Airport Land Acknowledgement and Territory Welcome
The City of Lethbridge acknowledges that we are gathered on the lands of the Niitsitapi | Blackfoot peoples and respects the contributions of Blackfoot and all Indigenous peoples people past, present, and future, while recognizing and respecting their cultural heritage, beliefs, and relationship to the land. The City of Lethbridge is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
The City of Lethbridge Public Art Program in partnership with the Reconciliation Lethbridge Advisory Committee and the Lethbridge Airport is seeking an Indigenous artist to design a Land Acknowledgement and Territory Welcome art installation for the Lethbridge Airport. The selected design will be installed as vinyl window coverings and will remain in place for a minimum of one year.
A design is all that is required as the City of Lethbridge will manage fabrication and installation of the artwork. Artists are asked at this stage of the process to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI); no actual design is required. A maximum of five artists will be shortlisted and asked to prepare designs following this initial call. Shortlisted artists will be paid a design fee of $100.
Project Background
Since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, the City of Lethbridge has worked with Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners to create opportunities for residents and visitors to learn about this Territory, it’s history and peoples. This includes increasing the public representation of Indigenous peoples and voices so that they may share their language, truths and cultural expressions.
The purpose of the Land Acknowledgement and Territory Welcome art installation is to provide a highly visual, engaging, and distinctly Niitsitapi | Blackfoot welcome to travelers visiting or returning home to Sikóóhkotok | Lethbridge. Further, the art installation will build upon and compliment other (and future) “Indigenous placemaking” efforts led by the City of Lethbridge across the community which seek to provide site-specific representations of Siksikaitsitapi | Blackfoot Confederacy Territory and encourage community gathering, shared understanding and reconciliation.
Eligibility
This competition is open to Indigenous artists of all ages, at all levels of their artistic practice. Preference will be given to Indigenous artists with a distinct connection to Blackfoot Territory.
Project Timeline
Call for EOIs Released: October 20, 2021
EOI Submission Deadline: November 17 at 4:30pm MDT
Notification to Shortlisted Artists: by November 24, 2021
Design Deadline (Shortlisted Artists Only): January 3, 2022 at 4:30pm MDT
Project Budget
The selected artist will receive an artist fee of $3,000.
Sites and Opportunities
The Lethbridge Airport is approximately seven kilometers south of Lethbridge. The Airport is owned and operated by the City of Lethbridge. The City is currently finalizing a series of major renovations at the airport to improve customer experience and to position the airport as a major driver of the regional economy. The Land Acknowledgement and Territory Welcome art will be installed in two locations: on a series of eight windows on the south wall of the Airport near the baggage collection area, and on the inside and outside of the west wall of windows, visually connecting the passenger gates and the tarmac. Both locations must be addressed by the artist selected for this opportunity.
Photos of the south wall of the main public area in the Airport near the baggage claim area.
Photos of the west wall of the airport, looking onto the tarmac from the secure holding area (L) and gates (R). The lower and upper portions of the outermost windows can be used in a framing capacity. Designs cannot exceed 18 inches above floor level.
Photo of the west wall of the airport, looking into the building from the tarmac. Designs cannot exceed 48 inches in height measured downwards from the uppermost portion of the top windows.
Download full call and submission guidelines
This call is now closed. The selected artwork was This is Home, by Hali Heavy Shield.
https://www.publicartlethbridge.ca/art/this-is-home/