Calgary Arts Development is proud to announce the 11 recipients of our first Community-Run Public Art Microgrant program.

Recognizing that public art opportunities can come from grassroots ideas that are initiated and led by communities, Calgary Arts Development invited proposals for community-run public art projects through September and October, 2021.

Communities could apply for up to $10,000 to support eligible projects, from a total funding pool of $100,000. The program is intended to promote economic revitalization in the city of Calgary. The program seeks to inspire Calgarians and support local artists that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing an opportunity for community-initiated public art projects.

Every application was reviewed by an independent selection committee, who selected the following recipients:

Community Organization:  Alliance of Calgary Community Ethnic Support Society

Artist: Yiting Hui

Project Name: Dim Sum Sends

Brief Project Description:

A mural in Chinatown to promote Chinese culture by highlighting traditional fruits, vegetables, and utensils often found in Southeast Asian homes and restaurants. This mural will act as a catalyst for Calgarians and the next generation to understand our heritage, habits, rituals, and tradition.

Community Organization:  Renfrew Community Hall

Artist: Billy Rae Busby

Project Name: Renfrew Community Hall South Patio Mural Project

Brief Project Description:

A mural at Renfrew Community Hall south patio, to beautify and establish an engaging public space at the Renfrew Community Hall.

Community Organization:  Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre Association

Artist: Rawry & Pohly

Project Name: Qingming Festival Project

Brief Project Description:

To create a participatory experience that celebrates the Qingming Festival through tea tasting and art in April, 2022.

Community Organization:  Hidden Valley Community Association (HVCA)

Artist: Nathan Patrick Meguinis, Maya Corona, John Langeveld and Katelyn Kempthorne

Project Name: Hidden Valley: Inspire our Future

Brief Project Description:

The project entails creating art based on two specific themes and transferring them onto vinyl graphics to wrap several traffic light utility boxes and outdoor community refuse bins in high-traffic areas throughout the community.

Community Organization:  Mount Pleasant Community Association

Artist: Conz AKA Enoch

Project Name: Community Engagement Mural

Brief Project Description:

A mural project on the corner of the community association building.

Community Organization:  North Haven Community Association

Artist: TBD

Project Name: North Haven Nose Hill Entrance Mural

Brief Project Description:

A mural referencing the Indigenous history of Nose Hill, installed in a pedestrian tunnel entrance to Nose Hill, by an Indigenous artist.

Community Organization:  Pamir Canadian Multiculturalism Council

Artist: Momend Khan

Project Name: Stand for the local Artists and Human interaction/social discourse

Brief Project Description:

Two musical gatherings supporting Afghan culture, welcoming Afghan refugees to Calgary, and providing diverse community members the opportunity to interact, engage and promote multiculturalism.

Community Organization:  Safehouse Society for Innovation and Creativity

Artist: Amber Skye Cox

Project Name: Beyond Resiliency

Brief Project Description:

Short documentary film for public screening – sharing stories of successful Indigenous people to create a greater depth of understanding,

Community Organization:  Uphill Projects

Artist: Tiffany Wollman

Project Name: Nose Hill Entrance Mural-phase two

Brief Project Description:

This project will translate the names of plants and flowers in a recently-completed mural into several Indigenous languages. The goal is to make the connections to the Indigenous history of Nose Hill more explicit with the inclusion of the Blackfoot language in the mural, and to recognize all the Treaty Seven nations by having translations in all languages available online.

Community Organization:  Kitchen Feminism Art Society

Artist: Shannon Smith

Project Name: Moving Pictures

Brief Project Description:

To work with diverse women from the community to utilize collaborative theatre techniques and create a series of 8-12 short videos (under 30 seconds) which explore the ways in which women’s societal roles have been “rolled back in time” as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They will be displayed in an online gallery, as well as a screening event.

Community Organization:  Banff Trail Community Association

Artist: Irvin Tom Manyguns

Project Name: Banff Trail Blackfoot Art Installation

Brief Project Description:

To develop and install a Blackfoot Indigenous piece of art on the exterior of the Banff Trail Community Hall.

Recipients of this microgrant are expected to complete their projects by September 30, 2022.

Keep an eye on the Public Art Grants page for future opportunities.