Artist calls for Marpole Community Centre

What you need to know

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  About the opportunities

  We’re seeking xʷməθkʷəy̓əm artists for 3 separate public art opportunities at the new Marpole Community Centre, located at 7780 Oak Street in the southwest corner of Oak Park. 

  Three artist calls for public art at Marpole Community Centre

  • Exterior signage: A welcoming sign for the community centre and childcare, visible from Oak Street and Park Drive. The design will be integrated into the signboard using vinyl on white Lexan with LED illumination.
  • Interpretive signage: Painted steel designs for signage accompanying an outdoor storytelling path and ethnobotanical garden. The garden will feature plantings such as Vancouver Jade (Bearberry) and Salal, and the selected artist will receive detailed landscape plans.
  • Basketball court surfaces: Painted designs applied to 2 full-size exterior basketball courts using Hi-Hide Line paint.

  Information icon Fabrication and installation will be carried out by our project team, including associated costs.

  Artist fee

  • Basketball court artwork: $10,000 for each artist
  • Exterior signage artwork: $10,000 for each artist
  • Interpretive signage artwork: $5,000 for reach artist. Language staff fees for interpretive signage are budgeted at $5,000.

  Download artist call details

  • Exterior signage PDF file (228 KB)
  • Interpretive signage PDF file (512 KB)
  • Basketball court artwork PDF file (1.2 MB)
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  Design specifications for each call

  Basketball court artwork

  Artwork will span the surface of 2 full-size basketball courts:

  • Dimensions: Two 94 feet by 50 feet exterior basketball courts
  • Material: Hi-Hide Line paint applied directly to the asphalt

  Exterior signage artwork

  Artwork will be integrated into the main exterior signboard at the community centre:

  • Dimensions: 6 feet wide by 4 feet high
  • Material: Vinyl applied to white Lexan with LED illumination

  Interpretive signage artwork

  Artwork will be applied to 10 interpretive signs along the storytelling path:

  • Dimensions: Each approximately 1 foot high by 8 inches wide
  • Material: Painted steel
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  Artist responsibilities

  Support will be provided by technical advisors from the project team. The selected artist for each project will be responsible for completing these stages:

  • Detailed draft design: A draft digital design at approximately 75% completion for project team review
  • Concept proposal: A narrative explaining the artist’s approach with rough sketches or examples of the intended final work
  • Final design: Delivery of digital files to the project team

  The overall project timelines are determined by the timeline of construction, estimated to be complete in summer 2026. It is anticipated that the final design for the sign will be completed by early June 2026.

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  Key dates

  Information icon Dates are subject to change.

  	Date
  Artist call opens	November 15, 2025
  Application deadline	January 4, 2026
  Adjudication panel selects artist	February 7, 2026
  Artists notified	February 10, 2026
  Artists contracted	March 1, 2026
  Artist draft designs deadline	May 7, 2026
  Review of draft designs for feedback	May 17, 2026
  Artist final designs deadline	June 1, 2026
  Fabrication and installation	Between June to July 2026
  Blessing ceremony	To be determined

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  Who can apply

  These calls are open to artists who identify as xʷməθkʷəy̓əm.

  For the purposes of these calls, an artist is defined as a regular practitioner who meets at least 1 of these criteria:

  • Has completed basic academic training in art or apprenticed with an accomplished practitioner in the field
  • Maintains an artistic practice and has publicly shared an independent body of work for a minimum of 2 years
  • Is recognized as an artist by arts and culture peers within their community

  We will review submitted applications for eligibility and completeness. Eligible applications will move forward to the selection panel for adjudication.

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  How to apply

  Submit an expression of interest

  Applicants may submit 1 expression of interest for each opportunity, either individually or as part of a team. All submissions must include:

  • Contact information: Full name, pronouns, email, and phone number
  • Identity statement: A short statement noting your Nation affiliation and any intersectional identities such as gender or disability (share only what you are comfortable with)
  • Artist biography (maximum 2 paragraphs): A short synopsis of your art practice and any former training
  • Sample artwork: 4 to 6 images of your artwork with brief descriptions. Previous public art experience is welcome but not required. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, PDF
  • Statement of interest (300 to 500 words): Why are you excited about this project? What does public art mean to you, and how might your participation positively impact your community?

  Email your submission and use the correct subject line

  Email: [email protected]

  Include the correct subject line based on the opportunity you’re applying for.

  • For basketball court artwork: Application: Marpole basketball court design
  • For exterior signage: Application: Marpole exterior signage
  • For interpretive signage: Application: Marpole interpretive signage

  Application deadline

  January 4, 2026, at midnight PST.

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  Selection criteria and process

  Applications will go through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process. The adjudication panel will select 1 artist from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm for each opportunity, based on their portfolio of past work, to move into the next stage of developing artwork for the Marpole Community Centre.

  Applications will be reviewed by a panel made up of representatives from xʷməθkʷəy̓əm. Panelists will be selected based on their experience with public art and public realm design.

  Criteria for selection of artists

  Artists will be evaluated on:

  • Demonstrated strength and creativity through past work
  • Demonstrated ability to produce and present artwork
  • Capacity to meet the technical demands of digital design
  • Connection to the project and its community impact