Request for Pre-Qualification: Indoor Public Art at MNP Community & Sport Centre, Calgary

Architectural Rendering of South Entrance, GEC Architecture

Call to Artists: MNP Community & Sport Centre Public Art

Submission Deadline: October 24, 2025 at 4:00pm MDT
Online Information Session via Microsoft Teams: September 22, 2025 at 11:30am MDT | Join the meeting now

MNP Community & Sport Centre is a world-class sport and fitness facility that inspires individuals and teams to be passionate about sport, people, and community. The Lindsay Park Sports Society (LPSS), overseeing the MNP Community & Sport Centre in Calgary, Alberta, invites professional local, national, and international artists or artist-led teams with public art experience to apply for Stage 1 of this two-stage public art competition as part of the Leisure Expansion Aquatics Project (LEAP).

Adjacent to Lindsay Park and the Elbow River, the location of the MNP Community & Sport Centre provides a unique opportunity for artists to consider the role of the pool and the park in the social life of cities as well as how the leisure and recreational activities at the Centre connect to this place known as Moh’kinstsis / Calgary.

Public art at MNP Community & Sport Centre will:

• Demonstrate excellence in contemporary art
• Contribute to the identity of the project, facility, and place
• Offer welcoming and memorable experiences for visitors to MNP Community & Sport Centre

This public art call invites artists to explore the redeveloped MNP Community & Sport Centre in Calgary to creatively engage with ideas specific to the place and space, including how the public art:

• Connects to the project and the histories and stories of Lindsay Park and the surrounding area
• Plays on the sport and recreation activities that occur in the building everyday
• Considers the importance of water to the project and its location on the Elbow River
• Understands Indigenous connections to the land and the river
• Is welcoming and fosters community interest and connectivity with neighbouring communities
• Contributes to the creation of memorable and inclusive spaces
• Considers the relationship between the interior life of the building and its connection to Lindsay Park and the pathways
• Integrates with the facility and contributes to a quality experience for people who use the performance sport and public recreation facilities

Artists/artist teams are invited to express interest in creating work for one and/or two identified sites. Alternate sites may also be considered if artists identify other key opportunities. One artist will be commissioned and work within the total public art project budget of $405,000 CAD (exclusive of all applicable taxes). This budget includes all costs directly associated with the creation of the artwork at all sites.

More information about public art at MNP LEAP can be found at: mnpcentre.com/unveiling-of-our-expansion-project

Architectural Rendering of MNP Community & Sport Centre South Lobby, GEC Architecture

Project Requirements

For complete details, please read the full Request for Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) at MNP LEAP Public Art – Call to 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, Inuit, and urban Indigenous artists with connections to the Treaty 7 region are encouraged to apply. Where applicable, preference will be given to Canadian applicants.

Selection Process

Stage 1: A five-member Public Art Selection Panel will review RFPQ applications, evaluating artistic merit, project understanding, and public art experience to shortlist three candidates.

Stage 2: Shortlisted artists prepare and present a detailed concept proposal for MNP 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 (Projected)

• Artist Information Session (Microsoft Teams): September 22, 2025 at 11:30am – 12:30pm MDT
• Deadline for Stage 1 Call for Artists: October 24, 2025 at 4:00pm MDT
• Shortlisted Selection and Artist Notification: November/December 2025
• Shortlisted Artist Site Visits and Information Session: November/December 2025
• Stage 2 Concept Proposals Due: January 30, 2026
• Shortlisted Artist Presentations: February 12, 2026
• Final Artist Selection and Notification: February 2026
• Design, Fabrication, Site Planning: Spring 2026 – Fall 2026
• Installation, Completion: Early 2027

Architectural Rendering of MNP Community & Sport Centre Natatorium, West Addition, GEC Architecture

Submission Requirements

Artists must include the following information in PDF format as a single consolidated document of maximum size 6 MB:

1. Written statement (2 pages max.), 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

• Up to 8 completed artworks relevant to this opportunity, including date of completion, budget, materials, description of concept and commissioning process.
• No more than 8 PDF pages of images. Any video and audio files must be Window and Mac compatible (MP3 and MP4 files are preferred), and accessible via a secure link in the PDF application.

This Call to Artists (RFPQ) is for Stage 1 of a two-stage artist selection process and does not require the preparation of a concept proposal.

How to Submit

Submit applications to CMCK Public Art at cmckpublicart@gmail.com. Thank you for your interest in this call.

Submission Deadline: October 24, 2025 at 4:00pm MDT

For additional information or questions, please contact:
Ciara McKeown, CMCK Public Art
cmckpublicart@gmail.com

MNP Community & Sport Centre
2225 MacLeod Trail SE
Calgary, Alberta T2G 5B6
mnpcentre.com