Guidelines: Art for Social Change Public Art Residency

Calgary Arts Development is offering a five-month artist residency focused on the topic of social change. This opportunity is open to artists with a demonstrated history of working in public art and will tie into the Living a Creative Life Congress in November 2024.

This residency is intended to provide creatives working in public art the opportunity to explore new ways of addressing social change within the public realm. Opportunities may present themselves through new mediums, research, collaboration and community engagement.

During this residency, artists will have the opportunity to engage in discussions with local and international community partners whose work addresses social change. This will help further develop their artistic practice and build community.

This will lead up to a presentation at the Living a Creative Life Congress in November 2024 where artists will present on their studio practice and what they learned during the residency by participating in a panel discussion. Other forms of presentation may be considered in consultation with the program project lead.

This opportunity is open to professional artists residing in Calgary/Mohkinsstsis, and artists from surrounding communities who can demonstrate a clear connection to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis, whose primary artistic discipline is public art. Individual artists or artist collectives/teams may apply. Up to six artists and/or artist collectives/teams will be chosen for this opportunity. The residency duration will be five months, full-time. The anticipated start date is March 15, 2024; however, this may be adjusted based on the artist’s availability. We understand that artists may have other commitments, so we may be able to accommodate a part-time schedule. However, the residency must be completed before November 1, 2024.

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

Social change is persistent throughout history due to conflict, demographic change and/or cultural change. This residency is an opportunity for artists to consider how their practice can inform social change through the activation of a public space, creation of a public artwork or through research and conversation within communities.

Some questions to consider in your application:

• How can you creatively bring together groups with different ideologies and perspectives and work collaboratively on building a better future through the activation of a public space?
• How can you address the challenges of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in professional and personal spaces, and advocate for transformational change that supports and welcomes all people?
• How can you engage with communities and corporate establishments through the planning and creation of an artwork while addressing decolonization, environmental concerns and healthy communities?
• What are the current social and political challenges where you live? How could you address these challenges in a transformational way?

This residency is an exploratory opportunity where artists will be required to investigate ways of creating, collaborating and engaging with the public to make art for social change.

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.

We recognize that barriers within the arts community exist, particularly for equity seeking communities, and that there are many unique entry points into an artistic practice and career in the arts. If you are unsure about eligibility, please reach out to discuss this with the program specialist before applying. You’ll also find answers to some common questions in our Investment Program FAQ.

There are two policies available for potential applicants who may need accommodations or assistance to apply to this program, such as translating program guidelines and applications. These policies are available to potential applicants even if they decide not to apply to the program.

• The Accommodation & Accessibility Policy for potential applicants who experience barriers to access, to develop accommodations that suit their abilities and situations.
• The Application Assistance Policy for eligible applicants to alleviate some of the financial costs associated with preparing and submitting an application.

Calgary Arts Development is committed to open, fair and transparent processes. If you have any questions, want help with feedback on your application or if it’s your first time applying, please don’t hesitate to contact the program specialist as early as you can to ensure they can provide the best support possible. Staff can provide feedback on your application up to 10 days before application deadlines.

If you have any questions or need any help completing an application, please contact the public art team at publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

This opportunity is open to professional artists residing in Calgary/Mohkinsstsis, and artists from surrounding communities who can demonstrate a clear connection to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis, whose primary artistic discipline is public art. Individual artists or artist collectives/teams may apply. Up to six 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, 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 clear connection to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis communities. Artists must be available for virtual or in-person studio visits with the project lead once per month.

At the beginning of the residency, artists will be expected to create an outline detailing their approach to the residency and how they intend to respond to the topic of art for social change and their areas of focus, along with a timeline for how they will complete their residency. Artists will have regular check-ins with the project lead.

Artists are encouraged to consider projects that support and engage Calgarians and the social inequities facing those we share space with.

This will lead up to a presentation at the Living a Creative Life Congress in November 2024 where artists will present on their studio practice and what they learned during the residency by participating in a panel discussion. Other forms of presentation may be considered in consultation with the program project lead.

There is potential for selected artists to receive further funding once the residency has concluded to see their concepts realized within the public realm; however, this is not the goal of the residency.

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.

Successful applicants are required to participate in a Truth and Reconciliation Learning Session prior to commencement of community engagement for the project.

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 applicants read the White Goose Flying Report.

Successful applicants will be selected by a committee made up of artists and/or arts professionals, community representatives and subject matter experts.

Submissions will be evaluated on the following criteria (rated out of a 100 points):

Letter of Interest (70 points)

• Why does this opportunity appeal to you?
• How would this residency benefit your artistic practice?
• How have you invested in social change through your artistic practice OR how will you incorporate social change into your current practice?
• What are topics that you are interested in researching that could inform social change through the activation of a public space, creation of a public artwork or through research and conversation within communities?
• What is your connection to Calgary/Mohkinsstsis?

Curriculum Vitae/Images (30 points)

• Demonstrated, relevant experience in completing public art projects.
• Experience participating in artist residencies.
• Demonstrated artistic excellence in contemporary art practice.

Scoring Process

Committee members will review applications and rate the level to which they agree or disagree with each of the program considerations listed in the section above, based on the information provided in the application.

• Strongly Agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly Disagree

Applications to the program will be reviewed by an independent assessment committee made up of artist peers and community members. The membership of the peer assessment committee will be chosen through public nominations and staff expertise.

Anyone can ask to participate on a Calgary Arts Development assessment committee by completing the Assessor Nomination Form or by emailing publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Assessment committees are chosen to represent the broad diversity of Calgary and its artistic communities, including but not limited to: artistic discipline, gender, sexuality, age, religion, beliefs, nation, physical and neurological identities, etc.

Conflicts of Interest: Calgary Arts Development defines conflicts of interest as close family members, people who are involved in the activity being applied for or where there is a real or perceived financial benefit. If in doubt, assessors are encouraged to talk with Calgary Arts Development staff.

If a committee member has applied to the program or declared a conflict of interest, they will not assess those specific applications or be present for any discussions of those applications.

Anyone can ask to participate on a Calgary Arts Development assessment committee by emailing publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Applications are accepted through our online application interface. The application form will be available on the date the program opens. Applicants must create an organization profile in order to apply. If the organization’s primary contact also has an individual artist profile, they must use a different email address to create the organization’s account.

If you need support with creating your organization profile and/or need help applying due to accessibility concerns, please contact publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.

Applicants will be notified of their results by email.

We use electronic fund transfers to make payments. If your application is approved, 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.

Successful applicants are required to participate in a Truth and Reconciliation Learning Session prior to commencement of community engagement for the project.

The City of Calgary will continue to fund 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 municipal funding is 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.

Policies

Deadline Extension Policy

Accessibility & Accommodation Policy

Application Assistance Policy

Disclosure of Grant Information Policy

Other

Group Agreements

Assessor Nomination Form