Standing Offer: Public Art Curators
February 20, 2024: Applications Open
March 16, 2024: First intake deadline
June 30, 2024: Second intake deadline
September 30, 2024: Third intake deadline
We acknowledge that the land we gather on, Mohkinsstsis, is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi — the Blackfoot people — comprising the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations, as well as Treaty 7 signatories, the Tsuut’ina Nation, and the Îyârhe Nakoda Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. Today this land is home to Métis Nation Districts 5 and 6 as well as many First Nations and Inuit from across Turtle Island.
We acknowledge that there has been art, music, dance, storytelling, and ceremony on this land since time immemorial and it is in the spirit of this land and its people that we do our work.
Application Assistance
Calgary Arts Development is committed to open, fair and transparent processes. There are two policies available for anyone who may need support to apply to this standing offer: the Accommodation & Accessibility Policy and the Application Assistance Policy.
We recognize that the job application process can create barriers to access for many applicants who are interested in applying. Our job calls are written in English, shared online and require applicants to email their applications in English. This creates technological, linguistic, communication and cultural barriers, to name a few.
In recognition of these barriers to access, eligible applicants can request assistance to help alleviate some of the costs associated with preparing and submitting a job application. Please see the end of the document for more information or reach out directly by email at publicarthiring@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or by phone at 403.264.5330 ext. 221.
Standing Offer for Public Art Curators
Calgary Arts Development is accepting applications from qualified consultants and contractors to join a standing list of curators who may be called up for projects that would benefit from a curatorial process. This includes the activation of The City of Calgary Public Art Collection and ongoing public art projects that require a curatorial lens.
Being accepted into the standing offer does not preclude curators from applying to any other curatorial calls in the future.
A Standing Offer Agreement is an arrangement to provide goods and services at prearranged prices with set terms and conditions, for specific periods of time on an “as requested” basis. A standing offer does not constitute a contract and a contract against a standing offer is a call-up. Each call-up is a separate contract between Calgary Arts Development and the prequalified supplier to work on a specific public art project.
The contract for each public art project will be developed based on project needs in coordination with the curator for each request of service after this standing offer. Curators may work on multiple contracts simultaneously.
The Curator Role
Calgary Arts Development is recruiting multiple public art curators to assist the public art team on various projects.
The curator and the project lead will work closely together to develop an appropriate curatorial framework that can bolster a public art project. The curator will perform curatorial tasks such as artwork selection, theme development, research and writing. The project lead will be providing administrative support throughout the process.
This role is open to all levels of curatorial practitioners, from emerging and mid-career to established curators. There will be projects that fit different stages of curatorial practice.
Curatorial work should be delivered through a lens of reconciliation and equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and , and should be executed in a way that meets the needs and interests of the community.
Accountabilities
A curator will provide various curatorial work for a given project. The work may or may not include tasks such as:
- Creation of an overarching curatorial vision for the project, including the identification of artistic goals, key themes and measures of success.
- Working with the public art collection or proposals from various open calls to curate a thoughtful and dynamic selection of works, including development of new works and artwork placements.
- Participation in any applicable community engagement.
- Coordination with artists with the support of the project lead.
- Writing curatorial statements intended for the public.
- Participation in relevant project/program communications.
- Remaining in alignment with our vision for public art in Calgary and ensuring compliance with relevant procurement policies and processes.
Period Covered by the Standing Offer
Successful applicants may be called up between March 16, 2024 and December 31, 2026, with the option to renew for two additional periods of one year each.
We have multiple projects prepared to commence immediately following the successful identification of curators.
Compensation
As public art projects differ in size, scope and duration, curatorial fees will vary per project.
While CARFAC does not have a curatorial fee standard that we can follow, we will strive to provide competitive compensation. Each project will have a flat curatorial fee that will work out to a range of $40 – $70 per hour.
Curatorial fees will be determined in relation to the project’s artist fee budget to reflect the project scope.
Commitment to Equity
Calgary Arts Development is committed to the process of eliminating institutional racism, ableism and barriers in our programs, policies and practices by centring the creativity and leadership of those communities most impacted by structural inequities. Read our full Commitment to Equity statement on our website.
How to Apply
Please indicate your interest by emailing publicarthiring@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with your CV and a letter of interest. Please use the subject line: Standing Offer Public Art Curator.
For best consideration, please address the following in your letter of interest:
- Introduce yourself and your curatorial practice.
- Provide examples of past curatorial experience.
- How do you approach a curatorial project in relation to place and community?
- What role do you believe public art plays in fostering equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and reconciliation?
If you would like to request application assistance, please contact publicarthiring@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or call 403.264.5330 ext. 221 to make arrangements. More details are listed at the end of this document.
