Public art opportunities
Curatorial Panel
This specialized panel is selected through an open call and is made up of members with diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. The Public Art Curatorial Panel focuses on assessing potential collection acquisitions and de-accessions, which will help build a public art collection that equitably and effectively represents Calgarians.
Call for members
This opportunity is open to local people, with all levels of experience, who have an interest in Public Art and would like to have a voice in guiding the Public Art collection. Artists and members of the public who have an art background are invited to submit their qualifications. All applicants will require references. Selected members typically serve a minimum of two years and can serve a maximum four-year term. Members are anonymous while they sit on the panel. The first year will involve between three and five meetings, while two to three meetings will occur in subsequent years or as requested by the Public Art Curatorial team and are initiated and facilitated by the City of Calgary Curator. Meetings will be planned according to the panelists schedules to every extent possible. Deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. MST, September 29, 2023.

Interested applicants are invited to join an upcoming information session to learn more about this opportunity.
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 6 – 8 p.m. on Zoom (hybrid option TBA) Join this session
Call for Indigenous members
Indigenous curators, academics, community members, local (Treaty #7 and Treaty #7-based) and national, with all levels of experience, who have an interest in Public Art and would like to have a voice in guiding the Public Art collection are invited to submit their qualifications. Selected members typically serve a minimum of two years and can serve a maximum four-year term. Members are anonymous while they sit on the panel. Meetings occur twice annually or as requested by the Public Art Curatorial team and are initiated and facilitated by the City of Calgary Curator. Indigenous applicants are welcome to apply to both panels. Deadline to apply is 4:30 p.m. MST, September 29, 2023.

Interested applicants are invited to join an upcoming information session to learn more about this opportunity.
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 6 – 8 p.m. on Zoom (hybrid option TBA) Join this session
Links will also be posted on the Indigenous public art Facebook page.
Indigenous Place Keeping programming and artworks
The Indigenous Place Keeping program showcases a variety of cultural programming and traditional and contemporary works of art by Indigenous artists in Calgary’s municipal building. Two ways to participate are outlined below.
The deadline to apply for either call is 4:30 p.m. MST, September 29, 2023
Call for programming
Indigenous artists, performers and academics with all levels of experience can propose Indigenous educational presentations, cultural workshops and performances such as dance, music, art, writing and poetry for the fall schedule. Events and activities will take place between September and December 2023 in the municipal building atrium in Calgary.
Call for artworks
Indigenous artists with all levels of experience can propose existing artworks for a paid exhibit to celebrate Indigenous contributions to our shared histories and to promote better understanding of the unique relationship between Indigenous Nations and the community at large. Artworks of all disciplines are welcome including digital, 2-dimensional works, performance, video/sound installation, literary and small sculptural art. Artworks will be on display from October 2023 to March 2024.
Free information sessions will be held for those interested in applying. Visit our Facebook events page for details. If you miss a session, that's ok! Reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram or by emailing indigenouspublicart@calgary.ca and we'll be happy to walk you through any questions you have about the application process.

Mini galleries for northeast Calgary

Image taken at Crescent Heights Community Association
We are in search of art by artists with strong ties to northeast Calgary to be featured in outdoor mini galleries at 10 community centres throughout 2023. This exhibition will celebrate the diversity of art forms, people and cultures represented in northeast Calgary.
All art mediums are welcome. If you do small-scale visual arts, this space will lend itself nicely to your craft. However, maybe you’re a poet, a dancer, an actor, a film maker, textile artist or a large-scale sculptor or painter. We encourage you to think creatively about how your art may be showcased in these spaces and present us with your ideas.
Submissions will be accepted from professional, emerging and recreational artists in all disciplines for three rounds of applications. Artworks will be selected by curators who will plan mini gallery exhibits around themes gathered from conversations with northeast community members.
Interior mini gallery dimensions are 50cm wide, 20cm deep and 40cm tall.
Artists will be paid $960 for exhibiting their work in the mini galleries for a four-month period.
A total of 30 local artists will be chosen to exhibit their work in 2023.
Application deadline | Exhibition period |
---|---|
December 12, 2022 | January to April 2023 |
March 31, 2023 | May to August 2023 |
July 31, 2023 | September to December 2023 |
To apply, please email publicart@calgary.ca with the following:
- Subject line: mini gallery artist submission
- Your name and contact info
- Briefly describe your connection to northeast Calgary (Do you live, work, play in the area? Tell us how you are connected to the northeast, and which communities specifically.)
- Tell us about the artwork you are proposing for the for the mini galleries
- Attach photo/visual of your artwork
- Briefly describe your vision for the mini gallery
If you have questions about the application process, please email them to publicart@calgary.ca
This project is part of the Northeast public art initiative that seeks to support local artists and businesses, enhance our northeast neighbourhoods and ensure art reflects the people who live in the communities where the art is located. Find out more about this initiative at calgary.ca/NEpublicart.
Please note: This website promotes public art opportunities initiated by The City of Calgary. Artists are also encouraged to watch for opportunities on the Calgary Arts Development classified page, in local and national newspapers and on industry related job boards and websites.
Definition of a Professional Artist - Canadian Council for the Arts