Artists and artist teams are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to enter a national, three-stage, juried competition to create new public artwork to enhance Johnson Street Parkade. The artwork can be located inside the building, such as in elevators or stairwells, and/or on the façade of the parkade. The artwork(s) is to be installed by December 31, 2015.
Enhancing City parkades to make them more welcoming was identified in the spring during consultation with members of the Victoria Youth Council as a way to improve the parking experience downtown.
This notice can be used to help promote the Call to Artists to artist groups.
http://www.victoria.ca/assets/Departments/Parks~Rec~Culture/Culture/Documents/Call%20to%20Artists.pdf [PDF - 702 KB]
Art Medium
A range of media may be considered, including but not limited to, two-dimensional images, relief and sculptural forms, temporary work, multimedia, light and sound installations and urban infrastructure. Sustainable design, procurement, and fabrication practices are encouraged, and public safety and access to the parkade must be maintained.
Budget
The budget for the completed artwork(s) is up to $125,000, which must cover all design, production, installation and administrative costs. The new artwork(s) will be funded by the City’s Art in Public Places Reserve Fund.
Three-Stage Juried Competition
The three-stage competition will follow the City’s Art in Public Places Policy and will be juried by a selection committee of arts professionals, community members, and City of Victoria representatives.
Stage One will require artists to submit a resume, visual documentation of their work, and a general concept and preferred site(s) for the Johnson Street Parkade public art project.
At Stage Two, semi-finalists will be selected and asked to provide a written proposal for the artwork and digital renderings.
At Stage Three, up to three finalists will be invited to submit a more detailed proposal with a rendering(s) or a maquette(s) of the proposed artwork(s). Selected finalists completing Stage Three will receive a $1,000 honorarium.
Submission Guidelines
View the Request for Expressions of Interest, Call to Artists Johnson Street Art on Parkade Project:
http://www.victoria.ca/assets/Departments/Parks~Rec~Culture/Culture/Documents/14-073%20EI%20-%20Johnson%20Street%20Art%20on%20Parkade%20Project.pdf
Deadline for Expressions of Interest:
Submissions are to be submitted electronically or by mail by 4 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, February 2, 2015.
Please see the Request for Expressions of Interest for submission guidelines.
Site Tour
Artists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Johnson Street Parkade by attending a site tour led by City staff on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at 1 p.m. Pacific Time. Artists will have an opportunity to learn more and ask questions. The Johnson Street Parkade is located at 750 Johnson Street, between Douglas and Blanshard Streets in downtown Victoria. For those who cannot attend, highlights of the site visit will be videotaped and made available here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions can be emailed to
[email protected]. All questions and answers will be displayed here.
Project Timeline
All submissions must be received by 4 p.m. Pacific Time, electronically or by mail, on the dates noted below.
Deadline for Stage One Submissions: Monday, February 2, 2015
Deadline for Stage Two Submissions: Monday, March 30, 2015
Deadline for Stage Three Submissions: Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Installation required by: Thursday, December 31, 2015
The City of Victoria reserves the right to not select finalists at any stage of the competition.
Upcoming Calls to Artists
Two additional calls for artists will be announced in spring 2015 to create public art to enhance Centennial Square Parkade and Bastion Square Parkade.
Art in Public Places Policy
The City's Art in Public Places Policy encourages the creation of new works of art for the enhancement of public spaces. The purpose of the policy is to:
Increase the liveability and artistic richness of the municipality by making art a permanent part of our environment and a legacy for future generations.
Provide opportunities for the public to increase their awareness, appreciation, knowledge and education of public art.
Develop a sense of place, community pride and identity through the creation of new works.
Integrate art and artists into a variety of public settings.
Engender art that inspires people and is an expression of the time.
Enhance the attractiveness of the City, and promote cultural tourism.
Provide opportunities for artists at all levels and career stages.
Learn more about the Art in Public Places Policy.