City looking to shine a light on northeast Calgary artists with mini-gallery showcase

The City of Calgary is putting the call out to northeast artists to take part in a project designed to increase the amount of public art in that part of the city.

The city needs to find 30 artists to submit work across all mediums that will be featured in 10 outdoor mini-galleries at community centres around the northeast throughout 2023.

Artists will have their work displayed for four months at a time on a rotating basis in their assigned gallery.

The mini-galleries work on the same concept as little free libraries around the city but share art instead of books.

"It was created because of the lack of public art in the northeast," said Toyin Oladele, project manager for the city's northeast public art project.

"Compared to other quadrants, the northeast is lacking," she said. "The purpose is to support local artists and businesses to reflect the culture, the people and the communities and to enhance our northeast neighbourhoods."

The mini-library project is one part of a bigger drive to increase the amount of public art in the northeast. 

Oladele says anyone can apply, from emerging artists or established artists to hobbyists and amateurs from different backgrounds.

"You could be a poet, a dancer, an actor, a filmmaker, a textile artist, sculptor, painter. Whatever you are, you're welcome to apply."

Artists can also suggest creative ways to showcase their work in the given format: a window space that is 50x40x20 centimetres.

"We invite everyone from different backgrounds and art forms to apply," said Oladele.

The first application deadline is Dec. 12 for the first exhibit slot, which runs from January to April 2023.

The next deadline is in April 2023, with more to follow throughout the year.