Artist call for local Nations wool weavers

What you need to know

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  About the opportunities

  • Number of commissions: 6 weavings (2 from each Nation)
  • Artist fee: $20,000 per artist (phased payments, inclusive of all expenses)
  • Dimensions: Approximately 60 inches wide × 50 inches high
  • Location: Atrium of Vancouver City Hall

  The intention of this call is to:

  • Celebrate the rich weaving traditions of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations 
  • Honour the history of intergenerational knowledge transfer 
  • Showcase the resilience and ingenuity of self-taught weavers
  • Make visible the cultural expressions and presence of local Nations in Vancouver
  • Permanently install the weavings in the atrium of Vancouver City Hall, a central and highly visible civic space
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  Eligibility

  This call is open to individual artists or artist pairs from the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations.

  An artist is defined as someone who either:

  • Has completed academic training or apprenticed with an accomplished practitioner
  • Maintains an artistic practice and has publicly shared work for at least 2 years
  • Is recognized as an artist by peers within their community

  Applicants must identify as members of one of the 3 local Nations and be recognized as such by their Nation.

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  How to apply

  1. Prepare the following to include as part of your Expression of Interest application:
     • Contact information: Your full name, pronouns, email, and phone number 
     • Identity statement: A brief statement that identifies your Nation affiliation and any intersectional identities such as gender or disability (applicants are only required to share to the extent of their comfort levels).
     • Artist biography: A synopsis of your art practice and any former training (maximum 2 paragraphs).
     • Sample artwork: 4 to 6 images of your artwork, with brief descriptions. Submit your images as JPG, PNG, or PDF files.
     • Statement of interest: Why are you excited about this project? Maximum 300 words.
  2. Send your Expression of Interest application, by email, to Faith Moosang at [email protected] by Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at midnight. Make the subject line: ‘We Are Weaving’ Application
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  Selection criteria and process

  Applications will be reviewed through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process. During this stage, an adjudication panel, comprised of representatives from the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations, will assess each applicant’s portfolio of past work and select artists to advance to the weaving design phase. Panelists will be chosen for their demonstrated experience in Public Art and Public Realm design.

  Criteria for selection of artists

  The adjudication panel will assess applications based on:

  • Strength and creativity of past work, most notably textile/weaving artworks
  • Demonstrated ability to produce and present artwork
  • Capacity to meet the requirements of the project
  • Shows meaningful connection to the project
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  Key dates

  Dates are subject to change.

  	2026 dates
  Artist call opens	Tuesday, February 17
  Application deadline	Wednesday, April 22, midnight
  Adjudication panel selects artists	Friday, May 1
  Artists notified	Monday, May 4
  Artists contracted	May
  Concept proposal and draft design due	Monday, June 8
  Mid-way check-in on project	Monday, September 14
  Final artwork due	Monday, November 30
  Weavings installed	December
  Blessing ceremony	January 2027