Indigenous arts

The City of Kelowna invites local, national, and international professional artists, artist-led teams, and cultural makers working in diverse artistic mediums to submit their Expressions of Interest for several public art commissions that are part of Building a Stronger Kelowna (BSK), a group of recreational projects that work together to build deeper community connections across the city.

Submission Deadline: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 2 pm (PST) 

Building a Stronger Kelowna includes the redevelopment of Parkinson Recreation Centre, Mill Creek restoration, which is part of the Parkinson Recreation Centre site, and all-ages activity centres at Glenmore Rec Park, Rutland Lions Park, and Mission Rec Park. This suite of projects is a unique opportunity to develop a curatorial program of permanent and temporary artworks that will be original, inspired by Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley, and help tell the stories of this place.

Public art sites have not been determined yet and will evolve out of the integrated project delivery approach that is being used by the BSK team and this call for artists. Artists who apply to this call may be considered for public art commissions at any of the BSK locations. 

Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit artists and/or cultural makers with connections to the syilx Okanagan people’s territory are encouraged to apply.

Read the full Call to Artists at https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/planning-projects/building-stronger-kelowna/building-stronger-kelowna-call-artists-0

City of Kelowna
1435 Water Street, Kelowna BC, V1Y 1J4
www.kelowna.ca
Artcalls@kelowna.ca 
250.469.8500

About the program

The Cultivating Indigenous Talent in the Arts (CITA) program will host a series of one-week mentorships from September 2025 to August 2026, providing 10 emerging Indigenous artists from remote Alberta communities with personalized guidance and professional development to help them build confidence in their craft while developing the necessary tools to grow their careers. The program will take place in Fort McMurray, Alberta, where each artist will receive direct mentorship from Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s experienced staff and will conclude with the delivery of a workshop, sharing their artistic skills with the local community.

Eligibility criteria

• Artist must reside in Alberta, preference to those living in remote regions.
• Artist must identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit, or Non-Status)
• Artist should be considered “emerging”, meaning they are in the early stages of their artistic career.
• Must be of age to travel and live alone for the duration of the program.

About the program

• Each artist will participate in a personalized one-week mentorship, where they will receive tailored mentorship from Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s experienced staff.
• Mentorship is focused on Portfolio Development, Artist Statement & Bio Writing, Marketing & Self-Promotion, Community engagement, Applying for Grants and Opportunities, Networking, and Workshop facilitation.
• At the end of each mentorship, the artist will host a public workshop to showcase their work and engage with the local community.
• ACWB will cover the cost of travel, accommodation, and per diem allowance for the selected artists.

Workshop media

The selected artists will host a community art workshop and must be able to teach and engage students in an artform or technique that they feel comfortable in. Artforms may include, but are not limited to:

• Painting/Drawing
• Ceramics
• Dance/Music (includes Drumming and traditional dances)
• Photography
• New Media Arts
• Traditional Indigenous Crafts (ie. beading, weaving, wood/hide burning etc.)
• Textiles
• Theatre/Acting
• Sculpture
• Woodworking
• Storytelling/Writing

Submitting a proposal

All submissions must be submitted through our online Opportunities Portal. Create an account, login and then click on the purple “Start Entry” button. You may begin drafting your proposal by selecting “Cultivating Indigenous Talent in the Arts (CITA)” as your category. Artists may be invited to a brief interview, as a part of the selection process. 

Submission deadline

Submissions must be submitted by Monday, August 4, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Selection process

The artists will be selected for an interview on the strength and content of their applications. Only applicants who identify as Indigenous will be considered for this mentorship program and must be willing to travel to Fort McMurray, Alberta for the duration of a week.

Please note that only artists(s) who are successful will be notified.

Selections will be made by Arts Council Wood Buffalo staff. All successful artists will be notified by August 8, 2025 for an interview and selected artists to continue into the program will be notified within 5 business days of their interview.

Questions and more information

For questions or more information on this opportunity please contact our Rural Arts Support Program Coordinator, Michelle Foran at michelle@artscouncilwb.ca or (587) 674-1625 x.106

En ce dernier jour du Mois de la francophonie albertaine, l'AFA est heureuse de partager la version française de son plan stratégique triennal. Instauré en 2018, le Mois de la francophonie nous donne l'occasion de souligner le dynamisme et l'énergie de la francophonie en l'Alberta. 

Le plan affirme l'engagement de la Fondation envers la communauté artistique diversifiée de l'Alberta, y compris les artistes francophones et francophiles de la province. Le français est la langue maternelle d'un Canadien et d’une Canadienne sur cinq et d'environ 88 000 Albertaines et Albertains, et l'AFA est heureuse de rendre son plan stratégique accessible à ces communautés dans leur langue. 

Pour découvrir comment nous soutenons les arts, visitez : affta.ab.ca/about-afa/mission-and-mandate

English

On this last day of the annual Mois de la francophonie albertaine (Alberta Francophonie Month), the AFA is pleased to share its three-year Strategic Plan en français. Established in 2018, the month of March provides an opportunity to highlight the vibrancy and energy the Francophonie brings to Alberta. 

The plan affirms the foundation’s commitment to Alberta's diverse arts community, including French-speaking and Francophone artists across the province. French is the mother tongue of 1 in 5 Canadians and approximately 88,000 Albertans, and the AFA is pleased to make its Strategic Plan accessible to these communities in their language. 

 See how we are supporting the arts: affta.ab.ca/about-afa/mission-and-mandate