Bridgeland BIA Mural Design Project

Closing Date of Opportunity: 4/14/2023

Name or Organization: Bridgeland BIA

Contact Email: ed@bridgelandcalgary.com

Website: http://bridgelandcalgary.com

Post Content: Bridgeland Overpass Pier Murals Public Art Project
CALL TO ARTISTS
The Bridgeland Business Improvement Area (BIA) invite artists or artist teams to submit qualifications for the design of two murals on overpass piers in Bridgeland, along Memorial Drive, between Edmonton Trail and 4 Street NE. The murals are intended to be painted directly on the overpass piers to create a temporary, vibrant, and engaging landscape. The murals will be enjoyed by motorists, pedestrians, businesses, and residents in the area while construction is underway on the Bridgeland Main Streets Improvements Program.
Artists with experience creating outdoor murals are encouraged to apply. This opportunity is open to local professional artists with connections to the Bridgeland area. Individual artists or artist teams/collectives are eligible.
BIA recognizes and values diversity and inclusion; and unique dimensions of diversity including race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, work style, communication style, learning preferences and others.
Artist Design, Public
Consultation Fee: $15,000.00 CAD
Not including GST
Submission deadline: 5:00 pm MST
Friday, April 14, 2023
Start: May 12, 2023
Completion: August 4, 2023
Artist Information Sessions (online):
One information sessions will be held on Google Meet.
• March 22, 2023 at 4 – 5 pm
Please visit Eventbrite to register in advance for the sessions.
CONTEXT
The Bridgeland community is diverse community and was developed on Treaty 7 territory, the traditional home of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi Nations, and the Métis Nation.
First Nations peoples, including Piikani, Kainai, and Siksika of the Blackfoot Confederacy, as well as Tsuut’ina and Nakoda, have inhabited the Bow River Basin for more than 10,000 years. The Bow River and surrounding area provided essential sustenance as well as an important transportation corridor for seasonal movement. The Nakoda was the only nation to establish a fishery in the Bow River, while other groups used it to strategically drive the bison hunt.
The buffalo traversed the Bow River at its shallow area near the present-day Reconciliation Bridge. Indigenous people roamed through this area, hunting, camping, and crossing the river as well. The area was treeless except for the banks of the Bow River.
The first European to explore the Bow River was David Thompson in 1787–88. Attempts were made to set up fur trading posts, but inadequate resources meant they closed quickly. Early European settlement centered around farming and ranching in the Bow Valley and commerce in Calgary. The fertile soils and lengthy growing season were conducive to farming oats, barley, wheat, and livestock, and irrigation structures were soon built. The Bow River provided food and a transportation route for settlers and merchandise. Calgary was established as a fort in 1875, and the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed to this point by 1883 — an event that facilitated settlement and the transportation of agricultural products. With European settlement came diseases, and several epidemics decimated First Nations populations in 1781, 1819-20, 1837-38, and 1869-70.
Riverside was initially an informal settlement on the north side of the Bow River, outside Calgary city limits, primarily with immigrants from several European countries. The building of the first Langevin Bridge in 1888 spurred settlement and the area became known as Germantown. The important trail to Edmonton became the locus of ongoing development and Riverside became a village in 1902, with boundaries extending from the river to 6 St and as far north as 8th Ave. Calgary’s population boom in the early 1900’s meant even more settlement along this busy transportation corridor and by 1910 significant development was happening in nearby Bridgeland including the Calgary General Hospital,
Fire Hall #4, Riverside Public School, along with a new Steel truss Langevin Bridge and a streetcar route along 4th Street and to the hospital. Many 2 and 3 story buildings were constructed including Riverside Hotel, Sligsby Block, Armour Reliance Block, Poffenroth/DeWaal block and north of 1st Avenue was Gallelli Block and Roma Grocery. Industries were also established such as Pioneer Stables, Riverside Ironworks and Riverside Steam Laundry (west of 4th Street) and Riverside Lumberyard to the east along Boulevard Avenue. Small grocery stores, shoe repair and barber shops, drug stores and department stores opened at street level, serving the many new immigrants who were settling on both sides of 4th Street.
Many languages were spoken by the German, Ukrainian, Italian, Jewish and Chinese residents who joined with nearby Bridgeland (which had been annexed to the city in 1907) to form the Bridgeland -Riverside Athletic Association. The area was busy with people, horses, streetcars, and many young children. Riverside was annexed to the city in 1910 and growth continued until 1914 when WW1 started. Further development was curtailed in the area until the 1950’s.
The City of Calgary has been working with the Bridgeland Riverside community to create a vibrant, culturally rich place to live, visit, work, and do business, for generations to come. More information about the project is available at calgary.ca/bridgelandmainstreet

