Call for Submissions: Calgary Artist-Initiated Public Art Program

Calgary Arts Development public art microgrant investment funds are provided through the Government of Alberta and The City of Calgary. We thank these funders for their generous support.

DEADLINE: OCTOBER 18, 2021

Program Overview

This microgrant program recognizes that public art opportunities can come from grassroots ideas that are initiated by professional artists.

Professional artists are defined as artists who are actively pursuing a career in the arts, who have invested in the development of their artistic skills, voice, and goals, and who primarily create artistic work on their own. Professional artists may have formal training, have shared their work publicly, have been compensated for their work, and have a relationship with their artistic communities and peers. Artists do not need to be working professionally in the arts full-time.

Calgary Arts Development invites Calgary and area artists or artist teams to submit their project ideas to create art in public spaces. Professional artists of all experience levels are encouraged to partner with community associations, businesses or private landowners to explore any form of public art in any part of the city.

Please note that this is a request for proposals and an initial artwork concept is required. Artist or artist teams will be expected to complete community engagement after they are commissioned to inform the final artwork concept.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to Calgary-based professional artists of all disciplines. Individual artists or artist teams or collectives are eligible. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

We will only accept one application per group, and only one application per project. You may not receive more than one Calgary Arts Development grant for the same project or phase of a project. Success in this program does not affect your eligibility to apply to other Calgary Arts Development grant investment programs.

This program cannot fund projects retroactively, meaning that projects that have begun before the deadline of October 18, 2021, are not eligible.

Projects funded through this program must be completed by December 31, 2022.

Applicants may apply for up to $40,000 to support eligible projects.

Total funding available for this program is $150,000.

Accommodation and Accessibility

Calgary Arts Development is committed to open, fair, and transparent processes. If you have any questions, want feedback on your application or if it’s your first time applying, please don’t hesitate to contact us for support.

While we may not be able to meet in person at this time, our team is available to provide support over the phone, through email, or through the use of audio and video platforms.

The public art microgrant programs follow many of the same guidelines as Calgary Arts Development’s other granting programs. Please see Investment Program FAQ for answers to common questions, and contact the public art community liaison as early as you can to ensure they can provide the best support possible. Staff can provide feedback on your application up to one week before application deadlines.

We will work one-on-one with applicants who experience barriers to access to develop accommodations that suit their abilities and situations. Some examples of accommodations are:

• Translation of written materials into other languages.
• Transcription of verbal meetings or audio and video recordings into a written document.
• Verbal video or audio applications. If you would prefer to answer the application questions verbally you can submit an audio or video recording of yourself or our staff can help record your responses using an online platform, such as Zoom.
• Language interpretation for phone or video meetings (Note: this will depend on the availability of external service agencies).
• Grant writing assistance if you need help.

You may be eligible for application assistance to pay someone to help you prepare and submit an application if you need it or for any of the reasons listed below:

• An artist who is Deaf, hard of hearing, has a disability or is living with a mental illness.
• An artist facing language, geographic or cultural barriers.

Please contact Ophelia Liew, Public Art Engagement Liaison, at ophelia.liew@calgaryartsdevelopment.com to inquire about application assistance.

Contact Information

Please note that Calgary Arts Development staff are continuing to work remotely. For any questions about the Calgary Arts Development public art program please contact publicart@calgaryartsdevelopment.com or call 403.264.5330 and leave a message for a member of the public art team to return your call.

Apply now through our Grants Interface.