Call to Artists: Northeast Mini Galleries

As the City’s arts development authority, Calgary Arts Development is uniquely positioned to deliver and create a public art program built upon our knowledge of, and strong relationships in, the arts community. 

Calgary City Council noted a lack of public art in northeast Calgary compared to other quadrants, passing a motion on October 13, 2020 to specifically identify and support public art projects in the northeast. The Northeast Public Art Initiative brings several public art projects to Calgary’s northeast communities, supports local artists, enhances northeast neighbourhoods and reflects the people who live in the communities where art will be located. 

This initiative aims to build amazing spaces for people to come together and provides opportunities for local artists to showcase their talent while celebrating the diversity of art forms, people and cultures represented in northeast Calgary.

Northeast Mini Galleries Public Art Program 

As a part of this initiative, the Northeast Mini Galleries program began in 2023 and showcased 39 local artists per year over three exhibitions — each exhibition included 13 local artists, selected by a local curator, for a four-month period. Starting in 2025, the program will include the 10 mini galleries at locations in northeast Calgary (the three mini galleries that were previously at the City of Calgary Municipal Building’s atrium are no longer part of this program).  

We welcome artists who live or work and have a strong connection to northeast Calgary/Mohkinsstsis to submit digital images of existing, original two-dimensional or three-dimensional artwork that demonstrates how being part of a community impacts your everyday life through shared values, trust and care.   

The Northeast Mini Galleries Public Art Program includes 10 mini galleries, each located at a different community association: 

1. Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association  

2. Winston Heights-Mountview Community Association  

3. Crossroads Community Association  

4. The Livingston Homeowners Association  

5. Beddington Heights Community Association  

6. Falconridge/Castleridge Community Association  

7. Marlborough Park Community Association  

8. Temple Community Association  

9. Rundle Community Association  

10. Martindale Community Association  

 Submitted artworks must fit within the dimensions of a mini gallery.  

• The window is 23.5 cm x 35.5 cm (9.23” x 14”) (h x w). 
• Artwork should be a maximum size of 28 cm x 40.5 cm x 15 cm (11” x 16” x 6”) (h x w x d). 

The mini galleries exhibitions will run for four-month periods. This call for artwork pertains to the following periods of exhibitions:  

• Summer Exhibition: July 2025 – October 2025  
• Winter Exhibition: November 2025 – February 2026  
• Spring Exhibition: March 2026 – June 2026  

When applying to this public art program your artwork may be selected to be exhibited in one of three exhibitions: summer, winter or spring. Each exhibition will be curated separately throughout the year by a local curator. Selected artists will be notified two months prior to the upcoming exhibition. Artists will work with the curator to set the date and time of their installation and deinstallation. Installation will occur near the end of the month before the exhibition is set to begin. Artists must be available to install and deinstall their artwork from the Northeast Mini Gallery in which their artwork is exhibited.  

 Artists will be paid $1,035 (not including GST) for participation in the Northeast Mini Gallery exhibition. This follows 2025 CARFAC rates for solo exhibitions of a single work/small site.   

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.  

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.  

Calgary Arts Development supports The City of Calgary’s response to the federal Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Call to Action, as documented in the White Goose Flying Report. All applicants are encouraged to reflect on their journey and understanding of Truth and Reconciliation and how it may relate to their proposed projects. If your work includes Indigenous content, involves work with Indigenous people or you would like to include Indigenous knowledge or ways of knowing and doing, it is recommended that you read the report.  

This program is open to anyone who self-identifies as an artist and lives, works or has a strong connection to northeast Calgary. Artists of all experience levels are welcome. Artists working in two-dimensional and three-dimensional mediums are encouraged to apply (e.g., painting, drawing, printmaking, graphic design, illustration, fibre, photography, digital art, ceramics, small sculpture, etc.).   

We encourage submissions from artists who are typically underrepresented, including: BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour), LGBTQIA2S+ identifying individuals, D/deaf persons and persons with disabilities.  

Artists who have previously exhibited their artwork in the Northeast Mini Galleries are not eligible to apply. 