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The successful artist or artist team will create two murals on the overpass piers in Bridgeland, along Memorial Drive, between Edmonton Trail and 4 Street NE. The murals are intended to be a temporary measure, in place for approximately 5 years, that will add visual interest and contribute to the vibrancy of the area.
The murals offer a unique opportunity for artists or artist teams to develop a concept that can be experienced from different vantage points:
- From the street level - as pedestrians, vehicles, cyclists, and other roadway users traverse the space at different speeds.
The location of the murals in the south gate of Bridgeland community opens opportunities to explore the community’s roots through varying perspectives, including the relationship between Indigenous people and the local community people.
Goals
This project will:
● Reflect the past of the Bridgeland community.
● Consider the historical and present-day context of the location and the variety of cultural communities represented.
● Create visual interest and encourage pedestrians, motorists, cyclists, and other roadway users to slow down and explore the community through its art.
Public engagement
The artist or artist team will be expected to participate and engage with the Bridgeland community, including residents, businesses, indigenous and visitors to develop a concept that reflects the community.
The engagement should build upon past feedback gathered from the community, as well as new information gathered through engagement activities with the artist(s) and supported by BIA. The BIA will work with the artist/s to ensure a thoughtful and inclusive engagement process is completed.
Collaboration with BIA
To ensure the public art project meets project goals, as well as the requirements of the community, the artist or artist team will be required to work closely throughout the project with BIA, as well as other stakeholders such as the City of Calgary (CoC), CoC roadway engineers, to ensure the visuals and design comply with Provincial and Federal traffic safety standards (see technical considerations on following page).

KEY DATES

Submission deadline: 5 pm MST
Friday, April 14, 2023
Late submissions will not be
considered.
Shortlist and artist selection: Early May 2023
Public Engagement: Late May 2023
Concept development Late June 2023
Design completion Early August 2023
Project completion: Early September 2023

COMPENSATION

The artist or artist team will be paid a total of $15,000.00 CDN (not including GST) for organizing public engagement and development of the artistic concept. The successful applicant is paid based on deliverables as per their Scope of Work contract.

The artist/artist team is responsible for managing their project budget.
The total budget includes (but is not limited to):
● Artist fees and consultation
● Artist time spent on conducting public engagement
● Travel if applicable
● Insurance
● Studio fees
● Installation supervision fees

Once finalized, the artistic concept will be installed /painted on the roadway by a third-party contractor hired by The City. The contractor will provide materials (specific roadway paint product and anti-graffiti coating), equipment, and a specialized crew to implement the artists vision on the roadway. The artist will have to supervise the installation work as a part of this contract.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

The artist or artist team should be prepared to work within technical constraints as outlined by The City of Calgary, in compliance with the Traffic Association of Canada (TAC) and Provincial road safety guidelines.
At a high level, these include:
- Colors: yellow, white, and/or red as the primary background colour are restricted.
- Visuals: cannot resemble traffic control or warning devices.
All imagery will be subject to review by The City of Calgary for safety purposes.
The piers of the overpass available for painting is shown on the following page.
The Location
The paintable piers available on the south-gate of Bridgeland are shown in the diagram and images below.
• Pier No. 5: The total paintable surface of all four sides is approximately 750 sq.ft.
Height: 21 ft (approx.)
Width of surfaces: 13 ft (top edge),
15 ft (bottom edge) (approx.)
Width of sides: 4 ft (approx.)
• Pier No. 6: The total paintable surface of all four sides is approximately 740 sq.ft.
Height: 20.5 ft (approx.)
Width of surfaces: 13 ft (top edge),
15 ft (bottom edge) (approx.)

