City of Regina The Towns Development - Horizon Station Park 2024 Public Art Installation
City of Regina, Regina
Deadline: January 17, 2024 - March 04, 2024
Application Deadline: March 4, 2024
Project Completion Deadline: October 11, 2024
The City of Regina acknowledges we are on the traditional lands of the Treaty 4 Territory, a Treaty signed with 35 First Nations across Southern Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta and Manitoba, and the original lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and the homeland of the Métis.
The City of Regina owes its strength and vibrancy to these lands and the diverse Indigenous Peoples whose ancestors’ footsteps have marked this territory, as well as settlers from around the world who continue to be welcomed here and call Regina home.
The City of Regina is looking to receive proposals for an art installation within the newly developed community of The Towns in southeast Regina.
Project Background
In Saskatchewan, there is a distinct relationship between the railways and small communities. The railways relied on towns that settled along its path for services, bringing economic opportunities and growth to adjacent communities. The railroad was a vital mode of transportation and connection in the Prairies, bringing with it new immigrants and helping to create the diverse cultural community that resides in Saskatchewan today. However, the development of railways also created a legacy of harm. As lands were cleared, Indigenous life was disrupted and changed forever through displacement. Railways were also used to transport Canadians labelled “enemy aliens” during both world wars, and Chinese labourers working for the railroad experienced horrendous working conditions, exploitation, and discrimination. Later, as fewer passengers chose to travel by train, railways were abandoned, causing hardship for communities that relied on them. Horizon Station Park is named after a former village in southern Saskatchewan that was impacted by the railway abandonment. This park endeavours to acknowledge the impacts of the railways in Saskatchewan, providing an opportunity to tell the story of the rise and fall of train culture and its legacies in Saskatchewan.
The Artwork
The City of Regina invites practicing artists to submit proposals for the creation of a new, original public artwork exploring the theme of railways in Saskatchewan, for installation in Horizon Station Park, Regina.
The intention of this commission is to respond to and explore the complex histories relating to the development and legacies of Saskatchewan’s railroads. In particular, the artwork should reflect on the underrepresented stories of the railways and acknowledge difficult truths related to the collision of cultures it contributed to.
The objective of the Horizon Station Park is to provide year-round active recreation with an outdoor skating rink, dog park, basketball nets, skating and walking loop, train themed playground and more. The artwork should elevate the space in the winter as well as during the warmer seasons. Ideally, it will incorporate lighting to provide a safe and inviting area within the park in the evening and throughout the winter.
Project Information
•The proposed budget for this project is $200,000, which includes artist fees, all materials and artwork design.
•Elements such as electrical rough-ins, structural (piles/foundations) and limited installation support will be provided by the Towns Development.
•This call is open to mid-career and established artists, or artist led groups in Canada.
•Preference will be given to artists with ties to Treaty 4 Territory.
•Delivery date for this project is October 11, 2024.
Location:
The area in Horizon Station Park under consideration for the installation is located in and around the skating and walking loop (See map in Appendix A). The loop is a 3.0 metre-wide pathway that is converted to a leisure skating loop in the winter season. There are two accessible picnic tables located along this loop, along with two areas of bench seating.
Technical Aspects:
•All artwork elements must have a 2.0 metre offset from the edge of the pathway to accommodate snow clearing.
•The artwork must be durable and able to withstand extreme year-round Saskatchewan weather conditions. This includes rain, snow, strong wind and high ultraviolet light exposure.
•The artwork must be safe and accessible for public use in an unsupervised park system and not cause permanent damage to existing structures. Artists should be aware that while the artwork is located in a public area it will therefore be at risk of vandalism.
•The artwork should activate the space and be accessible to all patrons of the park.
•If lighting is included in the artwork design, a light distribution map is required for proposed elements. Lighting is encouraged in the south portion of the loop.
•All decorative and architectural finishes must be designed by the artist or artist led team.
•The artist is to lead the design and manufacturing process for the artwork’s production.
•The Towns Development has contracted limited services for the following engineering and construction work if required.
Stantec (engineering firm) will complete the following:
•Engineer will complete design drawings in coordination with the artist for structural pile/foundations and electrical elements and provide Engineer of Record Seal. This does not include engineering the art piece or anchoring the art piece to the pile/foundation.
•If the artist prefers to provide their own engineering services, the proposal must include clear intentions. All engineers must be licensed to practice in Saskatchewan.
A General Contractor (GC) will complete the following:
•Installation of the electrical service leading to the artwork and structural concrete base, if required.
