Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to delivering exceptional care to 1.2 million people, including the First Nations, Métis and Inuit in our region, where we acknowledge the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai'xais, Lil'wat, Musqueam, N'Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla'amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa'xtsa.
Vancouver Coastal Health is seeking Indigenous artists to design and paint interior wall murals at the newly renovated space for the Down Town East Side Youth Outreach Team on Powell Street. The objective of these wall murals is to contribute to a welcoming and culturally safe space, as well as to honour the First Nations territories on whose lands the space is located.
Indigenous youth from Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh, as well as youth clients of the DTES Youth Outreach Team, have shared the themes that will inform the artwork. One opportunity is open to Indigenous artists of all ages to create a traditional Coast Salish art wall mural. A second opportunity is open to Indigenous youth artists aged 16-24 for a free-form wall mural. If you are an Indigenous youth artist and do not have experience painting a wall mural, there is an option to partner with an Indigenous mentor who does have this experience and submit jointly. Attached is the full Call for Artists that outlines the requirements and how to submit for the opportunity. You can submit up until May 10, 2023.
If you want to be a part of this initiative, check out the full Call for Artists below that outlines the requirements and how to submit for the opportunity, or download the document. You can submit up until May 10, 2023.
Call for Indigenous Artists – Wall Murals (EOI 2023-VCH-006)
The Down Town East Side (DTES) Youth Outreach Team is a VCH team that provides services to hard-to-reach youth between the ages of 14 and 24. Approximately 60 per cent of youth served by the DTES Youth Outreach Team are Indigenous.
VCH is renovating a leased space on Powell Street in Vancouver to provide a fixed location for the DTES Youth Outreach Team. The team will continue to provide outreach and temporary clinical and support services as well as a bridge to longer-term services. As part of this renovated space, there will be a youth lounge as well as private rooms to obtain services.
PROJECT GOALS
VCH wishes to ensure that the new DTES Youth Outreach Team space is a welcoming, culturally safe and inclusive space. As such, VCH wishes to engage an artist or artists to create:
- A traditional Coast Salish art wall mural (in honour of the Coast Salish territories on whose land the DTES Youth Outreach Team’s space is located) designed and painted by an Indigenous artist; and
- A free-form wall mural designed and painted by an Indigenous youth artist (aged 16-24 at time of submission).
VCH has engaged with youth on the themes that they would like to see, as well as the look and feel for the artwork, and the artists or artists will be expected to incorporate this feedback into their work.
The artists will be selected by a panel including representatives of the Musqueam Indian Band, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Squamish Nation, and VCH. Artists may submit for one or both opportunities. The selection panel may award the same artist both opportunities.
SPECIFICATIONS #1: TRADITIONAL COAST SALISH ART WALL MURAL
1. Wall Mural Objectives: This mural will honour the unceded and traditional Coast Salish territories where the DTES Youth Outreach Team’s renovated space is located, and contribute to the space’s sense of inclusivity, well-being and cultural safety.
2. Themes to be reflected in the Coast Salish art wall mural: Through engagement with Indigenous youth and clients of the DTES Youth Outreach Team, youth identified key themes as inspiration for the traditional Coast Salish artwork. Some but not all of these themes should be reflected.
- Sacred animals: eagles, bears and/or wolves
- Sacred places: the forest, ocean, and home
- Sacred plants: cedar, devil’s club and stinging nettles
- Sacred practices: brushing off
- Traditional Items/reminders of home: a long house, a drum, my Nation, a canoe or an elder.
- Include both words and images: specifically words in Indigenous language.
Musqueam language have provided hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ translations for the following phrases: “we are of one heart”, “help each other”, “forget your difference and become friends again.”
A more comprehensive summary of the engagement will be available for the selected Indigenous artist to incorporate into the wall mural. This will include the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ translations.
3. Dimensions of Available Walls for the Wall Mural: One wall is available for the wall mural for a total of approximately 45 square feet (approximately 5 feet ft. 8 inches wide x 8 ft. tall).
