Installation view of Tiffany Shaw: Edmonton River Valley, Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, 2022. Photography by Charles Cousins, courtesy of the Art Gallery of Alberta.
***Please note: this call for submissions is now closed.
The AGA is looking for artists who are interested in taking on a Main Hall commission. Projects will be scheduled in 2023 and beyond.
Main Hall is a large public space on the main floor of the AGA. This is a commission, which means that the AGA pays an artist an artist fee and gives a production budget to create a new work for the space. The AGA provides guidance to the artist throughout the project.
This opportunity is limited to artists who make their homes on territories that intersect the current borders of Alberta.
The deadline to submit your proposal is August 15, 2022.
Who would be a good fit for this project?
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Someone who is interested in learning how to manage a budget or who already has experience with budgets. For this project it’s the artists responsibility to manage a budget of less than 10K. The AGA assists the artist in creating and managing their budget so this can be a great learning opportunity.
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Someone who can be flexible. This space is used for opening receptions, private rentals, education classes and many other types of events so the artwork needs to allow for these uses.
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Someone who is a good communicator. There are a lot of parameters to this project and a lot of stakeholders so open and effective communication between the artist and the AGA team is key.
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Someone who is interested in working big or working in public art. Main Hall is BIG this would be a perfect project for someone who is interested in experimenting with a large scale. Many of the aspects of putting together a Main Hall project are similar (although smaller in scope) to putting together a public art project. This would be a great opportunity for someone who is interested in working in public art or even someone who already has public art experience.
What kind of work would be a good fit for this project?
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Work that is big. There are 3 usable wall surfaces of approximate dimensions:
West wall: 28’ wide x 23’ tall
North wall: 31’ wide x 23’ tall (Note: movable door is 13’ 3” wide)
East wall: 31’ wide x 12’ tall -
Work that is durable. Main Hall is used by the AGA for large scale public events and programs such as AGA Opening Receptions, All Day Sunday family activities, lectures and other AGA public and education programs, as well as for external facility rentals for receptions, dinners, weddings and similar activities.
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Work that is relatively flat
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Work can come off the wall to a maximum of 2”
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Work that is eye catching
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Work that is accessible for all ages
Design Objectives of the Site
Given the multi-use nature of Main Hall, proposals should keep in mind the following design objectives:
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sensitivity to the scale and materials of the surrounding architecture; use of the wall surfaces only (no suspended works will be considered), public safety, maintenance and exposure to light and non-museum environmental conditions, ability to withstand public use, including food and beverage service; changing light conditions, and high volumes of traffic
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suitability for audiences of all ages
Technical Considerations
The following technical considerations must be respected in all design proposals:
Wall Usage
The AGA is open to all wall-based installation proposals that include, but are not limited to, hanging of artworks on the walls; paint application; wallpaper application; wall drawings; etc.
The proposals must also allow for the operation of the large movable door located on the north wall that provides access to May restaurant and the storage of the large folding door on the west wall.
Lighting Availability
General lighting of artwork is provided by track lights situated on the ceiling.
Security Requirements
The works will be in a public space with multi-functional use.
Installation
The artist is usually given 4 days to install the artwork in the space. The timing of the installation of the artwork must be coordinated with the Art Gallery of Alberta. As the facility is open and available for bookings and public use, scheduled activities may impact the dates and times during which artwork assembly and installation can occur. This may limit installation activities to after-hour time periods or specific days.