Applications are accepted through SmartSimple, our online platform. The application form will be available on the date the program opens. Applicants must be registered as an Individual Artist or Artist Collective to apply. 

To Register:  

• Upload your Artist Resume/CV and complete your Artist Statement in your profile. 
• Complete or update all your contact information. 

If you need support registering through our application platform or need help applying due to accessibility concerns, please contact publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com. 

Applicants will be notified of their results by email. Successful applicants will be sent an artist agreement and are required to sign and return the agreement within 30 days of receiving it. We use electronic fund transfers to make payments. If you are selected for this opportunity, you will be required to provide a void cheque or direct deposit form with your banking information. Please let us know if you need any help with this. 

Artists are responsible for ensuring that submissions are received by the deadline. Any application submitted after 4:30pm MT on the closing date will not be considered. Only send images of artwork for consideration; do not send materials that have not been requested as they will not be reviewed by the curators.

• Artists may submit one to five original artworks for consideration. Only one artwork per artist will be selected.
• When uploading images to your application on our online platform, ensure you fill in all the details required for each image. These include the artist’s name, title of artwork, date of completion, dimensions, medium and a brief description of the artwork.
• Artwork submitted must be finished artwork.
• Artwork submitted must fit within the dimensions of the gallery and gallery door/window.
  
  Tell us about your practice
• Our online platform requires an Artist Resume/CV when completing your profile, so we are asking artists to start thinking about their experiences as an artist and the story of their practice.
• Information to include in your Artist Resume/CV:
• Upload a PDF file in your profile
• Demonstration of experience in public art, visual art or design, art exhibitions or commissions.
• Demonstration of involvement or engagement with community.
• Information to include in your Artistic Practice Statement:
• Make sure the Artistic Practice Statement text box is completed in your Profile.
• Describe your current artistic practice and the themes in your work.
  
  Letter of Interest
• Include a response to each of the following questions: (500 words max):
• Why does this project appeal to you?
• What is your connection to northeast Calgary?
• How does your artwork reflect what it means to be part of a community? What stories would you like to share that reflect your culture and community?
• Describe your art practice and how it connects to the program goals. 
  
  Artwork/Images
• Artists may submit one to five original artworks for consideration. Only one artwork per artist will be selected for exhibition.
• Artists should be aware that the Mini Galleries display environment is uncontrolled and that risks of damage or loss due to theft, vandalism or weather are present. Given these risks, Calgary Arts Development does not recommend that an artwork of high value to the artist, either monetary or otherwise, be displayed in the Northeast Mini Galleries. There is an option to display a reproduction of the artwork if desired. In this case, Calgary Arts Development will support the creation of a reproduction for display.
  
  Artwork/Image Considerations:
• Ensure artwork meets the program goals.
• Ensure images submitted for consideration are high quality. Avoid images that are low resolution or blurry.
• Ensure artwork is suitable for display in the Mini Galleries.

Applications to the program will be reviewed by curators selected from the Public Art Curator roster, with strong connections to northeast communities in Calgary. Art curators for this call are chosen to develop a theme for the exhibition, being guided by the program goals, and are asked to represent the broad diversity of northeast Calgary and its artistic communities, including but not limited to: artistic discipline, gender, sexuality, age, religion, beliefs, nation, physical and neurological identities, etc.  

The Information Session for this program will be held on March 24, 2025 from 12 – 1pm. The purpose of this session is to provide more context about the Northeast Mini Galleries program and review the application criteria and process. 

Sign up for the information session here.  

Open Office Hours

The Open Office Hours for this program will be held March 31, 2025 from 11 – 2pm. Interested applicants can book a time with the project lead to ask questions about the Northeast Mini Galleries program and the application criteria and process.  

Sign up for the Open Office Hours here.  

The City of Calgary funds public art by setting aside one per cent of eligible capital project budgets. This model remains responsive to upturns and downturns in the economy. 

Both Calgary Arts Development and The City adhere to the Public Art Policy which directs how taxpayer dollars are used to commission new artworks, acquire existing artworks, deliver public art activities and events, provide access to the public art collection and maintain and conserve the collection. 

Other 
Group Agreements 
Assessor Nomination Form 
Public Art FAQ