Call for Expressions of Interest: Carnival Arts Mural in Mirvish Village, Toronto

Call for Expressions of Interest:
Carnival Arts Mural in Mirvish Village, Toronto

Blackhurst Cultural Centre (BCC), in partnership with StreetARToronto (StART), invites street, mural and graffiti artists/collectives to submit an Expression of Interest for a large outdoor Carnival Arts mural to be installed in the new Mirvish Village, one of Toronto’s most iconic sites at Bathurst and Bloor Streets.

The mural is a tribute to the seminal roles that calypso & soca music, masquerade costumes, and the steelpan have played in Canada’s Black and Caribbean community. The chosen design must offer an enduring legacy statement on the Carnival Arts and visualize its evolution in Toronto – its beauty and meaning. Blackhurst Cultural Centre and its partners seek a candidate to make a bold artistic statement. The mural is a unique community engagement project intended to serve as a billboard of information on Caribbean culture in Canada and become a cultural destination and tourist attraction. Execution of the chosen mural design must include a mentorship component.

The deadline for your EOI submission is Monday, March 20, 2023.

Please see below for the questions to answer in your EOI submission.

EOI QUESTIONS

• Name
• Email Address
• Mailing Address
• Website
• Social Media Handles
• Images of previous work
• Statement of work, CV or resumé
• Artist statement and bio
• Statement of interest
• Relevant work history
• Community experience
• References
• Access needs

The artists/collective selected for this project will be required to enter into a formal agreement with the City of Toronto and with the Blackhurst Cultural Centre.

ELIGIBLITY

Well-established street, mural and graffiti artists / collectives who have completed several large-scale outdoor street, mural or graffiti art projects are encouraged to apply.

TIMELINE

• Stage 1 EOI due: March 20, 2023 at 11:59PM EST
• Shortlisted artists notified: Week of April 2, 2023
• Stage 2 design due: TBD
• Selected artist / collective notified: TBD

Please note: The timeline may be subject to change.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Your Expression of Interest (EOI) submission is the first stage in a two-stage process. An arms-length jury will select five applicants who will each be awarded a design fee of $1,500.00 to prepare and submit a design. A second round of interviews will follow to choose the final design and determine the individual or individuals who will execute the mural project. Send your EOI

• In writing: Create your Word document and email to mural.bcc@gmail.com with the subject heading “Carnival Arts EOI”
• Video: Send your video answers to the EOI questions listed above by uploading your video to WeTransfer and email to mural.bcc@gmail.com with the subject heading “Carnival Arts EOI” or share the link to your video that is hosted on a cloud platform (e.g. YouTube, Vimeo, etc.).
• Voice recording or audio file: Share the link to your file that is hosted on a cloud platform or send your mp3 file answers to the EOI questions to mural.bcc@gmail.com with the subject heading “Carnival Arts EOI”.

IMPORTANT: Attach up to 5 images of past outdoor mural or street art work you have done and include the location, year completed and description of your role (e.g. lead artist, collaborator, assistant).

Other: Applicants with questions about the process or who require assistance completing the submission are encouraged to reach out to Roger Gibbs at rogergibbs.bcc@gmail.com or 416.484.6914. We encourage submissions from artists that represent the full diversity of communities, including complexities of intersecting identities such as ability, age, class, gender, race, sexual orientation and more. We thank all applicants for their time and interest in this call.

REVIEW PROCESS

EOIs will be reviewed by an external Advisory Committee and will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Artist experience, artistic merit, and suitability of proposed design – 50%
• Integrity, thoroughness and feasibility of the Project – 25%
• Capacity for meaningful and engaging mentorship opportunities – 25%

Blackhurst Cultural Centre
The People’s Residence
416.901.7720 | info@blackhurstcc.org

StreetARToronto (StART) is a suite of innovative programs intentionally designed to showcase, celebrate and support street, mural and graffiti artists and art throughout Toronto, create a more welcoming environment and a greater sense of belonging for residents and visitors, and reinforce Toronto’s reputation as a global centre of creativity and innovation. StART programs and projects are rooted in a set of values that demonstrate the positive and powerful impacts of diversity and inclusion, foster community engagement and civic pride, add colour and vitality to neighbourhoods, encourage active transportation like cycling and walking, showcase Toronto artists and contribute to their skills development, mentor emerging talent, and create opportunities for positive engagement among diverse communities, residents, business owners and operators, artists and arts organizations. StreetARToronto is committed to creating value through art with meaning, from artists’ entry onto the street art scene with access to micro-grants and small canvases, all the way to large scale local and international commissions and so much more. StreetARToronto is an initiative of the City of Toronto, Transportation Services Division.

For more information about StART please inquire at streetart@toronto.ca or visit our website at www.toronto.ca/streetart.