Call for Applications: Belmont Fieldhouse & Library

We understand that our programs and processes create barriers to access for many artists and organizations who want to apply. Help is available for applicants even if they choose not to apply for the program.

If you experience accessibility, cultural or language barriers, our staff members can help you with:

• Understanding our programs and eligibility
• Creating and submitting applications and, if successful, throughout the project
• Project updates

Staff Support for Applicants

One of the options for application support is working one-on-one with a staff member to identify your needs and how we can meet them. Our team can assist you over the phone, in-person or online.

Outside Support for Applicants

You also have the option to seek personal one-to-one support from someone outside of Calgary Arts Development to help you with the application process. If this is something you need, we may be able to directly pay that external support person for the hours they spend helping you with your application. It is up to the applicant to determine the amount of time and kinds of support needed, and to set an hourly rate with whoever they choose to work with. If you are new to grant writing, it may be helpful to seek support from someone who has applied for an art grant before or is familiar with writing grants or essays.

To learn more about the kinds of services you can request, please review the Applicant Support & Accessibility Policy.

If you have any questions or need any help completing an application, please contact Sydonne Warren, Public Art Project Specialist, at sydonne.warren@calgaryartsdevelopment.com. We will do our best to answer questions up to the application deadline.

We are able to provide feedback on your drafted application if you reach out before June 17, 2026. After this date we cannot guarantee that your application can be reviewed, based on the volume of requests. Please keep in mind that requesting feedback is optional and does not guarantee success within a program; however, it may help ensure your application is generally clear, eligible and complete.

Please refer to each section below for important program details. You will find links to all our policies and other relevant information at the end of this document.

Calgary Arts Development invites local, national and international mid-career public artists and artist collectives to apply for the opportunity to create new public artworks at the Belmont Fieldhouse and Library, which is currently under construction. This multi-use facility will be part of a community hub that will include a future multi-amenity recreation facility, if future funding allows.

This public art opportunity consists of four artwork panels at four positions along the south side of the building. Each panel measures 12.8 metres (42 feet) wide by 4.57 metres (15 feet) and will be attached to the building’s south-facing exterior.

We will select one artist/artist collective for this opportunity. A selection committee will shortlist four applicants and invite them for interviews. Shortlisted candidates will be required to provide two professional references before the final selection. The selected artist will develop and refine an original artwork, with support from both Calgary Arts Development and City of Calgary project teams. This process is expected to take place throughout 2026, with final installation scheduled for summer 2027. Selected artists must be able to meet the expectations of the proposed production schedule.

While the artist will have creative agency over the artwork concept, they must remain open and flexible regarding creative and practical considerations involved in creating an artwork. The selected artist is responsible for managing the artist budget, which includes design and fabrication of the panels. The specific engineering and fabrication approach will depend on the artist’s proposed method for creating the artwork.

This project aims to facilitate the creation of artwork that will strengthen Belmont’s community identity, foster civic pride and create inclusive spaces. The project will also reinforce the community’s sense of ownership while contributing to spaces that feel dynamic and inspiring.

The resulting artwork will be accessioned into the City of Calgary Public Art Collection.

Project Goals

Calgary Arts Development intends for the selected artist/artist collective to develop public artwork that:

• Is informed by artist-led research into the specific context and history of the Belmont community.
• Considers all potential perspectives, sightlines and interactions related to the ways people engage with the work.
• Thoughtfully considers the space around the building’s wall and the relationships between the four artworks.
• Considers Calgary’s variable climate and the south-facing aspect of this location.
• Delivers a lasting artwork that will not require significant maintenance or upkeep over a 25-year lifespan.
• Contributes to the public art landscape of Calgary.
• Contributes to the Calgary Public Art Collection in a way that reflects a city defined by growth, vibrancy and diverse lived experiences.

Artists and artist collectives who are interested in learning more about this opportunity and the application process can access a pre-recorded information session, which will provide a detailed overview of the guidelines and application process. The information session video will be available on our website at the beginning of June.

We acknowledge that this land is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi — the Blackfoot people — comprising the Siksika, Kainai and Piikani Nations, as well as Treaty 7 signatories including the Tsuut’ina Nation and the Îyârhe Nakoda Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney First Nations. This land is also home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Calgary Nose Hill and Calgary Elbow Districts as well as many First Nations and Inuit from across Turtle Island.

We are 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. 

Please review the eligibility requirements before applying.

This opportunity is open to local, national and international professional artists and artist teams with demonstrated experience creating at least one public artwork with a project budget of at least $40,000.

Artists must be available to meet the project timelines described in the guidelines from September 2026 to July 2027.

