Artist Call for Street Banner Design

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District of Squamish & Squamish Arts 

Artist Call for Street Banner Design

District of Squamish

  • The District of Squamish is an amalgamation of several of smaller communities located within the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) Traditional Territory.
  • Our name, Squamish, is an English adaptation of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, meaning “Mother of the Wind” and “People of the Sacred Water”.
  • The current Brand Position Statement for Squamish is:
    • To youthful, intelligent, and active people who highly value outdoor activity and their connection with their natural surroundings, Squamish is the community that has, within 10 minutes, more breathtaking outdoor adventure opportunities than any other community in Canada.
    • More information about the branding program can be found at: http://squamish.ca/assets/Squamish-Branding-Development-Marketing-Plan-09302014.pdf

Street Banner Project

The District of Squamish Recreation & Cultural Services Department is pleased to announce the Squamish 2025 Street Banner design Competition. Artists in any media are encouraged to submit street banner design proposals. The 27”w x 60”h street banners will be located on the street lights located in Downtown Squamish, Tantalus Road in Garibaldi Estates, and at Brennan Park Recreation Centre.

Design Guidelines:

  1. Designs should be influenced by the uniqueness of Squamish and the surrounding community. There is a thematic character and voice the District would like reflected in these designs.
    • Adventurous, active, youthful
    • Proud, real, and a little rough around the edges
    • Grateful for our natural surroundings
    • Proud and respectful of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw heritage
    • Celebration of the diversity of Squamish and the people who live here (e.g. incorporating Pride flags)
    • Proud of our hard-working industry roots and looking forward with an entrepreneurial spirit
  1. Artists should include a typed half page design rationale, explaining their design and how it relates to our community in .pdf or .doc format.
  2. The successful artist will have the opportunity to work with the printers to implement their design. This will allow for quality control on all parts of the reproduction and printing process.

Banner Art Strategies

  • Do not use more than 3 main subjects in your banner design (eg. bird, cloud, tree, or mountains, trees, moon). Anything more will be difficult to “read” when hoisted on the lamp posts 20 feet overhead.
  • 3-4 variations of your design are acceptable within a submission. Ensure that all variations adhere to a cohesive design. View the most recent installation of street banners by Ciarra Saylor here.
  • Keep subject matter large and simple; remember that the banners will seem much smaller when installed on lamp posts. Think big and bold!
  • Bright primary colours work best on street banners and last the longest; only use strong yellow if set against darker colours. Complimentary colours such as purples, greens and oranges are the next best options. Large blocked areas of colour can be seen clearly from a distance. If the banner is completely coloured, it is advisable to have white areas which break up the colours and help define the design.
  • Some colours do not “read” well from a distance, especially several pastels, beige and dark colours together (e.g. brown, dark blue, dark green, purple). Blues and greens of the same tone placed side by side will meld together; to define your design, consider the colour tonal values, and make sure they are varied.
  • The most successful designs are the very simplest shapes with strong colour and barely any text.
  • No text, please.

Eligibility and Requirements for the Artist Call

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to artists who:

  • Reside in Squamish or identify as a member of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw
  • Are available to meet the project timeline (see below)
  • Youth, students, those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and/or BIPOC, as well as professional & emerging artists are encouraged to apply

Compensation

  • The winning design will receive a compensation of $2,500

Timeline

January 22, 2025 – Call for artists announced
February 28, 2025 – Submission deadline
March 07, 2025 – Shortlist identified
March 14, 2025 – Winner announced

Submission requirements

To apply, prepare the following:

  1. Submission of an image file via email in .jpeg format with dimensions 9”x20” or proportionally to 27”w x 60”h with a minimum image resolution of 72dpi reflecting the colour scope of the submission for the jury. The final design chosen by the jury will be required in higher resolution for printing.
  2. A one-page resume in .doc or .pdf format with examples of your work.
  3. A half page rationale of the design as it pertains to the community in .doc or .pdf format.

Submissions should be submitted to Squamish Arts at info@squamisharts.com

Selection process

Your submission will be evaluated based on your submission package.  Submissions will be reviewed and adjudicated by Squamish Arts, a non-profit arts organization that acts as the Public Art Advisor on behalf of the District of Squamish.

The successful proposal will:

  • Reflect some or all of the thematic character in the art work as identified in the Design Guidelines;
  • Reflect the community values and aesthetic of the people of the District of Squamish;
  • Demonstrate originality and artistic merit;
  • Be fun and interactive; and
  • Enhance visitors’ experience.

Staff will act as technical advisors to the process as needed.

Terms and conditions                  

Interested artists are advised that neither the District nor Squamish Arts are obliged to select any artist or accept any of the artists’ proposals and may reject all proposals.

Each artist is advised, and by the submission of a proposal, agrees that the District will not be responsible for any costs, expenses, losses, damages (including damages for loss of anticipated profit) or liabilities incurred by the artist as a result of or arising out of submitting a proposal, or due to the District’s acceptance or non-acceptance of their proposal, or arising out of any contract award not made in accordance with the expressed or implied terms of the artist call.

Until a written contract in a form satisfactory to the District is executed by both the District and artist, no legal rights or responsibility shall be created between the artist and the District.

Confidentiality of submitted documents

Squamish Arts will make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of each application and the information contained therein except to the extent necessary to communicate information to staff and adjudication members for the purposes of evaluation and analysis.

Squamish Arts will not release any of this information to the public except as required under the Province of British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or other legal disclosure process.

 

View the most recent installation of street banners by Ciarra Saylor here.

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