We are working with a rolling deadline until September 30, 2024 for this call. We will be reviewing the submissions quarterly. We have projects available for curators starting in March 2024. To be considered for those projects, please apply by March 16, 2024. Subsequent reviews will take place after June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2024.
If you see yourself in this opportunity, we would love to have a conversation with you. If you’re not sure, you can learn more about us by exploring our website at calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
We are open to connecting one-on-one with individuals before they submit to clarify questions about this posting. Please address those inquiries to Heather Campbell, Public Art Manager, via email at heather.campbell@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Applicants will be notified of decisions by email.
Evaluation of Submissions
All proposals will be rated on a matrix that will involve an analysis of the complete application, including but not limited to:
- Ability to consider curatorial approaches in public art context in a comprehensive and insightful way, with attention to issues of equity and inclusion.
- Education and years of experience.
A selection panel will review the applications. Additional interviews may be scheduled with the selection panel on a case-by-case basis.
Addressing the lack of Indigenous work in the existing public art collection is an important priority in the public art program. Individuals with lived experience working with Indigenous communities will be given special consideration when developing the standing list of curators.
GST Requirements
Contractors with more than $30,000 in contracts per year are required by the federal government to have a GST number and to charge and submit GST.
If you are not a resident of Canada, we are required to retain a 15 per cent withholding for tax purposes, unless a waiver or reduction is received in advance. For more information, please refer to the Government of Canada guidelines or reach out to a tax expert.
A GST number is not required before applying, but will be required should the application be selected for the offer. As part of our commitment to develop the capacity for public art in Calgary, we can facilitate conversations with existing contractors who can assist in ensuring these conditions are met.
About the Public Art Program
History
Calgary’s public art program was created in 2004 to deliver broad-based public art programming, and the public art collection has been in existence and growing for over 100 years. Since 2004, the program has provided a broad variety of programming, permanent artworks and conservation of public art assets on behalf of Calgarians. In the last five years, there have been broad-based discussions around the direction and priorities of the program.
A New Direction for Calgary’s Public Art Program
In September 2019, Calgary’s city council directed city administration to engage a third-party consultant to review a series of broad-based questions to determine if consideration of an external service model was an appropriate direction for the public art program.
In November 2019, city council publicly released a notice of motion, directing administration to move ahead on engaging the sector in the development of a request for proposal (RFP) for release in 2020, inviting proposals from external parties interested in managing the program.
After a rigorous engagement and reporting process, city council approved the transition of Calgary’s public art program.
On March 22, 2021, The City of Calgary announced Calgary Arts Development as the future operator of Calgary’s public art program.
Calgary Arts Development envisions a public art program rooted in meaningful engagement leading to a public realm that tells the story of who we are and what we value as a city. We envision public art that Calgarians can connect with throughout our city; a program that reaches everywhere and everyone.
As a much smaller organization than The City of Calgary, Calgary Arts Development can streamline the program and reduce barriers for local artists to participate, while also increasing engagement opportunities and transparency for Calgarians. Our commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility will serve the program well, increasing access and representation from a wide cross-section and variety of artists. We look forward to stewarding a public art program that reflects who we are and what we value as a city.
Application Assistance
We recognize that the job application process can create barriers to access for many applicants who are interested in applying. Our job calls are written in English, shared online and require applicants to email their applications in English. This creates technological, linguistic, communication and cultural barriers, to name a few. In recognition of these barriers to access, eligible applicants can request assistance to help alleviate some of the costs associated with preparing and submitting a job application.
Who Can Request Assistance?
Individuals who self-identify as:
- An individual who is D/deaf, hard of hearing, has a disability or is living with a mental illness.
- An individual facing language, geographic or cultural barriers.
To receive assistance, you will need to provide:
- The name and contact information of someone who can help you (this could be a trusted friend or family member, or a professional service provider) so they can bill us for their work with you. We may be able to make recommendations depending on the service being requested.
- The amount you are requesting, including the service provider’s hourly rate.
Types of Assistance
General Transcription or Editing Services and Organizing of Support Materials
- Applicants who identify barriers within the writing process directly due to a physical or learning disability or due to living with mental illness.
- Maximum Contribution: $75.
Language Translation
- Applicants writing an application in another language who require translation into English, including American Sign Language.
- Maximum Contribution: $150
ASL Interpretation
- Calgary Arts Development can arrange for reputable, in-person ASL interpreters for interviews, in consultation with the interviewee, and at no cost to the interviewee.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or need help completing an application, please contact publicarthiring@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or call 403.264.5330 ext. 221.