4. Supplies: Artists will need to supply their own art supplies (paints, brushes, spray gun, projector, etc.) The selected artist will also be required to obtain appropriate insurance in consultation with VCH.
5. Timeline for Wall Mural Completion: The anticipated date of completion for the wall mural is June 23, 2023. The artist selection date is anticipated for May 19, 2023 and an opening event/unveiling is anticipated for July of 2023. The VCH project team will work with the selected Indigenous artist and coordinate the exact date of completion.
6. Artist Fee: The selected Indigenous artist will be paid a fee of up to $4500 for the design and installation of the traditional Coast Salish Art Wall Mural; the selected artist will be required to supply their own art and other supplies to complete the wall mural at their own expense. The timeline, project milestones, and payment schedule will be agreed upon in a contract to be finalized upon selection of the Indigenous artist. If partnering with a mentor, the artist fee will be split equally between the artist and the mentor.
SPECIFICATIONS #2: FREE-FORM ART WALL MURAL
1. Wall Mural Objectives: The wall is intended to contribute to the sense of inclusivity, well-being and cultural safety.
2. Themes to be reflected in the free-form art wall mural: Through engagement with Indigenous youth and clients of the DTES Youth Outreach Team, key themes were identified - these include Coast Salish and non Coast Salish themes, to ensure that the space is welcoming to all of its clients. Some but not all of these themes should be reflected.
Include both words and images: welcoming words such as love, respect, honesty, humility, courage truth and wisdom, and/or words in Indigenous language (see phrases above for which Musqueam Language Department have provided hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ translations)
Look and feel: calm, with one or two ideas depicted.
Preferred colours: red, black, yellow and white or a variety of colours on a dark background.
In addition to the sacred animals, places and practices listed above for the Coast Salish art wall mural, other top non-Coast Salish themes included the sacred practice of smudging and the sacred plant sweetgrass.
Additional themes that resonated with youth include: “the community has open doors,” “when we need care we can access it quickly,” and “we show up for each other.”
A more comprehensive summary of the engagement will be available for the selected Indigenous artist to incorporate into the wall mural.
3. Dimensions of Available Walls for the Wall Mural: Three adjoining walls are available for the wall mural, for a total of up to 157 square feet (depicted in red in the image below). The walls sizes are approximately: Wall A - 68 square feet (8.5 ft. wide x 8 ft. tall); Wall B - 32 square feet (3 ft. 11 inches wide x 8 ft. tall); and Wall C 57 square feet. (7 ft. 2 inches x 8 ft. tall). Any parts or all of these walls can be used for the mural.
4. Supplies: Artists will need to supply their own art supplies (paints, brushes, spray gun, projector, etc.). The selected artist will also be required to obtain appropriate insurance in consultation with VCH.
5. Timeline for Wall Mural Completion: The anticipated date of completion for the Wall Mural is June 23, 2023. The artist selection date is anticipated for May 19, 2023 and an opening event/unveiling is anticipated for July of 2023. The VCH project team will work with the selected Indigenous youth artist (age 16-24) and coordinate the exact date of completion.
6. Artist Fee: The selected Indigenous youth artist will be paid a fee of up to $5000 for the design and installation of the Free-Form Art Wall Mural at the Youth Outreach Team’s newly renovated space; the selected artist will be required to supply their own art and other supplies required to complete the wall mural at their own expense. The timeline, project milestones, and payment schedule will be agreed upon in a contract to be finalized upon selection of the youth Indigenous artist. If partnering with a mentor, the artist fee will be split equally between the artist and the mentor.
ARTIST ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
All submissions must meet the Artist Eligibility Criteria to be considered by the Artist Selection Panel:
- Identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Metis or Inuit)
- Provide evidence of artistic ability (can be wall murals or other types of drawings, paintings or artwork).
