunity are encouraged to contact Belinda Uwase, Artist Programs Coordinator at belinda@stepspublicart.org at least two weeks before the application deadline (January 17, 2024) to allow STEPS to appropriately accommodate your needs and to discuss alternate formats for submitting your application.

STEPS will provide American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation, closed captioning and language translation with ample notice.

The 2024 CreateSpace Public Art Residency will be facilitated virtually so it will be up to individual participating artists to identify what materials can or cannot be used in their workspace. If you are renting a studio space in your area we recommend checking your studio’s health and safety guide for further details.

If you’re unsure about any materials, please contact Belinda Uwase, Artist Programs Coordinator at belinda@stepspublicart.org.

All artistic disciplines are appropriate for this residency, from 2D media like drawing and painting to installation and sculpture to performance and new technologies.

Applications open in early January 2024.

No. Unfortunately the 2024 CreateSpace Public Art Residency is only open to Canadian-based visual and media artists working in public space, who identify as Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and/or racialized and are legally able to work within Canada.

To us at STEPS Public Art, the question of whether or not one is considered “emerging” is addressed in terms of an artist’s own personal practice, which is unique to each individual. This term does not necessarily reflect one’s age or level of recognition they may have achieved outside of their “public art practice.” We ask applicants to self-identify.

Yes! The 2024 CreateSpace Public Art Residency is open to early to mid-career Canadian-based visual and media artists working in public space. For example, if you already have an established studio practice but have had little to no experience with public art, this opportunity is open to you.

No. Unfortunately, due to a high volume of applications, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Applicants are evaluated by a selection committee composed of practicing public artists and cultural sector leaders. CreateSpace participating artists will be selected based on the quality of their work, commitment to their practice, and the applicant’s expressed interest in being part of a national community of practicing artists who look to explore public space.

While the list of selection committee members will not be announced prior to the selection of the 2024 CreateSpace participating artists, this 2024 Selection Committee is made up of a selection of Canada-based individuals, from arts professionals, leaders of equity-deserving arts organizations, organizations serving Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) or communities of colour, as well as practicing artists with extensive experience with residencies or public art.