Call for Expressions of Interest: Building a Stronger Kelowna Public Art

Architectural Rendering, Redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Stantec

Call to Artists: Building a Stronger Kelowna Public Art

Submission Deadline: September 10, 2025 at 2:00pm (PDT)
Online Information Session via Microsoft Teams: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 6:00pm (PDT) | Join the meeting now

The City of Kelowna invites local, national, and international professional artists, artist-led teams, and cultural makers working in diverse artistic mediums to submit their Expression of Interest for several public art commissions that are part of Building a Stronger Kelowna (BSK), a group of recreational projects that work together to build deeper community connections across the city.

Building a Stronger Kelowna’s suite of projects is a unique opportunity to develop a curatorial program of permanent and temporary artworks that will be original, inspired by Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, and help tell the stories of this place.

Building a Stronger Kelowna includes five projects, the redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, Mill Creek restoration, which is part of the Parkinson Recreation Centre site, all-ages activity centres at Glenmore Rec Park, Rutland Lions Park, and Mission Rec Park. The public art budget, for all five projects, is $1,377,000 CAD (exclusive of all applicable taxes). This budget includes all costs directly associated with the creation of all artworks at all locations: fees for design, fabrication, installation, professional services including engineering as required, insurance, travel, and all other incidental expenses.

Public art sites have not been determined yet and will evolve out of the integrated project delivery approach that is being used by the BSK team and this call for artists. Artists who apply to this call may be considered for public art commissions at any of the BSK locations.

The City of Kelowna acknowledges that our community is located on the traditional, ancestral, unceded territory of the syilx Okanagan people.

Architectural Rendering, Redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, West Porch Plaza, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Stantec

Project Requirements

For complete details, please read the full Call for Artists.

Eligibility

This two-stage competition is open to all local, national, and international professional artists and artist-led teams with public art experience and cultural makers working in diverse artistic mediums. Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit artists and/or cultural makers with connections to the syilx Okanagan people’s territory are encouraged to apply.

Selection Process

Stage 1: Review of EOIs and shortlisting by a five-person Public Art Selection Panel assessing artistic merit, past work, and public art experience.

Stage 2: Shortlisted artists prepare and present a detailed concept proposal for a specific BSK site(s). Shortlisted artists will attend a public art information session as part of the RFP process and participate in an interview. CARFAC honorariums will be paid to shortlisted artists for completed proposals.

Project Schedule (Estimated)

• Optional Artist Information Session (Microsoft Teams): August 13, 2025 at 6:00pm (PDT)
• Deadline for Stage 1 Call for Artists EOI: September 10, 2025 at 2:00pm (PDT)
• Shortlisted Selection and Artist Notification: November/December 2025
• Shortlisted Artist Site Visits and Information Session: January 2026
• Stage 2 Proposals Due: April 2026
• Shortlisted Artist Presentations: April 2026
• Final Artist Selection and Notification: May 2026
• Concept & Design Development: Spring 2026 – Fall 2026
• Fabrication and Site Planning: Fall 2026 – Spring 2027
• Installation: Spring – Fall 2027

The final project schedule will be revised in agreement with the City.

Architectural Rendering, Redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, West Lobby, Diamond Schmitt Architects, Stantec

Submission Requirements (Stage 1)

Artists are to include the following information:

1. Expression of Interest: A written statement—no more than 2 pages—addressing

• Why they are interested in the opportunity
• Why their artistic practice is suited to this project/context
• What their experience in public art brings to the project

2. Artist Resume (4 pages max.)

• Artist’s name and contact information
• Public art and exhibition history, education, relevant work experience
• List three (3) references including name and contact information, title/organizational affiliation and relationship to the artist. Reference letters are not required.

3. Examples of Past Work

• A list of completed artworks relevant to this opportunity (no more than 6), including date of completion, budget, materials, description of concept and commissioning process.
• Images/photography/video of listed artworks (no more than 2/project). All video and audio files must be Window and Mac compatible (MP3 and MP4 files are preferred), and accessible via a secure link contained in the PDF application.

This Expression of Interest does not require the preparation of a proposal.

All submissions must be in PDF format no larger than 4 MB in size. Each page of the submission should include page numbers and the artist’s name.

How to Submit

Submit applications to the City’s online portal or Email to Artcalls@kelowna.ca

Submissions by other methods may not be accepted. Minimum system requirements are Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. JavaScript must be enabled.

Uploading large documents may take significant time, depending on the file(s) size and the Internet connection. You will receive an email confirmation receipt with a unique confirmation number once you finalize your submission.

All information provided shall remain as property of the City of Kelowna and will be used solely for the purpose of evaluation. Thank you for your interest in this call.

Submission Deadline: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 2:00pm (PDT)

For additional information or questions:
Please contact Ciara McKeown, CMCK Public Art at Artcalls@kelowna.ca or via the City’s Bonfire Portal by initiating communications electronically through the Messages>Opportunity Q&A function.

City of Kelowna
1435 Water Street
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J4
www.kelowna.ca
Artcalls@kelowna.ca
250.469.8500