Indigenous arts

Faye HeavyShield
blood, 2004
cotton, cotton string, acrylic

In celebration of International Women's Day we are proud to share, blood—the work of  Kainai artist Faye HeavyShield. 

Bold Women

Two of HeavyShield’s installation artworks, blood and homecoming, from the AFA’s Art Collection have been selected for Bold Women, a landmark exhibition at the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. 

The show features over forty primarily Indigenous, Black, Newcomers and LGBT women artists as well as those of gender non-conforming identities whose visionary ideas and experimentation demonstrate the concept of boldness through challenging dominant institutional, cultural and social boundaries and reshaping historical narratives. 

Set to open February 18 and running through to July 6, 2025, the exhibition includes 75 artworks from various disciplines including photography, sculpture, textiles, paintings, video, installations and is organized across four galleries each exploring one element of boldness:

• Portrayal / Resistance: ways that portrayals can deny visibility
• Collective Preservation / Liberation: women preserving, healing, and liberating communities across generations
• Nature / Erasure: the erasure of women’s contributions, in conversation with nature
• Wisdom / Knowledge-keeping: transmitting knowledge and women as connectors

The exhibition was curated by Susan Earle, the Spencer Museum’s curator of European and American Art, along with a team of diverse curatorial collaborators from across North America including the Brooklyn Museum’s Curator Dr. Kimberli Grant and Wanda Nanibush, an Anishinaabe curator from the Beausoleil First Nation in Ontario among others. 

About the artist

Faye HeavyShield is a member of the Blood Nation. She graduated from the Alberta College of Art in 1985, and continued her studies at the University of Calgary. Gaining prominence and recognition in the past few years, her work has been the subject of many solo shows including major exhibitions of First Nations contemporary art. HeavyShield's work is a fusion of highly evolved personal and powerful imagery influenced by her Christian and Blood upbringing. Her minimalist installations are metaphors of the human body and a reflection of her personal experiences.

Bold women accelerating action at the AFA

Meet the bold women of the AFA's Board of Directors that are passionate about the arts and work steadfastly to support a vibrant Alberta arts community that sparks innovation, bursts with creativity, fosters understanding, and promotes belonging.  

Click the names of the board members and watch as they share their personal takes on the importance of the arts in Alberta.

Cynthia P. Moore AFA Board Chair Calgary	Yasmin Jivraj Edmonton	Melody McKnight Red Deer	Shana Yang Calgary

About International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 around the globe. IWD has been celebrated globally since 1911 and is an important day that highlights the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

This year’s IWD theme focuses on accelerating action for gender equality. We encourage you to take part in an IWD event within your community and continue supporting women in the arts throughout the year.

Celebrate The Carrot’s 18th Birthday on July 19, 2025, with an unforgettable day of Chalk-It-Up fun! Watch chalk artists create stunning masterpieces, enjoy live music, indulge in delicious food, and explore the all-ages Artisan Market. Starting at 9 AM, dive into a day filled with creativity, performances, and good vibes. Bring your loved ones, make memories, and experience a day full of joy, laughter, and artistry. Don’t miss out—this is a celebration you won’t want to miss!

More info here!

Online September 2 - 6, 2025 In Person September 8 - October 3, 2025

Application Deadline May 7, 2025

Overview

The five-week hybrid residency will engage 12 visual artists whose artistic practice includes land-based themes, environmental sustainability, Indigenous narratives of the land, and/or use of natural materials.

Artists can apply with a personal project to explore, experiment and research, or complete their final project work. The online portion equips artists to arrive on campus ready to create in a supportive environment with access to a studio and Visual Arts facilities. The residency features workshops, on-the-land engagement, faculty guidance, knowledge exchange centered on integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into the artistic process and the opportunity to showcase works at Open Studios.

Description

This hybrid residency is a balance of self-directed studio time, workshops, presentations, and access to Visual Arts Studios. This residency is supported by a faculty team, who will offer insight into their creative processes, and visual arts facilitators. Successful applicants will benefit from:

• Self-directed time to work on a personal project.
• 24/7 access to their own studio in Glyde Hall.
• Group workshops and presentations from faculty and artists, along with one-on-one sessions, and on-the-land engagement opportunities.
• Visual Arts facilities which include production in analogue and digital photography, sculpture, printmaking, paper-making, ceramics, fibre, painting, drawing, digital media, video, and sound. 
• Visual Arts team to support and facilitate their projects and provide technical assistance.
• Opportunities to showcase works-in-progress at the Open Studios at the end of the program.

*Materials: Participants are expected to bring the necessary materials and embellishments for their personal design projects during the on-campus portion of the residency. All other workshop-related materials will be provided by the program.

Requirements

This program is geared towards established Indigenous visual artists from regional, national, and global locations. Participants should have:

• a strong background in ecological engagement within their current practice. 
• a keen interest in exploring themes of stewardship, land-based learning, and archival research as part of their practice.

Eligibility

Applicants must be ages 18+ at the time of the program start date. 

Domestic and international applications are welcome.

• Scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees, meals, and accommodation costs.

Apply Online 

The City of Calgary Public Art Program invites members of the Blackfoot Confederacy to apply for this curatorial opportunity. Individuals with curatorial experience are encouraged to apply. This opportunity is open to Blackfoot/Blackfeet curators. Individual artists or artist teams/collectives are eligible. 

The selected Blackfoot/Blackfeet curator/curatorial team will work closely with the Public Art team (curators, conservators, public art liaisons and collections specialists) to create an exhibit of four to 12 artworks/art objects created by Blackfoot/Blackfeet artists (the curator’s own artwork will not be allowed to be included). The exhibit will be available for communities and schools to book to learn about and connect with Blackfoot/Blackfeet culture through art. 

The selected curator will work with the Indigenous curator to create a theme and select the artworks to be included in the exhibit. They will also be responsible for other aspects of the public art exhibit, including but not limited to: 

• Budgeting (according to a set budget) 
• Artist visits 
• Exhibit design (including helping to create portable containers that keep artworks safe during transport) 
• Curatorial writing 

Who: Curators from the Blackfoot Confederacy Nations interested in curating a travelling exhibit. 

What: Curate a Blackfoot educational travelling exhibit for the City of Calgary public art collection. 

Where: Hybrid work, online research, in-person research, events as needed, regular meetings with City of Calgary public art staff. 

Deadline to apply: April 18, 2025, 430 pm 

Project start: May 19, 2025 

Project end: Dec. 31, 2025 

How much: Curatorial fee of $12,000 + GST. * This does NOT include an artwork purchase budget. 

Artist information sessions: 

For those interested in applying, free online and in-person artist information sessions are available. Please email indigenouspublicart@calgary.ca for dates, times and locations. Attendance is not mandatory to qualify for this opportunity. 

How to apply: 

Full submission details and evaluation criteria can be downloaded here or viewed on The City’s website. The deadline to apply is April 18, 2025.  

Questions and clarifications: 

Submit all questions in writing to indigenouspublicart@calgary.ca before 4:00 p.m. MST on April 11, 2025. 

The City of Calgary recognizes and values equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging and unique dimensions of diversity, including race, ethnicity, gender, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, work style, communication style, learning preferences and others.