Call for Artists

The BC Government with the Royal BC Museum (RBCM) is undertaking a public art procurement process to create public artworks at the new collections and research facility. Three site-specific, context responsive and public artworks will be commissioned.  The public art call is open to all professional artists, contemporary craft artists, established cultural practitioners, arts collectives and artist teams residing in, or with demonstrated relevant ties to, British Columbia.

Public art at the collections and research facility aspires to build a sense of community and create opportunities to gather, converse and interpret cultural and environmental stories.

The RBCM’s public art program will showcase and support the breadth and creativity of artistic practices from across the province. It seeks thoughtful proposals that broadly attend to an integration of and cohesion between the purpose of the building, its architecture, the landscape design and the artworks themselves.

Shortlisted artists will be encouraged to bring forward concepts and proposals in any media, including sculpture and installation, that leave a legacy for the site.

Indigenous Partners

The RBCM has been fortunate to walk alongside and learn from local First Nations with this building project. Indigenous Liaison Officers, representing the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, provide guidance to the RBCM and the collections and research building project team on all aspects of the project including the public art program.

In keeping with ləkʷ^ əŋən protocols, the leadership of Esquimalt and Songhees Nations extend their hands out to Indigenous master artists and contemporary artists from other communities to share their own wealth by way of stories, culture and art.

Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists/teams submitting through this public art call are asked to be mindful of the ləkʷ^ əŋən peoples’ enduring connection to the area.