Applicants with demonstrated experience creating large-scale or multi-panel wall-based public artwork will be considered an asset.

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

For the Belmont project, Calgary Arts Development is using the following definitions for the term underlined above:

• Professional artists and artist teams
  • Please refer to the Canada Council for the Arts definition of a professional artist.
• Public artwork
  • Public artworks are created by artists, for shared, accessible public spaces that are experienced as parts of everyday life. Public artworks can take many forms, ranging from sculptures and murals to temporary installations and community-based experiences.
  • At its core, public art contributes to the social and cultural fabric of a community. It enlivens public spaces, fosters a sense of belonging and strengthens connections between people and place. Through thoughtful placemaking, public art can transform ordinary environments into meaningful destinations that reflect local identity, history and community aspirations.
  • Public art also serves as a powerful platform for representation and discussion. By elevating diverse voices, perspectives and cultural expressions including those that have been historically underrepresented, it helps build more inclusive and equitable spaces. In doing so, public art can engage citizens and communities in a meaningful way and bring people together in shaping the place they collectively call home. 

The Belmont Fieldhouse and Library is currently under construction, with the artwork scheduled to be integrated shortly after building construction is completed.

May 12, 2026: Applications open and full guidelines published
June 24, 2026: Application deadline (no applications accepted after 1 pm MT)
July 2026: Selection Committee evaluation
August 2026: Shortlisted applicant interviews
Mid-August 2026: Notification of results
September 2026: Selected artist begins research and concept development
November 2026:  Artist delivers first draft of concept proposal for review
February 2027: Artist delivers final concept proposal for review
March – June 2027: Detailed design, fabrication, shipping
July 2027: Installation and celebration (subject to change)
August 2027: Artwork is accessioned into The City of Calgary Public Art Collection

Note: Timelines are subject to change based on construction progress and other variables

The artist’s fee for this project will be $35,500. There is a maximum $175,000 production budget allocated for travel, design, engineering, fabrication, shipping and all other costs required to develop and deliver the finished artworks.

Once contracted, the successful artist will be asked to submit an initial research budget, including travel and accommodation for site visits. At the end of the initial research phase, the selected artist will be asked to submit a concept proposal, including a detailed budget outlining estimated costs for travel, design, engineering, materials, fabrication and shipping.  

The selected artist will be required to visit the site at least twice throughout the project: once before the end of 2026, and again during or shortly before the artwork installation. Travel costs for these visits will come out of the artist’s production budget. The first visit will be focused on self-directed artist research to help inform the artwork concept. The second visit will be focused on oversight of the installation of the finished artwork.

If the artwork meets the project goal to be long lasting and low maintenance, the artist does not need to include these costs in the project budget. The artwork will be accessioned into The City of Calgary’s Public Art Collection, which provides ongoing care for the lifespan of the artwork. The artist will have regular check-ins with The City’s public art conservator to discuss materials and minimize long-term maintenance and conservation needs.  

Applications are accepted through 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 to register 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.

Calgary Arts Development invites eligible artists/artist teams to apply by submitting an application through our online platform. Concept proposals will not be accepted at this stage of the selection process.

Applicants must create a profile to apply and should fully complete it before starting their application. 

Please ensure you review the complete guidelines and submit all requirements outlined below to have a competitive application for assessment.

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

Application Questions (60 points total)

1. Describe how your past public art experience will help you be successful if selected for this opportunity. Please provide specific examples and include images of your examples in the portfolio section of the application.
   (7.5 points)
2. This project requires the selected artist to engage in independent, artist-led research. Describe how you would approach your research for this project.
   (7.5 points)
3. The identified site for this public art opportunity is four separate panels on the side of a large building. Describe the strategies you’ve used in your previous experiences to ensure public artworks stand out from their surroundings?
   (7.5 points)
4. Please provide one example of how your artistic research and engagement helped make a previous public art project more meaningful.
   (7.5 points)
5. Describe a previous public art project where you worked closely with a project team and incorporated their feedback to the benefit of the project.
   (7.5 points)
6. Respecting the Indigenous history of this place is a foundational value for all Calgary Arts Development public art projects. We follow a “Nothing About Us Without Us” approach and expect that when a specific community is referenced in an artwork, that community has been meaningfully included in the development of the work. Please give an example of a project in which the context of the place included a specific community that informed the artwork, and how you engaged and worked in a respectful way.
   (7.5 points)
7. This project includes firm timelines. Describe how you have worked within project timelines in the past and how you would ensure the project stays on schedule.
   (7.5 points)
8. Describe a previous public art project where you faced challenges or conflicts.  How did you navigate the situation to support the project’s success, and what did you learn that would apply to this opportunity?
   (7.5 points)
9. One of Calgary Arts Development’s goals is to deliver a public art program that reflects the rich diversity of our city.  If you identify as a member of an equity-deserving community, please identify your connection to your community. We identify equity deserving communities as being Indigenous, Black, people of colour, persons with disabilities, D/deaf communities, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual and gender diverse individuals. You can read more about Calgary Arts Development’s commitment to equity here.
   (10 bonus points)

