Call to Indigenous Artists and Community – Request for Qualifications
Indigenous Welcome Artworks at Simon Fraser University (SFU) Surrey Campus
Artwork Budget, Four (4) Commissions, each: $30,000 CAD
Application Closing Date: Friday, October 14, 2022 / 5PM
Installation Timeline: August 2023
To apply complete the downloadable PDF below and submit to: sfugalleries@sfu.ca
Phone: 778-782-3111
BACKGROUND
Simon Fraser University (SFU) – Surrey Campus invites local Indigenous artists connected to the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), q’ʷa:n̓ƛ’ən̓ (Kwantlen), Səmyámə (Semiahmoo), and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nations, to create artworks near the Surrey Centre or School of Sustainable Energy Engineering buildings, to share Indigenous art and culture at the core of our learning spaces.
This process reflects the goals of a multi-pronged approach — that engages community, provides mentorship, and shares Indigenous art and culture — as articulated priorities established during a feast with local Elders and Indigenous community participants in May, 2022. Four artworks will be commissioned in total, and installed in summer 2023, with a celebration launch in September 2023.
APPLICATION
Artists are invited to send their qualifications by sharing a portfolio of previously created artwork images, along with a curriculum vitae, letter of interest, website details, or other documentation to share of their artistic and creative practice. Artists are able to share any type of documentation of their artistic practice; application assistance is available by contacting: sfugalleries@sfu.ca or 778-782-3111.
PROCESS
Artists will be selected on the qualifications of their portfolio of previous public artworks and demonstrated connection of the artist and artwork to the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the q̓íc̓əy̓ (Katzie), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), qiqéyt (Qayqayt), q’ʷa:n̓ƛ’ən̓ (Kwantlen), Səmyámə (Semiahmoo) and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) First Nations. Artwork concepts are not required at this stage of the process.
NEXT STEPS
After the four Indigenous artists are selected, based on their artwork portfolio and demonstrated qualifications and connections to the South Fraser region, a next phase of the project will commence.
During phase two of the process, the four artists will each receive an Artwork Proposal Fee of $3000 to develop an artwork concept, maquette or artwork model, and budget for an artwork commission fee of $30,000 CAD: including materials, installation costs, and artist insurance.
Artists will be invited to a site visit to see the location possibilities for the artwork and a dossier of information to develop their concept. Artists will receive information on the technical requirements of each site location, and can indicate their top two site preferences for their artwork. A full package of renderings, art location details, and thematic or background information will be available for the four selected artists to assist with their Artwork Proposal development.
The selected four artists will submit their Artwork Proposal, including images or sketches, a model or maquette, concept description, budget and other relevant details, along with two preferred site locations for their artwork. The artwork can be of any medium or material that is suitable to the context, using contemporary or traditional art aesthetics or practices. Artists will also receive a fee to provide a mentorship/ learning opportunity to local emergent Indigenous artists, including lunch, materials or travel costs.
The selected four artworks will demonstrate concepts and artistic meaning that is reflective of local Indigenous cultures, and extends an interpretation of a welcome to the unceded traditional lands of the South Fraser River, in proximity to Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus.
Artworks will be installed in August, 2023. The artists and their new works will be celebrated together with local Indigenous Nations, the SFU and broader Surrey community, in mid-September 2023.
PROJECT CONDITIONS
Commissioned artworks will be owned and maintained by Simon Fraser University (SFU) after acceptance and the project is completed. The artists will enter into an agreement regarding the terms of the artwork commission.
Copyright of the artwork will remain with the artists, and licence to copyright of artwork images will be provided to Simon Fraser University to share information about the artwork for public, educational, and non-commercial purposes.
The artworks will be permanently installed; maintenance and conservation will be the responsibility of Simon Fraser University (SFU). Simon Fraser University will not alter the artwork for purposes of maintenance, conservation, or other means without prior consultation with the artist. Simon Fraser University reserves the right to move or de-accession the artwork if conditions such as site safety or other requirements necessitate it and will make every effort to expediently notify the artist in such circumstances.