- Provide evidence of creating and/or installing wall murals or relevant artwork of a similar scope (references and/or examples required)***
- Traditional Coast Salish Art Wall Mural:
- Experience in traditional Coast Salish Art
- Free-Form Art Wall Mural:
- Indigenous youth between the ages of 16 and 24 at time of submission
- ***An eligible Indigenous youth without experience creating and installing wall murals or relevant artwork of a similar scope can partner with a mentor to support the design and installation of the wall mural and fulfil the experience requirement above. The mentor must identify as Indigenous (First Nation, Metis or Inuit).
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Interested artists are invited to submit on the VCH Bonfire Portal at https://vch.bonfirehub.ca/portal/?tab=openOpportunities, including the three items outlined below. Both wall mural opportunities are listed under EOI 2023 VCH-006. Submissions by portal are preferred, if you have questions or need help submitting please contact VCH.Artcalls@VCH.ca. If you are submitting for both wall murals, you can submit a single Expression of Interest and upload pictures of your sample art work a single time. You will, however, be required to include projected expenses for each opportunity on your Expression of interest, and submit a separate concept statement (written or visual) for each opportunity.
WALL MURAL #1:
- Expression of Interest, including:
- Contact information: email and phone number
- Indigenous affiliation,
- Interest in this project,
- Description/examples of any relevant experience and/or references (e.g. wall murals painted or other relevant artistic experience of a similar scope)
- Projected expenses and fees to complete the wall mural up to $4500.
- 4-6 Pictures of sample art work completed previously (can be wall murals or other artwork that displays artistic ability such as paintings, drawings, etc.)
- Either an initial concept statement (300 words) or a visual concept statement/sketch if you prefer (or both) outlining your initial ideas on how you would reflect the themes in the wall mural.
WALL MURAL #2:
- Expression of Interest, including:
- Contact information: email and phone number
- Indigenous affiliation,
- Age (at time of submission)
- Interest in this project,
- Description/examples of any relevant experience and/or references (e.g., wall murals painted or other relevant artistic experience of a similar scope).
- Projected expenses and fees, up to $5000.
- 4-6 Pictures of sample art work completed previously (can be wall murals or other artwork that displays artistic ability such as paintings, drawings, etc.)
- Either an initial concept statement (300 words) or a visual concept statement/sketch if you prefer (or both) outlining your initial ideas on how you would reflect the themes in the wall mural.
If you are an Indigenous youth between the ages of 16 and 24, and have not previously completed a wall mural, you may partner with a mentor who has completed a wall mural to fulfil the experience requirement above.
If you are partnering with a mentor, in addition to the three requirements above, please also have your mentor provide the following two items:
- A letter from the mentor indicating:
- Their willingness to jointly submit for this opportunity and partner with you to design and install the wall mural
- Their contact information: email and phone number
- Indigenous affiliation (First Nation, Metis or Inuit)
- Description of relevant experience and/or references (e.g. wall murals painted or relevant artistic experience of a similar scope)
- Projected expenses and fees to complete the wall mural up to $5000
- 4-6 Pictures of sample art work completed previously (can be wall murals or other artwork that displays artistic ability such as paintings, drawings, etc.)
SELECTION PROCESS
All submissions will be evaluated by the Artist Selection Panel, which will include representatives from Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh, and VCH representatives from the DTES Youth Outreach Team. The Artist Selection Panel will evaluate those artists that meet the core requirements (First Nations, Metis or Inuit and for Wall Mural #2 between the ages of 16-24 at the time of submission), and will select the artist(s) based on their consideration of art samples provided, the concept statement, and ability to complete the artwork (based on experience and/or references or mentorship agreement and mentor’s experience and/or references).
DEADLINES
Deadline: May 10, 2023 (received)
Estimated Decision: May 19 2023
Timeline: Start June /Complete July 2023
Anticipated Opening: July 1, 2023
WHERE TO SEND SUBMISSIONS/ ASK QUESTIONS
On VCH Bonfire Portal: EOI 2023-VCH-006
https://vch.bonfirehub.ca/portal/?tab=openOpportunities
By Email: VCH.Artcalls@VCH.ca
Attention: Joseph Zhou
