“STEPS was an invaluable partner in coordinating the residency, workshops, and resulting artwork which supported the work of three local artists. Together, we were able to provide the people of southern Alberta with a unique art-making and place-making experience.”
Do you want to promote cultural development in your community?
Our artist capacity building service helps you develop the artists network, strategic creative programming, and expertise that you need.
We’re here to help you build and implement a custom solution to bring unique public art to your community, support emerging local artists, and establish your public space as a creative hub. Work hand-in-hand with our experienced team to facilitate public art programming that leverages your arts and culture resources and represents your municipality to the rest of the country.
Crossroads Mural
Artist Credit: Kseniya Tsoy, Stephanie Babij, Yasaman Mehrsa, Jasmine Vanstone
Photo Credit: Jae Yang
What outcomes can you expect?
- Collaboration with a national network of artists to fuel your creative sector and represent the arts from coast to coast
- Custom programming to suit your needs, mandate, and resources
- Our expertise in artist calls and artist selection processes
- Our experience running residency programming
- Public outreach and digital promotions so you’ll get the most innovative outcomes from your existing arts and culture assets
Ready to get started? Book a call with our team today!
If you’re an artist, please contact us through the artist form
“Working with STEPS has been incredibly helpful for the Victoria Arts Council. STEPS provided invaluable support from helping cultivate the Call to Artists, facilitating the selection process, and even walking us through the contract phase. STEPS has the necessary resources, professional and knowledgeable staff, and commitment to ensure success with each project they undertake.”
How you can work with us
Host an artist-in-residence:
CreateSpace Public Art Residency
Custom pilot programming:
RECLAIM Residencies
We’ll help you find your city’s hidden artists
Our artist capacity building services can help you support the public art journeys of equity-deserving artists within their communities and create landmark public art for your city. Follow the steps below to bring creative programming to your city.
Step 1: Reflect
Think about your cultural programming goals, public art opportunities, and available resources. Take a look at our FAQ section to learn more about our artist capacity building services available.
Step 2: Book
Use the Book a Call function on the website to schedule a call with our Public Art team!
Note: Are you an artist? We have a space just for you! Please contact us through the artist form.
Step 3: Prep
Check your email and make sure the call has gone into your calendar. Then, prep for the call! Come with your goals, dreams, timeline, and budget range so we can help you best.
Step 4: Attend
Attend the call. On this call we’ll determine whether your project is a good fit for what we offer. If it is, we’ll recommend the next steps.
Step 5: Celebrate!
We look forward to working with you and your team.
Ready to get started? Book a call with our team today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why should I invest in artist capacity building?
Public art has a critical role to play in shaping cities, and heightens their cultural, social, and economic value. Investing in artist capacity building supports emerging public artists in developing vibrant and inclusive public spaces for the future.
Your community can benefit from public art as it attracts resident and visitor spending, contributes to cultural tourism development, provides branding and marketing opportunities, and attracts new businesses which increases employment opportunities. Artist capacity building programs are also an avenue to communicate messages about culture, history, heritage, politics, and social issues to build on a place’s shared identity. Investing in public art in your municipality also contributes to community pride.
We can help you collaborate with artists to pilot creative programming that reflects the diverse identities and perspectives of your community. Learn more about investing in artist capacity building by booking a call with us.
How can public art benefit the community?
Hiring us to bring public art to your community has many benefits across sectors. Hosting a public artist through our programming can establish your city or town as an artistic hub, build connections between community members and businesses, contribute to tourism, and spark joy in everyday spaces for locals and visitors alike.
You can learn more about the community benefits of public art by reading an overview on our blog, or diving into our Inspired Art Impact Placemaking Toolkit for main street cultural tourism which measures the qualitative and quantitative benefits of public art on Canadian main streets.
To discuss how we can develop artist capacity building public art programs to benefit your community, book a call with us.
Does STEPS work with artists from outside the Greater Toronto Area?
Yes! We’re a national charity and social enterprise that has facilitated public art activations and engagements across Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and in the Yukon. We can facilitate open calls, targeted outreach, and work within our network to connect you with talented artists in your area. We’re passionate about artistic collaborations within communities across the country, and our artist capacity building programs (like the CreateSpace Public Art Residency and the CreateSpace Public Art Forum) encourage applications from artists working anywhere in Canada.
If you’re interested in engaging with local artists, book a call with us to discuss ways we can bring engaging public art initiatives to your city.
Ready to get started? Book a call with our team today!