Call for Proposals
Placemaking for the East Village Street Fair on Canada Day
We are the East Village Neighbourhood Association or EVNA — if you don’t know us, we are a volunteer-run community association representing the folks who live, work and play in the East Village.
Every year on Canada Day we host our flagship event, the East Village Street Fair. Folks from all over the city, and beyond, come celebrate in our community and have been for 11 years (would have been 13, but we lost two years, you know). It’s getting even bigger and better, with the construction and changes taking place at St. Patrick’s Island and Eau Claire, the City of Calgary has moved its events to our community. The City of Calgary hosts cultural and musical performances at Fort Calgary and Olympic Plaza, and nestled right in between is our event running from the Central Library to Fort Calgary on 8th Avenue SE. Last year we saw approximately 50,000 Calgarians walk through our Street Fair event.
Every year is a new opportunity to welcome Calgarians to our community, and to help folks get to know EVNA. We believe our Street Fair event should capture and represent the heart and soul of our EV Neighbours. East Villagers are proud of our spaces, proud of our local art, and are looking for opportunities to feel connected to the other people in their neighbourhood.
About the art
We are looking for artists and designers to create captivating installations that draw people in to the the event. Artists should consider how proposed installations will promote connection to the East Village and EVNA. Our association’s vision is an inclusive, thriving and vibrant East Village where all are welcome. Our mission is to encourage conversation, interaction, and a sense of belonging and ownership for those who are at home in the East Village. Our values are embracing diversity through positive example and action, transparency and accountability with our members and building community through engagement, belonging and fun. Preference will be given to proposals that include an interactive component, or to installations that can be taken down and featured at the other events we host throughout the year, like our Purge & Splurge community garage sale. The art installation will be outside for at least the duration of the Street Fair event, and all materials and design must be optimized for outdoor use. Calgary weather is always subject to change.
Aligned with our vision, mission and values the East Village Neighbourhood Association is approaching this project with a lens of plurality. EVNA encourages participation from a variety of backgrounds, we encourage the perspectives of Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour, Newcomers, Trans, Non-Binary, LGBTQ2S+, women, as well as individuals from rural and remote communities.
Proposals should include
- Artist profile & portfolio
- A description of concept/materials
- An estimate of supplies required for the work
- Other requirements and expectations of the artist
Compensation
Artist fee will be based on the size and scope of the project up to $500, materials will be covered by the association subject to approval. Selected artists will have the opportunity to participate in our event as a vendor with all vendor fees waived either as a part of our “Art Walk” or as an artisan vendor depending on the goods sold. Selected artists will be included in our press release, and promoted on our social media channels, webpage, newsletter and AGM materials.
Timeline
Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2023.
Art must be installed at the event between 6 – 10am on July 1, 2023.
Questions and proposals can be submitted to streetfair@yycevna.org.
For more about the event head to yycevna.org/streetfair
