The City of Lethbridge Public Art Program invites artists and businesses to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) to create original artwork for vinyl wraps that will be installed on commercial security roll shutters. As security roll shutters become more common, their visibility in the ‘after-work’ hours presents a unique opportunity for artists to turn them into temporary artworks, adding vibrancy to the urban environment while contributing to a sense of place and safety. Vinyl-wrapping roll shutters not only improves the aesthetic of the environment but also increases the lifespan of the shutters and acts as a graffiti deterrent. A vinyl wrap is an artwork created and converted to a digital file that can be printed on vinyl and applied to metal roll shutters. Vinyl artworks are temporary installations with a lifespan of approximately 3 – 5 years.
EOIs can be submitted by either building owners or business operators seeking a vinyl wrap on their existing roll shutter(s), or by an artist who is seeking permission to design a vinyl wrap for a local business with existing roll shutters. This project is a follow-up from the success of the Roll Shutter Pilot project completed at Fee Simple Law that launched in 2025. Currently, we are accepting EOIs from businesses downtown and in the adjacent warehouse district North of 3rd Ave S and West of 13th St S, provided that the roll shutter site is clearly visible and accessible to the public and presents no significant maintenance issues.
Eligibility
Applicants must be either the building owners or business operators in downtown Lethbridge or the adjacent warehouse district North of 3rd Ave S and West of 13th St S, OR a Lethbridge-area artist.
Lethbridge-area means currently residing within the Lethbridge City limits or the surrounding area (within 50 km).
Project Budget
All roll shutter artworks are eligible to receive project funding through the Public Art Program. Project budgets are dependent upon the size of the roll shutter site – the larger the roll shutters, the higher the cost for fabrication and installation as more vinyl is needed. Budgets will be confirmed once sites are selected and fabrication quotes are gathered. Anticipated budget range per roll shutter site is $3000-$4500 depending on square footage. Business owners or site applicants are required to contribute $750 towards artist fees.
Project Timeline
Call launch: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
EOI Submission Deadline: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Notification of Selection: Week of October 19, 2026
Site and artist matching: Late October – Early November 2026
Graphic designer meeting and site visits: Mid November 2026
Design proposal due: Tuesday, January 5, 2027 (early submission is encouraged)
Progress & support check-ins: Week of January 4, 2027
Building owner approvals: Wednesday, January 13, 2027
Completed design files due: Tuesday, February 23, 2027
Refinement & one round of revision: February/March
Final approvals and layout: Tuesday, March 23, 2027
Fabrication & installation: March-April 2027
Public launch celebration event: May/June 2027 TBD
Submission Process
A complete EOI should be emailed to publicart@artslethbridge.org by 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Please include “Roll Shutter EOI” and either your business name or artist name in the subject heading. Only electronic submissions will be accepted, and all documents must be sent in PDF format as one combined document.
Please download the full PDF Call for Art After Hours through the link below.