HOW TO APPLY

Submission package
Eligible submissions will contain:
a) Letter of interest (250- 500 words) Refer to the criteria on the following page for suggested topics.
b) A current resume / Curriculum Vitae with applicable examples of work in related areas, educational experience and contact information.
● Images (Maximum of 10) Up to 10 images of past work. One artwork per image. Include an image list with brief description of the commission, title and date of each work, and information on project partners, where applicable.
The submission package will be evaluated based on the application criteria on the following page.
Note that artwork concepts (proposals) are NOT required as part of this application. The successful artist will develop the concept after completing community engagement.
Questions and clarifications
Submit all questions in writing to ed@bridgelandcalgary.com prior to 4:30 PM MST on Friday, April 14, 2023.

How to submit

● Email ed@bridgelandcalgary.com and attach all the required documents in a single email.
● Email subject line should say: Bridgeland Overpass Pier Murals
● Note that the maximum file size for an email is 10 MB.
● Submissions are accepted in electronic form only.
● All submission files must be compatible with a PC.
● Links to posted media or content will not be viewed. All content must be contained within the email.
● Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered.
References
Three references will be requested for short-listed artists. References should include company name, current contact name including current telephone number, address, and e-mail address. The BIA reserves the right to contact references without prior notification. References from BIA staff members will not be counted as part of the required references.
Artist teams
If applying as a team:
● Identify the project lead and team members.
● Describe how the team will be structured including the role of each team member.
● Provide the percentage of time dedicated by each team member.
● Indicate the location where staff will be based.

SELECTION PROCESS

Step 1 - Shortlisting
All eligible submissions are reviewed by a selection panel consisting of 2 arts professionals and 4 community members. The selection panel will shortlist artists or artist teams based on how their submissions meet the evaluation criteria below (rated out of a possible total 100 points):

Step 2 – Finalist interviews
Shortlisted artists or artist teams may be invited to an online/in-person interview with the selection panel. Finalist(s) will be selected based on the evaluation criteria.
The selection panel has the right to not award any of the submissions, and The BIA reserves the right to cancel/reissue this opportunity at any time.

Evaluation criteria

A. Understanding of the project: 30 points
● Why this opportunity appeals to the artist
● How the artist’s background and practice will contribute to this project
● Knowledge of or connection to the project’s place

B. Project experience: 20 points
● Experience in working to a schedule; demonstrated ability to deliver a project on time
● Demonstrated ability to meet a set budget / deliver a project on budget
● Demonstrated ability to collaborate with project teams, other stakeholders and engage with the public

C. Artistic practice: 30 points
● Demonstrated artistic excellence in contemporary art practice; demonstrated flexibility of practice; responsiveness to contextual opportunities

D. Public art experience: 20 points
● Demonstrated, relevant experience in completing public art projects of a similar scope
● Responsiveness to community engagement; understanding of the project’s context in the community.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Prior to confirmation of award, the selected artist/artist team will be required to:
● Confirm a Commercial General Liability (“CGL”) insurance policy for bodily injury (including death) and property damage in an amount of not less than TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($2,000,000.00) inclusive limit for any one occurrence.
● Complete a Scope and Fee contract defining project deliverables and payment schedule;
● Sign a BIA Professional Services Provider Agreement which includes Consulting General Conditions.

ADMINISTRATION
The commissioner for this project is:
Bridgeland BIA
Attention: Jacqui Sanderson 203-736 1 Ave SE, Calgary, AB, Canada T2E 0B8

Contact for questions: ed@bridgelandcalgary.com.

How to submit: email ed@bridgelandcalgary.com.
There is no cost to the applicant to provide a submission.
Submissions must currently be provided in English.