Call for Oakville artists: Participate in the CreateSpace Public Art Residency program

Black, Indigenous and/or racialize artists invited to apply by February 29

The Town of Oakville is excited to announce it has partnered with STEPS Public Art again to provide an opportunity for an Oakville-based emerging Black, Indigenous and/or racialized artist to have their work featured at this year’s Culture Days Festival in September and October. 

Eligible artists living, working, or studying in Oakville are encouraged to apply for a spot in the virtual 2024 CreateSpace Public Art Residency program by filling out the application form before Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

About the residency program

Running from March to December 2024, the virtual Create Space Public Art Residency program is open to early to mid-career visual and media artists. 

It has been designed in collaboration with advisors from across Canada to provide emerging artists who identify as a Black, Indigenous and/or racialized with the skills, relationships and practical experiences needed to build and advance community engaged public art practices. Participants will also be exposed to networking opportunities with seasoned national artists and receive individual support valued at up to $5,000, inclusive of a $1,500 participation honorarium, one workshop facilitation and  production, documentation, engagement and accessibility supports.

Artist selection

A selection panel comprised of members of the arts community who identify as Black, Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and/or racialized will review applications and choose one artist to create a 2D wall based public artwork. The artist will be announced in March 2024.  

The selected Oakville-based artist will be among 30 artists and artist teams from across the country participating in the program’s first three years. Learn more about these artists and their projects by visiting the CreateSpace Public Art Residency page on the STEPS Public Art website.

For more details about the program, visit the Public Art and Exhibitions page. 

Background

• Public art has an important role to play in building community, promoting dialogue and enriching our cultural landscape. As part of the town’s inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility initiatives, the town has partnered with STEPS Public Art to support local talent from equity-deserving groups. This is in addition to a robust lineup of programs and workshops with many artists that the town works with for Culture Days and Connextions.
• In 2023, the Town of Oakville partnered with STEPS Public Art to invite artists living, working or studying in Oakville to apply for a spot in the virtual 2023 CreateSpace Public Art Residency program. 
• Illustrator and designer Ning Yang was the successful applicant in 2023 the CreateSpace Public Art Residency program and created a mural at River Oaks Community Centre that debuted during the Oakville Culture Days Festival in September 2023.  
• STEPS Public Art believes public art has the ability to challenge the systemic inequities that exist in public space. In support of this important work, it facilitates programs that: foster inclusive public art practices; build the capacity of artists who are underrepresented in Canadian public art and demonstrate the power of community engaged art to reimagine equitably designed cities.