call to artists - Edmonton Public Art - Edmonton Arts Council

call to artists

request for submissions

Call to Artists - #YEGCANVAS: A Citywide Billboard and LRT Station-Based Art Exhibition

The Edmonton Arts Council and Pattison Outdoor Advertisting are proud to present a unique, high profile art opportunity for emerging, Aboriginal, and multicultural artists, craftspeople, and artisans residing in the greater Edmonton region. This transitory project is an entry point for artists who have had little opportunity to participate in public art or exhibit in the Edmonton area. #YEGCANVAS: a citywide billboard and LRT station-based art exhibition will feature 45 works of art displayed on billboards and LRT station transit posters throughout the City of Edmonton. Up to 45 artists will be selected for this exhibition, and their artwork will be shown on 10 billboards and 15 LRT station transit posters located throughout Edmonton. #YEGCANVAS will run from December 2015 to May 2016. Artists may submit up to five suitable exisiting artworks, or new work created for consideration. All works must be original to the artist. Do not send original artwork, only high quality reproductions. Budget: $500 CAD (maximum, all inclusive) per image (artists may submit up to five artworks). Deadline for Submissions: 4:30 pm on Tuesday, September 08, 2015 Installation: Rotating display on 10 billboards and 15 LRT station posters starting December 2015 ending May 2016. This opportunity is held in accordance with the City of Edmonton policy “Percent for Art to Provide and Encourage Art in Public Areas” (C458C) and the “Public Art Transitory Program”. For more information, contact the Edmonton Arts Council: phone (780) 424–2787 or e-mail: [email protected] We thank all artists for contributing their time and professional work for their initial concept proposal submissions.

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call to artists #YEGCANVAS: A Citywide Billboard and LRT Station-Based Art Exhibition About Edmonton Located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton, Alberta is known as “Festival City” and “Gateway to the North.” With more than one million people living in the Greater Edmonton region, the city is the largest, northernmost municipality in North America. Geographically, Edmonton is situated at the boundary between prairie and boreal forest. The river valley constitutes the longest stretch of connected urban parkland in North America. Edmonton is home to Canada’s second-largest urban Aboriginal community. The City of Edmonton lies in the heart of Treaty No. 6 territory and honours the traditions and spirit of the area. For centuries this area has been a place of gathering, relationship building, harmony, balance, and commerce for many peoples. It was in this place that early relationships led to the creation of Treaty No. 6, the Province of Alberta, and the City of Edmonton. This deep history, and the subsequent migration of many new Canadians to the area, imbues Edmonton with a rich cultural and ethnic heritage. This diversity contributes to a dynamic urban landscape alive with arts and culture, business, research and development, and industry. Indicators for the next twelve years point to steady economic and population growth. As Edmonton’s economy flourishes, so does the spirit of revitalization. Edmonton is undergoing an unprecedented amount of infrastructure growth with major roadways, and streetscapes, and there has been significant development in neighbourhoods. Aspects of these provide public art opportunities through the City’s “Percent for Art to Provide and Encourage Art in Public Areas” and “Public Art Transitory Program” policies. Edmonton’s spirit of optimism is reflected through its ever-evolving Public Art Collection. With more than 200 pieces, the Collection includes visual art from a variety of disciplines by local, national and international artists.

EAC Transitory Art Program Goals Short-term public art installations are important in changing the face of the city, increasing its livability and creativity for both citizens and visitors. The short-term nature of these projects helps to develop a greater understanding of public art as well as acceptance and demand for permanent public artworks. #YEGCANVAS will stimulate dialogue and new ways of thinking about neighborhoods and the public realm, inspire local artists, and cultivate future public artists and audiences. The Transitory program focuses on: high impact public art interventions in public areas with the potential to shift perspectives of public spaces in Edmonton; mentorship and training resources for Edmonton-based artists; high quality artworks, and projects which, in this case, focus on customary (traditonal) techniques, contemporary techniques, composition, and cultural interventions in public spaces.. Permanent public art is a complex art field. #YEGCANVAS provides a highly visible and dynamic venue to artists emerging within their genres, in public art practice, and in Edmonton.

