Public Art for Sustainable Futures Residency

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 the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Districts 5 and 6 as well as many First Nations and Inuit from across Turtle Island.

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 Calls to Action, as documented in the White Goose Flying Report. All applicants are encouraged to reflect on their journey and understanding of what Truth and Reconciliation is, 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:

• Calls to Action found in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
• White Goose Flying Report

Calgary Arts Development follows a “Nothing About Us Without Us” policy. If you are planning on creating artwork that includes Indigenous stories or ways of knowing, you must collaborate with Indigenous comm

Calgary Arts Development is seeking applications from artists who want to participate in a four-month residency focused on the intersection of public art and climate justice. This residency is intended to provide artists with time, resources and support to imagine how public artworks can contribute to positive conversations and meaningful change around our current climate crisis.

The Public Art for Sustainable Futures Residency is open to artists who identify with all of the following:

• Curious about gaining experience in developing public art projects.
• Committed to working with communities in the co-creation of artworks.
• Dedicated to exploring the ways artwork can help us better understand and respond to the current climate crisis. 
• Working in proximity to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis.

In addition to engaging in self-directed artistic research and production, participants are invited to join multiple half-day activities each month. These gatherings will be a mix of in-person and online presentations by an experienced group of mentors. The mentors will serve as valuable conversation partners throughout the residency and lead the participants in weekly presentations, studio visits, talks, workshops and activities. The ongoing conversations throughout the residency will culminate in a group discussion/presentation in September 2025.

This opportunity is open to artists of all disciplines residing in or near Calgary/Mohkinsstsis with a demonstrated interest in public art, community practice, or the positioning of artistic practice as a way to address ecological concerns. Individual artists or artist collectives may apply. Up to eight artists/artist teams will be selected.

Residency announcement: December 5 at the 2024 Living a Creative Life Congress
Applications Open: Monday, December 9, 2024
Submission Deadline: Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Residency Duration: Four months
Residency Timeline: June 2, 2025 – September 26, 2025
Start Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
End Date: Friday, September 26, 2025

Budget: Each artist or artist team will be paid $25,000 (not including GST) to participate.

Drought, floods, fires, species loss, rising sea levels — the current reality of our global climate crisis means we are all impacted by these significant ecosystem challenges. Although the effects are global, it is also true that vulnerable populations face greater risks as inequalities grow. Those living in the province of Alberta have first-hand experience with the impacts of climate change, as fires and floods have dramatically impacted communities across the province.  Calgary Arts Development believes artists can be powerful guides towards climate justice.  Through creativity and collaboration, artists can bring communities together to co-create meaningful solutions to the ecological challenges we face.

During this residency, participants will spend most of their time working independently on their projects in their own studios/spaces. Calgary Arts Development’s expectation is that participants will spend two eight-hour days per week focused on the residency. Acceptable residency activities include artistic production, research, reflection and consultation.  There is no requirement to produce a finished project at the end of this residency. To enrich this independent activity, the selected artists will gather as a group with the program mentors on a regular basis for presentations, studio visits, talks, workshops and other related activities. These group activities will focus on how artists working in public can contribute to helpful conversations and meaningful change around our current climate crisis. At the end of the residency, the participants will deliver a group presentation to reflect on their experience and discuss how the residency has impacted their work.

This opportunity is open to artists residing in Calgary/Mohkinsstsis, and artists from surrounding communities who can demonstrate a meaningful connection to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis. Individual artists or artist collectives/teams may apply. Up to eight artists and/or artist collectives/teams will be chosen for this opportunity.

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. We will also accept applications from members of Treaty 7 nations living within Treaty 7 territory (Southern Alberta) if they can demonstrate a meaningful connection to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis communities. Artists must be available for virtual or in-person studio visits with the project lead once per month.

Letter of Interest: (60 points)

Your letter of interest should address each of the following six questions in detail:

1. What role does public art play in your current artistic practice, and/or what role do you hope public art plays in your future artistic practice?
2. What type of self-directed artistic activity would you explore during this residency?   
3. What interests you about the intersection of public art and climate justice?
4. What makes you excited about participating in a residency cohort?
5. Describe why Calgary/Mohkinsstsis is important to you / your current work / the work you hope to make.

CV: (10 points)

Your CV should demonstrate a commitment to artistic development and a history of artistic production that includes at least one of the following:

• Experience producing public art projects
  • Experience activating artistic practice as a way of connecting with communities.
  • Experience creating artworks that engage with ecological concerns and/or climate justice.

 Images: (30 points)

Your images should demonstrate a commitment to artistic development and a history of artistic production that includes at least one of the following:

• Experience producing public art projects
  • Experience activating artistic practice as a way of connecting with communities.
  • Experience creating artworks that engage with ecological concerns and/or climate justice.

The successful participants in the Public Art for Sustainable Futures Residency will be assessed by a committee of artists and/or arts professionals, community representatives, and subject matter experts. The selection committee will choose a cohort based on how applicants respond to the following requirements (rated out of a possible total of 100 points).

Letter of Interest: (60 points)

1. How effectively does the applicant describe the role public art plays in their current artistic practice, and/or how effectively does the applicant describe the role they hope public art will play in their future artistic practice?
2. How well does the applicant’s self-directed artistic research and/or production align with the goals and purpose of the residency?  
3. How insightful is the applicant’s interest in the intersection of public art and climate justice?
4. How compelling is the applicant’s interest in participating in the residency cohort?  
5. How impactful is the applicant’s description of the importance that Calgary/Mohkinsstsis has for them, their work and/or the work they hope to make? 

CV: (10 points)

To what extent does the applicant’s CV demonstrate a commitment to artistic development and a history of artistic production that includes at least one of the following:

• Experience producing public art projects
  • Experience activating artistic practice as a way of connecting with communities.
  • Experience creating artworks that engage with ecological concerns and/or climate justice.

 Images: (30 points)

To what extent do the applicant’s images demonstrate a commitment to artistic development and a history of artistic production that includes at least one of the following:

• Experience producing public art projects
  • Experience activating artistic practice as a way of connecting with communities.
  • Experience creating artworks that engage with ecological concerns and/or climate justice.

A pre-recorded information session will be available on our website at a later date.

The City of Calgary will continue to fund public art by setting aside one percent 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.