Curriculum Vitae (10 points)

In your application, you will be asked to upload your artist curriculum vitae (CV). Ensure it meets the following criteria:

• Demonstrated relevant experience in completing at least one public art project.
• Demonstrated experience implementing artistic research to produce ambitious, meaningful and site-responsive public artworks.

Portfolio (30 points)

• Provide examples of ambitious, creative and engaging public art projects, similar in scale to this opportunity.
• Upload a minimum of five and up to 10 images of completed public artworks. The following information must be included for each image: title, date, size, materials and a brief description.

All uploaded artwork must be original and belong to the artist. If artworks were done in collaboration with another artist, indicate the name of the collaborating artist(s) and describe your role in the collaboration. Failure to credit collaborators or co-creators and/or upload artworks that do not belong to you and/or infringe on another artist’s copyright will make your application ineligible for assessment.

Artists are responsible for ensuring that submissions are received by the deadline. Requests for accommodations or application support must be made no later than 10 business days before the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Only the requested documents or support materials will be reviewed. Please do not submit additional materials.

The application process is competitive. The assessment committee will review all eligible and complete applications. Decisions of the assessment committee are final, and the committee reserves the right to select no applications.

Eligibility review

Members of the project team will review all applications to confirm eligibility. If an application does not meet the eligibility requirements described above, we will mark it as ineligible, and it will not be sent to the selection committee for further assessment.

Selection committee process

Selection committee members will review applications and rate their level of agreement, or confidence that the applicant’s responses will meet the program criteria, as well as their confidence in the applicant’s ability to deliver a meaningful public artwork for this opportunity. Ratings will be based on the following scale:

• Strongly Agree/High Degree of Confidence
• Agree/Medium Degree of Confidence
• Disagree/Low Degree of Confidence
• Strongly Disagree/Not Confident

Stage 2 — Interviews with shortlisted artists

The selection committee will identify four applicants who are best suited for the project and invite them for an interview.

Shortlist interviews will be 45 minutes and will focus on the applicant’s previous work, artistic research methods, approaches and aspirations for the project. Interview questions will be shared in advance of the interview.

The successful artist/artist team will be selected by the assessment committee after all interviews have been completed and following a period of discussion and deliberation.

How Are Assessment Committee Members Selected?

The assessment committee will be chosen through public nominations and staff expertise. Anyone can self-nominate to participate on a Calgary Arts Development assessment committee by completing the Assessor Nomination Form.

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 our 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.

Belmont is one of Calgary’s newest neighbourhoods, established in 2018, and will continue to grow over the coming years. Planned development includes a future LRT station, retail amenities, golf, swimming and hiking amenities, recreation centres and schools, all within a 10-minute reach.

The neighbourhood is designed to be a calm and quiet residential community, encouraging walking through its many pathways, ponds and parks. It is also located near Fish Creek Provincial Park, offering residents easy access to one of the largest urban parks in the region.

Can the budget threshold be the total project budget?
The 40k budget threshold can absolutely be the total project budget including production fees + artist fees.

Can I use digital panels to execute my work?
Yes, you can use digital panels to execute your work. The engineering would need to be approved, just like any other project, and some aspects may need to be confirmed with the City.

Can the artwork have 3D elements?
The artwork can have 3D elements but needs to have engineering approval and needs to comply with all current building codes re: climbability etc. We recommend reviewing the City of Calgary Design Considerations for Artists.

Is the artist fee and production budget in CAD or USD?
The project budget is in Canadian dollars.

Can I apply for this project if I’ve received grants from Calgary Arts Development or have been selected for other Calgary Arts Development public art projects?
Yes, your involvement in other Calgary Arts Development opportunities will not affect your eligibility for this project.

We are committed to delivering a public art program that is engaging, relevant and accountable. Public art in Calgary reflects the rich diversity of our city, including Indigenous voices that tell the past, present and future stories of this land, which is the ancestral territory of the Siksikaitsitapi — the Blackfoot people. Our intent is to foster meaningful connections and dialogue between artists and communities, using public art to reflect Calgary’s diverse stories and values.  

Policies
Deadline Extension
Applicant Support & Accessibility Policy

Other
Group Agreements
Public Art Assessor Nomination Form
City of Calgary Design Considerations for Artists