Proposal Information
All proposals shall include the following:
1.A statement of intent, either:
Letter of intent – not exceeding a total of 1200 words
– OR –
Video of intent – not exceeding a total of 15 minutes
Statements of intent or video of intent should include the following information:
•An artwork statement, including information describing your interest in the project and concept.
•Information about the medium and scale of the proposed artwork.
•A description of how the project will interact or engage the viewer according to the project’s stated objectives and theme(s).
•Artist statement and biography including your connections and relationship to Regina and Treaty Four territory, relevant accomplishments, and experiences with similar projects, where applicable.
And:
2. CV (include all relevant team members).
3. A separate folder with up to six (6) examples of existing work for review and consideration.
4. Estimated cost of the work and proposed budget.
5. Project schedule from concept to final installation.
To ensure our public spaces, reflect the diversity of our community, and to encourage opportunities for those who may experience oppression and/or exclusion, please indicate if you belong to any equity-seeking groups (Indigenous, ethnocultural minorities, 2SLGBTQIAP+, disability, etc.).
Proposals shall not:
• Include design elements that feature advertisements or promotions for commercial businesses or products.
• Include design elements that are discriminatory or include profanity or otherwise offensive content.
• Include design elements that breach intellectual property or trademarks.
The City of Regina will not support submissions that engage in cultural misappropriation (sometimes known as appropriation) and prioritizes artwork that reflects the artists’ own culture(s).
Cultural misappropriation is the deliberate or accidental borrowing from a culture that is not your own without respect, understanding or permission. This may include cultural practices or objects, music, stories, ceremonies or imagery.
Additional information and resources can be found at: CARFAC Indigenous Protocols for the Visual Arts.
Selection Process
Applicants will be shortlisted, and the top applicants will be invited to an interview with the Adjudication Panel and present a rendering or maquette of the final piece. Shortlisted artists or artist-led teams will also be requested to provide a plan for installation and long-term maintenance of the proposed artwork. An honorarium for proposal development will be extended to the shortlisted artists/teams. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by March 15, 2024. Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.
Application Submission
Applications should be submitted via e-mail to The City of Regina at kursu@regina.ca.
Deadline for proposal submission: March 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. CST. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
Submissions will be adjudicated by local arts experts & professionals, from the City's independent Arts & Culture Sector Reference Group.
For more information or questions related to the call please contact Kelsey Ursu at kursu@regina.ca.
Project Completion Deadline: October 11, 2024
The City of Regina acknowledges we are on the traditional lands of the Treaty 4 Territory, a Treaty signed with 35 First Nations across Southern Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta and Manitoba, and the original lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and the homeland of the Métis.
The City of Regina owes its strength and vibrancy to these lands and the diverse Indigenous Peoples whose ancestors’ footsteps have marked this territory, as well as settlers from around the world who continue to be welcomed here and call Regina home.
The City of Regina is looking to receive proposals for an art installation within the newly developed community of The Towns in southeast Regina.
Project Background
In Saskatchewan, there is a distinct relationship between the railways and small communities. The railways relied on towns that settled along its path for services, bringing economic opportunities and growth to adjacent communities. The railroad was a vital mode of transportation and connection in the Prairies, bringing with it new immigrants and helping to create the diverse cultural community that resides in Saskatchewan today. However, the development of railways also created a legacy of harm. As lands were cleared, Indigenous life was disrupted and changed forever through displacement. Railways were also used to transport Canadians labelled “enemy aliens” during both world wars, and Chinese labourers working for the railroad experienced horrendous working conditions, exploitation, and discrimination. Later, as fewer passengers chose to travel by train, railways were abandoned, causing hardship for communities that relied on them. Horizon Station Park is named after a former village in southern Saskatchewan that was impacted by the railway abandonment. This park endeavours to acknowledge the impacts of the railways in Saskatchewan, providing an opportunity to tell the story of the rise and fall of train culture and its legacies in Saskatchewan.
The Artwork
The City of Regina invites practicing artists to submit proposals for the creation of a new, original public artwork exploring the theme of railways in Saskatchewan, for installation in Horizon Station Park, Regina.
The intention of this commission is to respond to and explore the complex histories relating to the development and legacies of Saskatchewan’s railroads. In particular, the artwork should reflect on the underrepresented stories of the railways and acknowledge difficult truths related to the collision of cultures it contributed to.
The objective of the Horizon Station Park is to provide year-round active recreation with an outdoor skating rink, dog park, basketball nets, skating and walking loop, train themed playground and more. The artwork should elevate the space in the winter as well as during the warmer seasons. Ideally, it will incorporate lighting to provide a safe and inviting area within the park in the evening and throughout the winter.
