Program Overview

This microgrant program recognizes that public art opportunities can come from grassroots ideas that are initiated by professional artists.

Professional artists are defined as artists who are actively pursuing a career in the arts, who have invested in the development of their artistic skills, voice, and goals, and who primarily create artistic work on their own. Professional artists may have formal training, have shared their work publicly, have been compensated for their work, and have a relationship with their artistic communities and peers. Artists do not need to be working professionally in the arts full-time.

Calgary Arts Development invites Calgary and area artists or artist teams to submit their project ideas to create art in public spaces. Professional artists of all experience levels are encouraged to partner with community associations, businesses or private landowners to explore any form of public art in any part of the city.

Please note that this is a request for proposals and an initial artwork concept is required. Artist or artist teams will be expected to complete community engagement after they are commissioned to inform the final artwork concept.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to Calgary-based professional artists of all disciplines. Individual artists or artist teams or collectives are eligible. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

We will only accept one application per group, and only one application per project. You may not receive more than one Calgary Arts Development grant for the same project or phase of a project. Success in this program does not affect your eligibility to apply to other Calgary Arts Development grant investment programs.

This program cannot fund projects retroactively, meaning that projects that have begun before the deadline of October 18, 2021, are not eligible.

Projects funded through this program must be completed by December 31, 2022.

Applicants may apply for up to $40,000 to support eligible projects.

Total funding available for this program is $150,000.