Artist call for Canada 150+ logo

Strengthening our Relations │ Vancouver Commemorates Canada’s 150+

The year-long Strengthening our Relations project is one of our responses to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action: to use Canada’s 150th anniversary as a time for Indigenous recognition and celebration with all Vancouverites. 

Our Mission

To stage Strengthening our Relations, our civic celebration in 2017 of Canada’s 150th anniversary, where Canada’s many cultures— Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, Urban Aboriginal and Métis communities, settlers, newcomers and visitors—will learn, connect, and celebrate in an array of cultural activities and larger-scale festivities. 

Vancouver is a City of Reconciliation, sitting on the unceded homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. We are building stronger relations with these host nations and local Aboriginal organizations through an expanding number of cultural partnerships, including the following large-scale signature activities in 2017:

• Gathering of Canoes
• The Drum is Calling Festival
• Walk for Reconciliation

Throughout 2017, we will also promote other Indigenous world premiere productions, exhibits, tours, events, festivals, and feasts.

Vancouver’s Council-appointed Urban Aboriginal Peoples Advisory Committee has branded our activities as “Canada 150+” in order to “acknowledge that there is Indigenous history in this land that predates colonization; and, that in addition to celebrating 150 years of the Canadian Confederation, Vancouver’s celebrations will also be about looking to the future, and all communities, Nations and peoples walking together as a stronger society than ever before.”

Eligibility

This opportunity is suitable for Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh artists or graphic designers who:

• Have experience producing artworks or logos for graphic design usage
• Are available to meet the project timeline (see below)

Budget

Shortlisted artist(s)/designer(s): up to $2,000 per selected submission for draft design proposals
Selected artist(s)/designer(s): up to $10,000 is available, inclusive of:

• Conceptual and design development
• All expenses for production 

Timeline

Submission Requirements

Have the following prepared for your application:

1. A brief letter of interest about:
   • What attracts you to this opportunity
   • How you might approach it
   • Your interest in the City of Vancouver’s Canada 150+ theme of Strengthening our Relations
   • Your relevant skills
   • How this opportunity relates to your practice
2. A link to a website that summarizes your body of work, or submit up to eight JPG or PDF images
   • Image requirements: resolution of 72 dpi, height up to 768 px, file size up to 2 MB
   • Title your images with your name and a number
3. A list that corresponds with the numbered images you submit
   • Include your name, title of the work, date, media, dimensions, location (if public) and, if necessary, up to a fifteen-word description
4. A CV of up to three pages

Selection process

Your submission will be evaluated based on your letter of interest and past work.

It will be reviewed by a panel of knowledgeable individuals from the art and design community, marketing and communications professionals, and Urban Aboriginal members of the Vancouver Commemorates Canada’s 150+ team.

The panel will use the following criteria to shortlist submissions and select a finalist:

• Quality of past work.
• Ability to meet high standards.
• Ability to work well with others and produce work according to the posted timeline.
• Quotation for the work. 

City Staff will act as technical advisors to the process as needed.

The finalist will be asked to develop a full concept design for approval.

Terms and conditions

Interested artists are advised that neither the City nor the selection panel is obliged to select any artist or accept any of the artists' proposals and may reject all proposals.

Each artist is advised, and by the submission of a proposal, agrees that the City will not be responsible for any costs, expenses, losses, damages (including damages for loss of anticipated profit) or liabilities incurred by the artist as a result of or arising out of submitting a proposal, or due to the City's acceptance or non-acceptance of their proposal, or arising out of any contract award not made in accordance with the expressed or implied terms of the artist call.

Until a written contract in a form satisfactory to the City is executed by both the City and artist, no legal rights or responsibility shall be created between the artist and the City.

Intellectual property

Unselected design proposals will be returned to the artist or designer after the conclusion of the selection process. It is anticipated that the concept design of the winning logo will be the property of the City of Vancouver on various formats and platforms for Strengthening our Relations activities for approximately 36 months. Terms of the return of the ownership and copyright of the design will be negotiated with the winning proponent.

Confidentiality of submitted documents

The City will make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of each application and the information contained therein except to the extent necessary to communicate information to staff and selection panel members for the purposes of evaluation and analysis.

The City will not release any of this information to the public except as required under the Province of British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or other legal disclosure process. Learn about freedom of information requests and released information

The logo will need to co-exist visually in relationship to the Federal Canada 150 logo and most importantly the City of Vancouver logo. The logo will be used widely throughout the City during 2017, on various formats and platforms, and in conjunction with the current City of Vancouver’s emblem.

For details on the Canada 150 logo, see the Government of Canada's website External website, opens in new tab

The City of Vancouver’s Visual Standards Guide was developed to ensure the accurate and consistent use of the City’s emblem, colours and fonts and will also inform prospective designers of the various formats and platforms. Please consider how the proposed artwork could work alongside these colour palettes.