Indigenous arts

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.  

The City of Calgary Public Art Program invites members of the Tsuut’ina First Nation to apply for this paid curatorial mentorship opportunity. Individual artists who are interested in curation are encouraged to apply. Prior curatorial experience is not required. This opportunity is open to Tsuut’ina nation members. 

The selected Tsuut’ina individual will work closely with the Public Art team (curators, collection specialists, conservators, liaisons) to create an exhibit of four to 12 artworks/art objects created by Tsuut’ina 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 Tsuut’ina culture through art. 

With the guidance of the Indigenous curator, the selected artist will create a theme and select the artworks to be included in the exhibit. They will also learn about what is required to put together a 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: Tsuut’ina nation members – artists and individuals interested in gaining work experience as a curator. 

What: Curate a Tsuut’ina educational travelling exhibit for The City of Calgary public art collection. 

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

Deadline to apply: April 18, 2025 

Project start: May 19, 2025 

Project end: Dec. 31, 2025 

How much: Curatorial fee of $7,000 + 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.  

Date: February 27, 2025 | 5:30 pm
Location: Royal Alberta Museum
Tickets: $21 (includes RAM admission and all materials) This workshop is free for Indigenous Peoples.

Do you have a pair of moccasins you no longer wear but keep for sentimental reasons? Preserving them with proper storage will allow you to carry the memory of not only the places they have been, but of the people who wore them. 

Join the Royal Alberta Museum’s Steward of Indigenous Collections, Coral Madge to learn some of the ways museums repair and prepare a pair of Moccasins for long term storage. Bring your own pair to prepare for a good retirement. 

Learn more here: www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/node/614

_{Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert
Crowsnest Mountain and the Seven Sisters, 1989
oil on paper
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts}

The holiday season is a wonderful time to reflect with family and friends. At the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, we are forging a deeper understanding of our role and responsibilities as Alberta’s provincial arts funder and principal supporter. We are in a period of renewal as we look forward to new opportunities. Whether it is the performing arts, literary, visual, film or video, the AFA’s job is to help individual artists and organizations explore, practice, create and promote their exceptional work.

We have a profound sense of optimism for the years ahead that is buoyed by the Alberta government’s commitment to increase AFA funding to a record-level $39.1 million by 2027. 
We look forward to continuing our work with government for the betterment of Alberta’s arts sector.

Art and Alberta’s artists are at the heart of everything that we do. In that vein, I’m proud to continue the AFA’s tradition of highlighting an artwork from our collection. This year, I’m pleased to feature Crowsnest Mountain and the Seven Sisters by Dr. Joane Cardinal-Schubert. 
This beautiful Indigenous work is representative of the mountain landscape in Southern Alberta. Cardinal-Schubert’s use of color is so appropriate during the holiday season.

On behalf of the AFA Board of Directors and staff, please accept my best wishes for a safe and restful holiday season, Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.

Cynthia P. Moore, Chair

Alberta Foundation for the Arts