Project Information
•The proposed budget for this project is $200,000, which includes artist fees, all materials and artwork design.
•Elements such as electrical rough-ins, structural (piles/foundations) and limited installation support will be provided by the Towns Development.
•This call is open to mid-career and established artists, or artist led groups in Canada.
•Preference will be given to artists with ties to Treaty 4 Territory.
•Delivery date for this project is October 11, 2024.
Location:
The area in Horizon Station Park under consideration for the installation is located in and around the skating and walking loop (See map in Appendix A). The loop is a 3.0 metre-wide pathway that is converted to a leisure skating loop in the winter season. There are two accessible picnic tables located along this loop, along with two areas of bench seating.
Technical Aspects:
•All artwork elements must have a 2.0 metre offset from the edge of the pathway to accommodate snow clearing.
•The artwork must be durable and able to withstand extreme year-round Saskatchewan weather conditions. This includes rain, snow, strong wind and high ultraviolet light exposure.
•The artwork must be safe and accessible for public use in an unsupervised park system and not cause permanent damage to existing structures. Artists should be aware that while the artwork is located in a public area it will therefore be at risk of vandalism.
•The artwork should activate the space and be accessible to all patrons of the park.
•If lighting is included in the artwork design, a light distribution map is required for proposed elements. Lighting is encouraged in the south portion of the loop.
•All decorative and architectural finishes must be designed by the artist or artist led team.
•The artist is to lead the design and manufacturing process for the artwork’s production.
•The Towns Development has contracted limited services for the following engineering and construction work if required.
Stantec (engineering firm) will complete the following:
•Engineer will complete design drawings in coordination with the artist for structural pile/foundations and electrical elements and provide Engineer of Record Seal. This does not include engineering the art piece or anchoring the art piece to the pile/foundation.
•If the artist prefers to provide their own engineering services, the proposal must include clear intentions. All engineers must be licensed to practice in Saskatchewan.
A General Contractor (GC) will complete the following:
•Installation of the electrical service leading to the artwork and structural concrete base, if required.
Proposal Information
All proposals shall include the following:
1.A statement of intent, either:
Letter of intent – not exceeding a total of 1200 words
– OR –
Video of intent – not exceeding a total of 15 minutes
Statements of intent or video of intent should include the following information:
•An artwork statement, including information describing your interest in the project and concept.
•Information about the medium and scale of the proposed artwork.
•A description of how the project will interact or engage the viewer according to the project’s stated objectives and theme(s).
•Artist statement and biography including your connections and relationship to Regina and Treaty Four territory, relevant accomplishments, and experiences with similar projects, where applicable.
And:
2. CV (include all relevant team members).
3. A separate folder with up to six (6) examples of existing work for review and consideration.
4. Estimated cost of the work and proposed budget.
5. Project schedule from concept to final installation.
To ensure our public spaces, reflect the diversity of our community, and to encourage opportunities for those who may experience oppression and/or exclusion, please indicate if you belong to any equity-seeking groups (Indigenous, ethnocultural minorities, 2SLGBTQIAP+, disability, etc.).
Proposals shall not:
• Include design elements that feature advertisements or promotions for commercial businesses or products.
• Include design elements that are discriminatory or include profanity or otherwise offensive content.
• Include design elements that breach intellectual property or trademarks.
The City of Regina will not support submissions that engage in cultural misappropriation (sometimes known as appropriation) and prioritizes artwork that reflects the artists’ own culture(s).
Cultural misappropriation is the deliberate or accidental borrowing from a culture that is not your own without respect, understanding or permission. This may include cultural practices or objects, music, stories, ceremonies or imagery.
Additional information and resources can be found at: CARFAC Indigenous Protocols for the Visual Arts.
Selection Process
Applicants will be shortlisted, and the top applicants will be invited to an interview with the Adjudication Panel and present a rendering or maquette of the final piece. Shortlisted artists or artist-led teams will also be requested to provide a plan for installation and long-term maintenance of the proposed artwork. An honorarium for proposal development will be extended to the shortlisted artists/teams. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by March 15, 2024. Only shortlisted applicants will be notified.
Application Submission
Applications should be submitted via e-mail to The City of Regina at kursu@regina.ca.
Deadline for proposal submission: March 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. CST. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
Submissions will be adjudicated by local arts experts & professionals, from the City's independent Arts & Culture Sector Reference Group.
For more information or questions related to the call please contact Kelsey Ursu at kursu@regina.ca.