#YEGCANVAS Background and Context The Edmonton Arts Council is partnering with Pattison Outdoor Advertisting to turn the City of Edmonton into an outdoor gallery. The exhibition will focus on emerging, multicultural, and Aboriginal artists who work in a variety of visual media and craft. A six-month exhibition, #YEGCANVAS will feature reproductions of original artworks installed on billboards and LRT station posters across the city. Up to 45 artists will be selected to provide reproductions of their original works of art. Artwork images will be rotated throughout the city regularly in the following manner: • Billboards – 10 billboards will rotate three times (once every 8 weeks) for a total of 30 individual artworks. The billboard locations will change with each rotation. • LRT Station Posters – 15 images will be selected for display in 15 LRT station locations. These images will not be changed through the exhibition, however they will be moved to to various stations every 8 weeks.

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call to artists Transitory Art Opportunity Selected artists will provide images of their art or craft work in any visual medium that can be reproduced for display on the billboards and LRT station posters. (e.g. .tif, .eps etc). Selected artists may provide original, high quality scans or reproductions of their artworks. All colour and black and white mediums are suitable, however, the artwork must be bold, readable, and easily viewed by passing motor vehicle and foot traffic. Artworks must also be able to be translated into the appropriate billboard format or LRT station poster (outlined below).

Submission Requirements Artists interested in applying may submit up to 5 (five) images of their artwork as high quality photocopies on standard 8 1/2” X 11” paper. Artists may also supply their images in .JPEG format on CD, DVD, or USB. JPEG’s must be 150 dpi. Artists may use the billboard and LRT station poster template provided on page 4 and page 5 of this call. Original artwork will not be accepted.

HINT • •

Cut and paste or otherwise fit your image into the templates provided on page 4 and page 5. These are scaled down from the final print size of . if you use the templates on page 4 and page 5, put your work on the wall and move back five feet, and the image reads well, it should be readable on the final billboards and posters.

Billboard Format Billboard sizes are 20 ft long by 10 ft high. Typical paper horizontal billboard posters have rounded or cropped corners and are front illuminated. Selected artists will need to supply a reproduction of their artwork at 1:24 scale (1/2” to 1’) at 600 dpi in either Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Macromedia FreeHand, or QuarkXpress. Raster images should be placed as CMYK .tif or .eps files. If the selected artist is unable to provide their artwork in the above format, the Edmonton Arts Council can make arrangements to have the artwork reproduced and digitized.

LRT Station Poster Format LRT station posters are 47” long by 68” high with the bleed at 49” W X 70” H, the trim (visible) opening at 47” W X 68” H, and the live copy safety at 43” W X 64” H. Selected artists will need to supply a reproduction of their artwork at 1:8 scale at 600 dpi in one of these formats for MacOS: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe InDesign. Raster images should be placed as CMYK .tif or .eps files. If the selected artist is unable to provide their artwork in the above format, the Edmonton Arts Council can make arrangements to have the artwork reproduced and digitized.

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Billboard Template

project image samples


LRT Station Poster Template

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Ana Tamaccio, Commute, 2013.

Jeannette Sirois, It’s Written On Your Face, 2014.


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Aaron Paquette, My Heart is in Quarters, 2012. Photo: Chelsea Boos

Calder Kamin, Invaders, 2013. Photo: Calder Kamin 7

call to artists Terms of Competition Application Process Artists who meet the following criteria may be considered for commission: • Must be over 18 years of age; • Must be developing a practice in visual art or craft, as is relevant to the call; • Quality of overall work submitted; • Appropriateness of proposal for the context; • Final artwork must suit the billboard or poster format and/or be able to be formatted to the billboard or poster format; • Street art must not include illegal tags.

Selection Process: Artists will be chosen through a one-stage jury process. Selection Committee members will include: stakeholders, artists, curators, and community members. The Selection Committee is under no obligation to choose any finalists. All decisions of the Selection Committee are final.

Communication with the Selection Committee: The Edmonton Arts Council will be responsible for all communication, either verbal or in writing, between artists making submissions and members of the Selection Committee. Any communication between applicants and Selection Committee members regarding submissions or the competition may result in disqualification.

