About Us
Public art enhances the urban fabric of our community by creating beloved landmarks, reflecting our local heritage, conveying Lethbridge’s cultural image while helping to foster a community identity.
Dreaming of Future Ecologies, April Matisz, 2021
Whether a large-scale contemporary sculptural work, functional elements integrated into the public realm, temporary video or sound installation or other site-specific interventions, public art has the ability to capture the public’s imagination. It can evoke aspects of the social, natural, cultural, physical, political, economic or historical context of the site and its locale.
Public art enhances the urban fabric of our community by creating beloved landmarks, reflecting our local heritage, conveying Lethbridge’s cultural image while helping to foster a community identity. It is a source of civic pride, encourages social exchange and positively impacts economic development and tourism.
The City of Lethbridge public art program is the result of a collaborative effort by the City and its arts community. The City of Lethbridge adopted a Public Art Policy in 2007 as a framework for the acquisition of public art, public art governance, and the management of the public art collections. The policy also established a Lethbridge Public Art Committee as an advisory body for the program.
The Public Art Master Plan builds on the established foundation of local city-building initiatives, such as the Heart of Our City Master Plan, and defines a long-term vision for public art in Lethbridge. The plan seeks to comprehensively integrate the City’s current initiatives under a coordinated framework that provides policy and programming direction to guide the future advancement of public art in Lethbridge.
Ninnastako: Chief Mountain, Mariah (Omah’kaistaawakaakii) Gladstone, 2025
Public Art Program Guiding Principles:
The Public Art Program is guided by the following principles:
Public Art as Civic Infrastructure: Public art is part of the city-building system. It contributes to the design, meaning, and experience of public space alongside planning, architecture, landscape design, and infrastructure.
Artist-led Civic Contribution: Artists are essential contributors to the civic imagination of the city. The program should create diverse pathways for artists to shape public spaces through commissions, collaborations, consulting, temporary projects, and neighbourhood initiatives.
Place-based Identity: Public art should reflect the unique landscapes, histories, and communities of Lethbridge, strengthening neighbourhood identity and a shared sense of place.
Equity and Cultural Visibility: Public art investment should broaden who participates in shaping the public realm, supporting cultural diversity, new voices, and equitable access to opportunities.
Indigenous Cultural Presence: Public spaces should reflect the living creatures, knowledge systems, and histories of the Blackfoot people and other Indigenous communities through respectful partnership and cultural protocols.
Stewardship of Civic Cultural Assets: Public art should be embraced as a long-term civic asset. The City has a responsibility to care for artworks, cultural stories, and public spaces through responsible maintenance, conservation, and renewal.
Community Belonging and Participation: Public art should invite participation, dialogue, and connection. Residents should see their stories, cultures, and experiences reflected in the city’s public spaces.
Iiyikitapiiyi: Be Brave, Fearless, Hali Heavy Shield, September 2021
Lethbridge Public Art Committee Members
The Public Art Committee is a volunteer body whose role is to ensure that the overall objectives of the Public Art Policy are accomplished. The Committee operates in an advisory capacity, reporting its activities and recommendations to City Council as required. The Public Art Committee is responsible for:
- Vision development
- Program planning
- Artwork commissioning and acquisition processes
- Project budget allocations
- Commission and program presentations to Lethbridge City Council
Voting Members:
Josephine Mills (University of Lethbridge Art Gallery), Su Ying Strang (Southern Alberta Art Gallery), Sarah Newstead (Galt Museum), Steven Foord/Darcy Logan (Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge), Tyler Alexander (Community Member), Nancy Purkis (Community Member)
Non-voting members:
KT Wilde (Public Art Coordinator, Allied Arts Council), Jillian Bracken (Community Arts & Culture Manager, City of Lethbridge), Crystal Sheit (Urban Revitalization Manager, City of Lethbridge), Echo Nowak (Indigenous Relations Advisor, City of Lethbridge), Genesis Molesky (Community Planner, City of Lethbridge)
2025 Public Art Annual Video Report
This video report covers new works added to the City of Lethbridge in 2025 including: OUR COLOURFUL WORLD by LALA (Lacey and Layla Art), TO AND FROM by Jill Stanton, PASSING SPACES by Kennedy Chin, A SENSE OF DEJA VU by Sheila Shaw, and SLOUGH SERPENT by Eric Dyck.
In the summer of 2025, Artist-led Engagement Sessions were held to inform the work on the Public Art Masterplan. Daniel J. Perryman, Shelly K’s Maple Infusion, Sandra Lamouche, and Studio B Collective provided engagement opportunities for the community.