Airdrie artists are being invited to submit their works of art for a chance to have their creations displayed on light posts around the city.
The City of Airdrie has partnered with Creative Airdrie, Airdrie Regional Art Society and Camgill Enterprises to launch a two-year pilot program to dress up Airdrie’s First Avenue and Eighth Street with an assortment of banners.
There will be 33 lamp posts in total with two banner spots on each post for a total of 66 banner spots.
There will be 44 spots available for artists’ work and 22 spaces will be used to promote the tentatively named “Artists’ Way.”
The call for art submissions is open to any artist over the age of 12 and residing in Airdrie or within 20 kms.
“The piece of art is completely up to the artist, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a new creation, it can be something that they have done in the past,” said Creative Airdrie Chair Sherry Shaw-Froggatt.
Shaw-Froggatt noted that artists should be cognizant that the artwork will be in a vertical format and that, “it’s probably better to choose something that suits the format, a panoramic landscape painting might not work as well.”
Hardware to hang the banners is already in place on light posts along First Avenue and Eighth Street and the banners will be printed by Flag Works in Calgary.
Airdrie Regional Arts Society President Glen Collins is encouraging submissions. He said having work displayed in an outdoor gallery such as this would be a great boost to an artist’s portfolio.
“This could raise public awareness of your abilities and impact future job opportunities,” said Collins.
Creative Airdrie and the Airdrie Regional Arts Society are working together by acting as project managers, recruiting artists and coordinating production and promotion.
The Arts Society and Creative Airdrie, along with City staff will make up a panel that will judge the artwork and select winners.
The City of Airdrie will install the banners and maintain them for a two-year timeframe. Shaw-Froggatt expects the banners to be hanging before Canada Day on July 1.
Michelle Lock, Airdrie director of community services commended the partnership between the City and arts community for the project, saying it, “brings Airdrie’s community vision to life.”
“The streetlamp program leverages a combination of community resources to create an exciting sense of place, an elevated appreciation for artistic expression and contributes to Airdrie as a vibrant, quality of life community,” said Lock.
Submissions for the program are due by May 30.
For more information visit www.creativeairdrie.ca or contact Shaw-Froggatt at [email protected]