Competition Entry Requirements: Please send all materials as hardcopies on 8.5” x 11” letter size paper, with optional .jpgs on CD or USB drive. Please do not bind, staple applications, or use plastic cover sheets. Each section should be on a separate sheet, one sided. Applications will not be accepted by fax or email. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Artists must submit the following in order to qualify for consideration in the competition:

r 1.

SUBMISSION FORM

r 2. VISUAL DOCUMENTATION

Of the artwork that will be reproduced (maximum of five images, please do not submit original artwork). (prints on 8 1/2” X 11” paper only please. If also submitting

digial images, they must be in .jpg format minimum 150 dpi).

r 3. DOCUMENTATION LIST

All visual documentation must be itemized and correspond as a list on a separate document. Please provide title, medium, date, and brief description of the

meaning and idea behind each artwork.

r 4. ARTIST STATEMENT

& BIOGRAPHY

r 5. RETURN POSTAGE

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Complete and signed with contact information.

Total of one page maximum, detailing experiences and perspectives as an artist, and any other background information you consider relevant to this call. Sufficient postage must be enclosed if the artist does not want their application retained as part of the Edmonton Public Art database.

call to artists Deadline for Submissions: Complete submissions must be received in office no later than 4:30 pm on Tuesday, September 08, 2015. Submissions must be delivered to: #YEGCANVAS c/o Edmonton Arts Council 10440-108 Avenue Edmonton, Alberta Canada T5H 3Z9 Return of Submissions: Following completion of the competition, applications will be kept on file and the artist’s name added to the Edmonton Public Art database. If the artist does not want to have their application added to the database and indicates so on the entry form, application support materials will be returned when accompanied by return postage. Loss or Damage: While every precaution will be taken to prevent loss or damage, the jury, the Edmonton Arts Council and their agents shall not be liable for any loss or damage, however caused. Commission: The total commission for the artwork is $500.00 CAD (including GST). Original Work: The artist must guarantee that the artwork is original and does not violate the copyright of any other person. Contract: The artist(s) will enter into a contract with the Edmonton Arts Council. Copyright: Artists will retain copyright of the artwork but allow the EAC to display reproductions for the purposes of this exhibition, and other promotional purposes. Title and artist will be identified on each billboard image. Otherwise Artists may retain the right to be identified as the creator of the artwork in promotional purposes wherever possible.

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submission form #YEGCANVAS Transitory Public Art Project

Name: Address: City/Province: Postal Code/Country: Phone (home): Phone (work): Email Address: Website (if applicable):

Please retain my application as part of the Edmonton Public Art artist database at the Edmonton Arts Council. (Check one.) r YES r NO How did you hear about this Call to Artists? EAC Weekly

r EAC Monthly r Art Rubicon r Akimbo

Other: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I , _________________________________ (PRINT NAME) hereby make a Submission for the #YEGCANVAS Transitory Art Project and am in agreement with the Terms of Competition as outlined in the Information Package.

Applicant Signature Date

Enclosures Please send all materials as separate files on a CD and as hardcopies on 8.5 x 11 letter size paper. Each section should be on a separate page single sided.. Please do not bind, staple applications, or use plastic cover sheets.

Check List – Include all of the following:

r SUBMISSION FORM r VISUAL DOCUMENTATION

(see page 8 for details)

r VISUAL DOCUMENTATION LIST (see page 8) r ARTIST STATEMENT & BIO r RETURN POSTAGE (Only if application not retained for database)

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please do not bind, staple and part of the application, or use plastic cover sheets. Each section should be on a separate sheet, one sided.

Deliver To: #YEGCANVAS c/o Edmonton Arts Council

Deadline:

10440-108 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5H 3Z9 Received in office no later than 4:30 pm Tuesday, September 08, 2015.

The information on this application is being collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the FOIP Act and will be used by the Edmonton Arts Council to determine eligibility for Edmonton Arts Council Public Art programs. The aggregate data may be used for program planning and evaluation. All information collected by the Edmonton Arts Council is protected by the provisions of the FOIP Act. You may direct questions about the collection, use or disclosure of your personal information by this program to the Edmonton Arts Council at (780) 424-2787.

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